22-week wait to process new dole applications
Figures obtained by the Irish Examiner reveal the astonishing and growing waiting times facing people recently made redundant.
In one area, dole applicants will have to wait until next February to have their applications processed.
The longest wait for the means-tested jobseekers allowance is in Edenderry, Co Offaly, where processing times average more than 22 weeks.
The figures for August show areas where the unemployed must wait until the New Year to get payments.
Among the other areas with lengthy waiting times are Ballinrobe, Co Mayo (17.6 weeks), Castlepollard, Co Westmeath (17.6), Loughrea, Co Galway (17.6), Tuam, Co Galway (16.1) and Boyle, Co Roscommon (15.6).
The Department of Social and Family Affairs admitted the lengthy wait was “still too long in some areas. Backlogs were being tackled with extra staff and improved methods of handling applications, it added.
Over the past year, the numbers signing on has increased by 78%, from 247,000 to 440,000.
In August, the average processing times nationwide were four weeks for jobseekers benefit (based on a person’s PRSI contributions) and seven weeks for jobseeker allowance claims.
Numbers seeking the dole are more or less split between the two claim types.
However, those in need of welfare are complaining that often dole office staff are on training several days a week, creating additional delay.
In addition, applicants are being told to present their best “poor-mouth story” in order to receive supplements while they wait for their application to be processed.
Support groups last night warned of the worsening situation.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) said those waiting for applications to be processed were coming to their doors looking for food and food vouchers.
“A significant number of people are those waiting for assessments. The department needs a more sensible system in analysing incomes or means testing,” said the charity’s national vice-president John Monaghan.
There was a problem with the volume of new applications and the expertise of staff handling applications, he said. “We need to find more [staff]. The numbers signing on are going to increase in every village and area.”
The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed said the waiting times were “appalling”.
“People are in real difficult positions. The system is bursting at the seams now,” said Bríd O’Brien, the organisation’s head of policy.
Ms O’Brien warned that those waiting for dole assessments were then going into a second queue for welfare supplements under the HSE system. She said this was already overburdened with claims for back to school allowances, rent supplements and mortgage relief claims.
