FIS applicants may not get aid in time for Christmas

A backlog in the Department of Social Protection means people due to apply for a family income supplement will not have it in time for Christmas.

Thousands of families on lower incomes will be affected as the waiting list for new applicants has more than 7,000 people on it.

They are waiting an average of 4.5 months and the delay is such that any new requests will not be processed in time for Christmas.

Up to 8,000 families are already on the scheme but have to reapply for support every year and they are waiting four months to be dealt with.

The income supplement is targeted at families where there is a person working but they are not earning enough to support their household.

In cases where a family has one child they must earn less than €506 to qualify for the additional support.

The Department, in a response to Deputy Denis Naughten, said it had recently begun to try to find ways of reducing the waiting times in this area.

To claim the supplement a person must be working for at least 19 hours a week and have at least one child under the age of 18.

The payment is not taxed and it does not count against a person if they are applying for a medical card.

However, if people are eligible for the supplement they will not receive until their claims have been processed and the waiting time is at least 16 weeks.