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Eliminating Social Welfare Poverty Traps
Eliminating Social Welfare Poverty Traps
OCTOBER 2013
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FIANNA FIL DISCUSSION PAPER ON ELIMINATING SOCIAL WELFARE POVERTY TRAPS
Introduction
Sometimes an individual is financially better off by staying on social welfare rather than taking up employment. There are a number of traps in the social welfare code which makes it unaffordable for a person to move from welfare to work. Obviously these must be eliminated. However reducing social welfare is not the way to proceed. Irelands social welfare system needs fundamental reform. The gains made by social welfare recipients between 2001 and 2008 were built on a very low base. The past three budgets have been independently assessed as being regressive. The net affect has been that both persons dependent on social welfare and low income families have suffered more by comparison with the well off. The number living below the poverty line has increased substantially. One in five children in this country is now living in a household where the income is below the poverty line this is twice the O.E.C.D. average. The following three proposals are designed to make it more attractive for people to move from welfare to work when it is available, without further punishing those who are forced to depend on welfare to live from week to week.
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FIANNA FIL DISCUSSION PAPER ON ELIMINATING SOCIAL WELFARE POVERTY TRAPS
b)
already at the maximum amount). He already had an idea and accepted that he would not benefit from the full amount of his proposed earnings but was very frustrated and disappointed to learn that he would actually be worse off financially by taking the job. c) The annual review system whereby someone whose circumstances worsen (or whose family size increases) cannot apply for an increased rate of F.I.S. until their next annual review date is an issue that affected this gentleman greatly. This man was working full time receiving 350 net a week and F.I.S. of 62. His wifes Maternity Benefit has just ended (January 2013). F.I.S. is not up for renewal until September. With earlier renewal they would be 150 per week better off between now and September. The Family is 40 under the Social Welfare Allowance rate but they cannot get SWA as the husband works more than 29 hours per week. (C.I.P.S.)
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FIANNA FIL DISCUSSION PAPER ON ELIMINATING SOCIAL WELFARE POVERTY TRAPS
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FIANNA FIL DISCUSSION PAPER ON ELIMINATING SOCIAL WELFARE POVERTY TRAPS
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FIANNA FIL DISCUSSION PAPER ON ELIMINATING SOCIAL WELFARE POVERTY TRAPS
311 (4) :
(a) An Appeals Officer shall decide an appeal within a prescribed time of 60 working days from the date of receipt of the appeal. (b) Where notice of a decision under s.311 is not given to the appellant who made the appeal concerned before the expiration of the period specified in s.311(4)(a), a decision upholding the appeal shall be deemed to have been made upon such expiration. (c) An Appeals Officer may apply to the Chief Appeals Officer for an extension of time to consider the appeal in exceptional circumstances but the Appeals Officer must demonstrate the reasons for the delay and the appellant shall be informed of the reasons for the delay in writing.
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FIANNA FIL DISCUSSION PAPER ON ELIMINATING SOCIAL WELFARE POVERTY TRAPS
WILLIE ODEA TD