asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons on disability benefit referred to medical referees in each month in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976; and the number adjudged to be capable of work.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
86.
The number of persons on disability benefit referred to medical referees in each month in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 and the number adjudged capable of work are as follows:
|
1973 |
1974 |
1975 |
1976 |
|||||
|
Referred |
Capable |
Referred |
Capable |
Referred |
Capable |
Referred |
Capable |
|
|
January |
3,531 |
308 |
2,775 |
336 |
2,259 |
242 |
3,491 |
551 |
|
February |
2,091 |
208 |
2,528 |
290 |
2,495 |
246 |
3,998 |
660 |
|
March |
2,505 |
328 |
1,630 |
174 |
1,415 |
165 |
3,564 |
551 |
|
April |
2,866 |
320 |
1,855 |
215 |
2,260 |
267 |
5,598 |
1,041 |
|
May |
3,262 |
413 |
2,436 |
258 |
2,964 |
325 |
5,171 |
1,001 |
|
June |
2,650 |
313 |
1,760 |
211 |
2,189 |
230 |
4,036 |
822 |
|
July |
2,567 |
267 |
2,040 |
242 |
2,274 |
257 |
6,030 |
1,157 |
|
August |
2,107 |
274 |
2,662 |
284 |
2,587 |
248 |
5,042 |
1,059 |
|
September |
3,212 |
359 |
2,206 |
210 |
3,781 |
420 |
5,940 |
1,301 |
|
October |
3,574 |
368 |
3,060 |
293 |
4,982 |
571 |
7,878 |
1,723 |
|
November |
4,428 |
464 |
2,811 |
271 |
3,664 |
493 |
7,108 |
1,503 |
|
December |
2,364 |
235 |
2,265 |
206 |
3,352 |
415 |
6,350 |
1,156 |
87.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when his Department will give a decision regarding the lost card for 1975 of a person (details supplied) in County Meath so that he will qualify for unemployment benefit.
The 1975 insurance card of the person concerned has now been received and his claim for unemployment benefit has been allowed. Arrangements have been made to have an adjusting payment made this week, representing the difference between unemployment benefit due to him and the amount of unemployment assistance paid in the meantime. Further payments of unemployment benefit will continue as they fall due.
88.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath who is signing on in Trim.
The person concerned cannot be paid unemployment benefit on his claim of 23rd December, 1976 as it has been decided by a deciding officer that he lost his employment through conduct which disqualified him from receiving unemployment benefit for a period of six weeks. He has been notified of the deciding officer's decision and of his right to appeal against it if he is dissatisfied.
89.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath who is getting unemployment benefit since 21st September, 1976 and who had been working for the previous five-and-a-half years.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit of the person concerned depended on the amount of his earnings in the 1974-75 income tax year. On the information available to my Department his earnings in that year were insufficient to entitle him to such benefit. He has been requested to supply further information regarding his earnings during the period in question but has so far failed to do so. When this information has been received his entitlement to pay-related benefit will be reviewed and payment of any arrears which may be due in his case will be made without delay.
90.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (name supplied) in County Offaly who applied two months ago.
Unemployment benefit was paid to the person at the maximum rate applicable to a married man with a wife and four dependent children up to and including 24th November, 1976. A deciding officer then disallowed his claim for a period of six weeks with effect from 25th November, 1976 on the statutory ground that he had failed or neglected to avail himself of a reasonable opportunity of obtaining suitable employment or alternatively that he had refused an offer of suitable employment. He has appealed against the deciding officer's decision and arrangements are being made for an oral hearing of his case before an appeals officer at which it will be open to him to attend and give evidence on his own behalf. He will be notified in due course of the place, date and time of the hearing.
On the expiration of the period of disqualification his case was reviewed and again disallowed by a deciding officer with effect from 6th January, 1977 on the ground that he is not available for employment. He has also been notified of this decision and of his right of appeal if dissatisfied.
91.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (name supplied) in County Laois who applied last November.
Unemployment assistance has not been paid to the person concerned as she is not the holder of a qualification certificate which is a necessary requirement for entitlement to such assistance. Her renewed application for a qualification certificate has been referred to the local social welfare officer for investigation. On receipt of his report a decision will be given on her applications for a qualification certificate and for unemployment assistance without delay.
92.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (name supplied) in County Offaly who applied on 18th October, 1976.
Unemployment assistance was not paid to the person concerned on his application of the 15th October, 1976 as he was not the holder of a qualification certificate which is a necessary requirement for entitlement to such assistance. An earlier application for such a certificate was disallowed by a deciding officer on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit for entitlement thereto. His renewed application for a qualification certificate has been investigated by a social welfare officer and on the basis of the information furnished by him a deciding officer assessed his weekly rate of means at £1.90 with effect from 21st October 1976. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £15.75 —that is, the maximum weekly rate applicable to a married man with a wife and one child dependent resident in a rural area—£17.65—less the weekly rate of means assessed in his case, £1.90. Arrangements have been made to have all arrears of unemployment assistance due paid to him this week.
93.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why pay-related benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit of the person concerned depends on the amount of his earnings during the 1974-75 income tax year. This information was not available to my Department when he made his claim to unemployment benefit on 19th November, 1976. He was requested to supply information regarding his earnings during the period in question but has so far failed to do so. When this information has been received, his entitlement to pay-related benefit will be reviewed and payment of any arrears which may be due in his case will be made without delay.
94.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why the unemployment assistance appeal of a person (name supplied) in County Kildare has not been listed for oral hearing; and the reasons for delay.
Arrangements have been made for an oral hearing in the case of the person concerned before an appeals officer early in February. He will be notified during the next few days of the date, venue and time of the hearing at which it will be open to him to attend and give evidence on his own behalf. It is regretted that it was not possible to have the appeal heard earlier due to pressure of work in the appeals branch of the Department.