asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be finalised.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
91.
Following a review of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed, with effect from 16 September 1985, at £11.50 weekly, derived from the profit from his holding. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £30.85 weekly, being the appropriate rate in his case of £42.35 less means of £11.50. The person concerned appealed, on 12 November 1985, against the means assessment and arrangements are being made to refer the case to an appeals officer for determination at the first available opportunity. The rate of unemployment assistance payable will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
92.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will reopen and reinvestigate the case of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath and arrange that a reappeal be carried out immediately.
Following a review of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, he was assessed with means of £65.35 weekly derived from self-employment and from the profit from his holding. He appealed against this decision and an appeals officer on 4 February 1985 also assessed him with means of £65.35. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance at £14.15 weekly being the appropriate rate in his case of £79.50 less means of £65.35.
If he considers that his circumstances have changed, it is open to him to request a review of his means. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office. If dissatisfied with the decision given following this review, it would then be open to the person concerned to appeal against the decision and have his means assessed by an appeals officer.
93.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for an early oral hearing for a person (details supplied) in County Laois to expedite a decision on her appeal agaisnt the disallowance of her disability benefit.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 22 June 1985 after which date payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance of benefit and was examined by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. Her case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of her claim as soon as possible.
94.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will explain how investigations into cheques which were lost by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 and were cashed in his name have still not been completed.
The person concerned reported the non-receipt of 20 cheques in respect of disability benefit during the period from October 1981 to April 1982. The Department is satisfied that the cheques in question were received and cashed by either the person concerned or his wife and there is no outstanding benefit payable in this case.
95.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not in receipt of a disability allowance.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 29 November 1984 to 5 April 1985. Medical certificates covering the period from 6 April 1985 to 20 September 1985. There was a delay in issuing payment on these certificates pending the confirmation of details of supplementary welfare allowance advanced to her by the Southern Health Board. The position has now been clarified and all benefit payable to 5 November 1985, the date of the latest medical certificate received, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the health board, was issued to her on 19 November 1985.
96.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be considered for an invalidity pension in view of his permanent incapacity and his low income.
The person concerned made a claim to occupational injury benefit on 1 October 1985. Pending the completion of investigations in regard to this claim his entitlement to disability benefit on an interim basis was examined. However, as he has less than the minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the contribution year governing his claim, 1983-84, he did not qualify for disability benefit. His entitlement to occupational injury benefit will be determined when the investigations referred to above are completed. His entitlement to invalidity pension has also been considered. That pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. One of the contribution conditions is that the claimant must have not less than 48 contributions paid or credited in the last completed contribution year before the date of the claim. The contribution year at present governing entitlement to invalidity pension is the period from April 1984 to April 1985. According to the records of the Department there are no such weeks of insurable employment registered in respect of the person concerned for this period. He is not therefore qualified for invalidity pension.
97.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive a children's allowance.
The claimant in this case has already received payment in respect of the child in question up to and including May 1985, when he reached sixteen years of age. There is no record of receipt of an application for continuation of the allowance in respect of him from the person concerned. In the light of the Deputy's question an application form has now been issued to the claimant and as soon as the completed form is returned to the Department it will be dealt with without delay.
98.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was reduced in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following a recent reinvestigation of the means of the person concerned, the means assessed against her were increased from £7.45 to £28.10 weekly. Her means are derived from the value of board and lodging in her father's home. She is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance at £3.65 weekly, being the appropriate rate in her case of £31.75 less means of £28.10. She appealed on 4 November 1985 against the amount of means assessed against her and her case has been submitted to an appeals officer for determination. Her rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
99.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance is not now being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is subject to the condition that an applicant must be capable of work. The person concerned received unemployment assistance from 1981 but when she recently became incapable of work, her entitlement to unemployment ceased.
The person concerned applied for disability benefit on 18 September 1985, but she does not satisfy the contribution condition for receipt of that benefit and her application has been forwarded to the British Department of Health and Social Security, who will decide on her entitlement to British sickness benefit, based on her British employment contributions. If the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet her needs, she may apply to her local community welfare officer for supplementary welfare allowance.