asked the Minister for Social Welfare why no decision has yet been made on the appeal of a person (name supplied) for unemployment benefit.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Benefit Appeal.
78.
The person to whom the Deputy's question relates exhausted title to unemployment benefit on 7th February, 1963. He renewed his claim on the 6th December, 1963. His title to benefit from that date depended on the validity of employment contributions which had been paid subsequent to 7th February, 1963. Following inquiries, it was held by a deciding officer, whose statutory function is to give decisions in cases of this kind, that these contributions were not valid as they had not been paid in respect of insurable employment. As a consequence the claim of 6th December, 1963 was disallowed.
The claimant appealed against the decision given in relation to the insurability of his employment during the period in respect of which stamps had been affixed to his 1963 insurance card. The appeals officer to whom the appeal was referred has decided to proceed by way of an oral hearing which will be arranged for an early date. When the result of the appeal is known, the decision already given in relation to the claim for unemployment benefit will be reviewed.
Surely the Minister will agree that it is most unreasonable that a case of an appeal in respect of unemployment benefit should be held up for five or six months while a deciding officer finds time to get around to hearing it?
In this case it was decided to arrange an oral hearing and there were difficulties in making these arrangements. It will be done as soon as possible.
Will the Minister agree the difficulties are not the fault of the insured person and that this case, which is an isolated one, has caused grave hardship to somebody dependent on unemployment benefit to live?
It can only be said to have caused grave hardship if the ultimate decision is in his favour and that has not been decided yet. At the moment the decision is the reverse of that.
Is the Minister aware that it is the custom in the country where a person hopes to get unemployment benefit to give him a certain amount of credit on the insurance he will eventually get? The Minister may be sure that if this man is living on credit, it is running out.
This is an appeal against a decision that the stamps were not affixed in respect of insurable employment. The appeal will be arranged for the earliest possible date.