THE GOVERNMENT says a new way of fast-tracking claims for unemployment benefit will result in shorter dole queues and reduced waiting times for processing applications.
The surge in unemployment over the past year had resulted in a backlog of claims for jobseekers’ benefits, with some applicants forced to wait several months before a payment is cleared. At present, the average processing times for the jobseekers’ benefit is just over three weeks and the jobseekers’ allowance is six weeks.
A new way of processing applications, which seeks to authorise payments within a matter of days, was successfully tested in Dundalk’s main social welfare office.
It is now being extended to about one-third – or 20 – local social welfare offices around the State.
The Department of Social and Family Affairs plans to further extend it to other local social welfare offices over the coming months. There are no plans to extend it to branch offices, which service smaller towns.
Following an agreement with the Civil and Public Service Union, Minister for Social Affairs Mary Hanafin said the initiative would benefit claimants as well as staff.
“It significantly reduces the waiting times for the customer and backlogs of claims waiting for a decision As the payment is made very quickly, there is no need for customers to avail of the supplementary welfare allowance, which is administered by the HSE’s community welfare officer.”
Ms Hanafin accepted processing times in some welfare offices were “unacceptably long” and the department was working to address this through setting up support offices whose only function was to decide on and put claims into payment.
“Extending this fast-track decision process to more offices around the country should have a significant impact on the waiting times being experienced.”
The new system works by giving appointments to new or repeat applicants for unemployment assistance within two or three working days of their initial visit.
Social welfare offices where fast-tracking procedures are being introduced include Dundalk; Navan; Letterkenny; Cork; Listowel; Carlow; Kilkenny; Waterford; Galway; Bray, Blanchardstown and Drogheda. In Dublin, the offices include Tara Street, Ballymun, Bishop’s Square, King’s Inns Street, Nutgrove, Thomas Street, Ballyfermot and Tallaght.
