asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a much higher rate of unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit paid to a person (name supplied) in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
77.
The rates of unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit being paid to the person concerned are the maximum to which he is entitled having regard to his contribution record and to the number of days which have elapsed in his present period of entitlement to these benefits.
78.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Edenderry, County Offaly.
Payment of all unemployment benefit due to the person concerned was made to him on 2nd April, 1976. Further payments will continue as they fall due.
79.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Tullamore, County Offaly.
Payment of unemployment benefit has not been made to the person concerned on his claim of 20th February, 1976, as he did not satisfy the contribution condition which requires that at least 26 employment contributions should have been paid or credited in respect of him in the 1974 contribution year. The case has been referred to the local social welfare officer for inquiries as to whether further contributions are due in respect of him for that year. On completion of these inquiries, a decision will be given on his claim without delay.
80.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a dependent relative allowance paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
A prescribed relative's allowance has been included since 2nd January, 1970, in the contributory widow's pension payable to the mother of the person named by the Deputy. The current rate of her mother's contributory widow's pension is £17.55 a week which includes an increase of £5.70 a week in respect of the prescribed relative named. The legislation governing such an allowance provides that it shall be paid as an increase of the relevant pension.
81.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have unemployment assistance or benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned is not a current claimant for either unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance. Arrangements have been made to have the necessary forms issued to him to enable him to claim unemployment benefit if he is at present unemployed.
82.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why no unemployment benefit or pay-related benefit has been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois since he signed on in January.
When the person concerned made his claim for unemployment benefit on 23rd January, 1976, a question arose as to whether he satisfied all the statutory conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefit and the case was accordingly referred to the local social welfare officer for investigation and report. It is expected that these inquiries will shortly be completed when a decision will be given on his claim for unemployment benefit without delay. His entitlement to pay-related benefit depends on whether he satisfies the conditions for the receipt of unemployment benefit.
In the meantime arrangements have been made for payment to him of unemployment assistance at the appropriate rate with effect from 23rd January, 1976.
Further payments will continue as they fall due.
83.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have disability benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork whose doctor certified her unfit for work.
Payment of disability benefit to the person referred to by the Deputy was disallowed from 9th March, 1976, following examination by a medical referee of my Department who expressed the opinion that she is capable of work. She has appealed against the disallowance and in connection with her appeal another examination by a different medical referee is being arranged as soon as possible. Her claim for benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report on this further examination.
84.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a recipient of old age pension (details supplied) in County Donegal is not in receipt of the full amount; and why he has not qualified for a contributory pension.
The person concerned was awarded and paid from 9th May, 1975, a maximum rate non-contributory old age pension of £13.25 a week which included an increase of £4.40 in respect of his wife. He has received increases in pension of 70p a week from 3rd October, 1975 and of £1.40 a week from 2nd April, 1976, bringing his pension to £15.35 a week which is the maximum payable.
A statutory condition for the receipt of contributory old age pension requires a claimant to have not less than 156 employment contributions paid in respect of his employment. Only 48 contributions, however, are recorded as paid in respect of the employment in this country of the person concerned and he fails to qualify for a contributory pension on his Irish insurance for this reason.
In view of his British insurance, however, his pension position is being examined further in conjunction with the British Department of Health and Social Security to see whether, on a combination of his Irish and British insurances, he may have pension entitlements from either or both Departments under EEC regulations. Final decision awaits determination by the British Department of his British entitlement and notification of the position to my Department. The British Department has been requested to expedite its determination.