Waiting times for social welfare claims ‘unacceptable’

Applicants for invalidity pensions are waiting over a year to get their money while those applying for the carer’s allowance must wait more than eight months.

Those applying for the disability allowance must wait an average of 23 weeks to get their entitlements, while those lodging new claims for family income supplement must wait an average of 14 weeks.

The waiting times for 22 social welfare payment types were revealed by Social Protection Minister Joan Burton in response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin’s finance spokesman Pearse Doherty.