Those depending on the Family Income Supplement (FIS) are being denied payment for up to 10 weeks because of a Government "foul-up", Fine Gael spokesman on social and family affairs David Stanton claimed yesterday.
He said the Department of Social and Family Affairs appeared unable to handle the number of FIS applications and was suspending payments to existing reapplying recipients as a result. "The FIS is a weekly tax-free payment for families, including one-parent families, at work on low pay. However, those reapplying recently have been told that they will receive nothing for up 10 weeks."
Mr Stanton said it was not good enough for the Minister responsible, Séamus Brennan, to say that all eligible recipients would receive a full back-payment. "Some families receive a FIS of €400 a week and denying this payment for even one week will cause incredible hardship."
He said there were 18,500 families in receipt of the FIS.
