Staff in Social Welfare offices ‘working flat’ out to process jobseekers claims – Hanafin

Average processing time for jobseekers benefit is two weeks

Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin T.D., today (22nd January 2009) released figures for processing times for jobseeker’s payments in all of social welfare offices. “Average processing times for Jobseeker’s Benefit nationally was two weeks and Jobseeker’s Allowance was five weeks last month.”

There are almost 2000 staff working in offices throughout the country processing claims, and an extra 115 posts were recently approved by Government to help the busiest offices.  We are continuously monitoring our staffing levels and processing times and additional staff will be allocated in the coming months in order to deal with the increasing workloads across the country” said the Minister.

Minister Hanafin said “staff across all of our social welfare offices are under extreme pressure coping with the increased numbers coming onto the Live Register.  They are implementing measures to improve processing times and ensure that payments are made to people as speedily as possible.  However, checks have to be made to ensure that people receive the correct entitlement.  While some offices are experiencing a huge increase in claims, there is bound to be an impact on processing times.

I appreciate that becoming unemployed is a very difficult time in a persons life, and for many people this is the first time in their lives they are out of work.  But the Government is doing everything to, firstly, ensure that the servicers are available to support them. The Department’s of Social and Family Affairs, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Education are co-operating to create more jobs and training opportunities for those who are losing their jobs. It is important that people are able to access services and supports as quickly as possible” said the Minister

The Minister said while the vast bulk of claims are dealt with in only a matter of a few weeks, some offices have much longer processing times.  In some cases claims are more difficult to process as means testing is required, or other checks, such as habitual residence and social insurance contributions made in other EU members states.  All of this can impact on the payment of Jobseekers Allowance claims, whereas Jobseekers Benefit claims are more straightforward as they are based on contributions record.

The Minister released details of all the Social Welfare Local Offices and Branch Offices processing times (spreadsheet attached), which shows the national average is 2.07 weeks for Jobseekers Benefit and 5.31 weeks for Jobseekers Allowance.

Anyone who is under financial pressure while awaiting a decision on their claim for a Jobseeker’s payment can apply to their local Community Welfare Officer for Supplementary Welfare Allowance which is subject to a means test and qualifying conditions.

ENDS

SWLO - Social Welfare Local Office. These offices are operated and managed by staff of the Department of Social and Family Affairs

SWBO - Social Welfare Branch Office. These offices are operated and managed, under a contract for services, by a Branch Manager who is required to act as an agent for the Department in the area served by the office. Branch Managers are responsible for employing their own staff and the Department has no function in this regard.