1. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans to address the high rates of domiciliary care allowance, DCA, appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46280/26]
Sentiment score: 0.17
This is a fairly straightforward question and one I have asked before, because it is an issue I like to keep track of. It has to do with the high rate of people who are unsuccessful the first time but successful the second time, often in circumstances where there has been no change. I know that the Minister will say this is not the case, but I can tell him that my constituents do believe that there is a policy. Some of the people who contact my office believe that there is a policy of refuse first and see if people come back. That is not a good thing, I am sure the Minister will agree, but it is certainly the impression that people have.
Sentiment score: 0.24
I know that the Minister is very aware that in order to apply for DCA, a parent has to fill out a very long form, be it online or done with a biro. It is a very long form and they must describe their child on their worst day. They must talk about all of the things about their child that are negative for their family. It is soul destroying and exhausting. I can say this because I conducted a survey last year where I talked to people about it. The experience of having an appeal rejected is somewhat traumatising for parents. I have had people in my office and I am trying to encourage them to appeal where there are no changes in the circumstances and they get it on appeal. It is welcome that people can apply online, as this removes some of the burden but, in truth, these forms are onerous. Filling them out is really hard for parents only to have an application rejected while knowing they have an entitlement and to have to go back and appeal. My understanding is that the percentage being overturned on appeal has risen. That is not a good thing.
Sentiment score: -0.26
Some of this stuff is very easy to understand. If someone has a child who has a condition or a disability and that child is doubly incontinent, there you go and that should be enough without a parent having to go into a narrative about what that means. We know what that means. That means restrictions on where people can go. That means they have to be with their child constantly. All of these things we know. Sometimes, the Department requires a lot of information from people about the impact that having a child with a disability has on the household. That is really hard for parents to do. We conducted a survey. A really high proportion came back to us and advised that they experienced poverty in the period between making the application and actually receiving the DCA, regardless of whether that required an appeal. That is not acceptable. A lot can be done to streamline the forms but that narrative part of the form is really tough for parents to engage with.
Sentiment score: -0.02
3. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he plans to address barriers - administrative, financial and others - to accessing social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46287/26]
Sentiment score: 0.01
The Minister and I discussed this at committee. I received a response from the Minister for Health advising that the general medical services, GMS, contract does not cover the filling out of forms. As the Minister for Social Protection knows, a lot of people require medical information in order to apply for social welfare and other things. Given that filling out forms is not covered, my question is on the significant barriers, be they administrative, financial or otherwise. Once I started to look into this, I realised that there were a lot of people who found it quite daunting to approach the Department of Social Protection. Specifically, my concern is around the people on the medical card.
Sentiment score: 0.03
Excellent, and I hope that the Minister will confirm to me that people can apply for supplementary welfare allowance in order to pay for the GP. If this is not covered on the medical card and someone does not have the means to pay €80 but absolutely does need to apply for whatever reason, it strikes me that it should be available on the supplementary welfare allowance. I am hoping that the Minister will confirm that to me this morning. If it is not available, then I am hopeful that the Minister will say where people can get the money. People cannot magic up €80. If they have not got €80, they have not got it. Many GPs will fill out a form, but only on a grace and favour arrangement. More and more people are finding that their GPs will not fill out the forms or that they have to pay for a visit outside of the GMS. That is €80. Perhaps the Minister will confirm that people can apply for supplementary welfare allowance because that is not the experience of my constituents. I am hoping that the Minister can confirm that this morning.
Sentiment score: 0.21
That is very welcome to hear and I am more than happy to work with the Minister. I can provide him with practical examples of where this has happened. I can also say, as I used to represent nurses and I do not hold a massive candle for doctors, that many GPs do this. The problem usually arises when a person goes in to get a form filled and they find out that maybe there is a new GP or they have moved to a different type of service and they just do not do that form. People are not seeing the same GP when they go back and they are coming to my office. When they go for supplementary welfare allowance, that is not always clear cut either and a lot of the time people are sent back. They are told to go to the doctor because the doctor has to do it but the doctor does not have to do it, as the Minister for Health has confirmed to me. I really welcome that the Minister is going to examine this matter. I can tell him that I will work with him and I am sure plenty of others will as well because it cannot just be an issue in my area. I would imagine it is across the board.
Sentiment score: 0.14