asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether all applicants for social welfare assistance payments could be entitled automatically to a full explanation on the basis of the calculation of any means assessed against them.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Assistance.
268.
Applicants for social welfare non-contributory pensions and related allowances are given formal notifications of the decision in their cases which give details of how the rate of entitlement is made up. Where means have been assessed, the amount of means is given together with the sources from which the means are obtained.
In the case of unemployment assistance applicants, the person is normally furnished with a qualification certificate setting out his total means assessments. Those who require additional information can generally have it by inquiring at their local office or by writing to the Department. Because of certain difficulties which arose in the changeover of smallholders from a notional to a factual method of means assessment, arrangements were made earlier this year to have all such small holders informed of the gross income assessed and the gross expenditure figures from which the net income is derived which is the basis of the means assessed against them.
The provision of more detailed information would, because of staffing constraints arising from Government policy in relation to the reduction of numbers in the public service, create serious problems. Staff are finding it difficult to cope with increasing workloads and because of the very large numbers involved, the preparation of additional information in each case could only result, in present circumstances, in further delays in the processing of claims.