asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Laois for a lengthy period from 27th September, 1976.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
74.
The person concerned was paid unemployment benefit up to the 20th October, 1976. Subsequently a deciding officer disallowed his claim for a period of six weeks from 27th September, 1976, on the statutory ground that he had left his employment voluntarily without just cause. He also decided that his decision should only have effect as from the 21st October, 1976, thus allowing the payment of unemployment benefit already made in the case. The person concerned was notified of this decision and of his right to appeal against it if he was dissatisfied. He did not do so, however.
On the expiration of the six weeks' period of disqualification he again became entitled to unemployment benefit. Payment of arrears of benefit due in respect of the period from 8th to 27th November, 1976, inclusive was made to him by post on Friday last. He resumed employment on 29th November, 1976.
75.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit has not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who applied on 5th October, 1976.
A claim for unemployment benefit made by the person concerned on 25th October, 1976, was disallowed by a deciding officer on the ground that she did not satisfy the statutory condition for entitlement to unemployment benefit which requires a claimant to be available for employment. She has appealed against this decision and arrangements are being made for an oral hearing of her case before an appeals officer. She will be notified as soon as possible of the place, date and time of the hearing at which it will be open to her to attend and give evidence on her own behalf.
76.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who applied on 23rd December, 1976.
A claim for unemployment benefit made by the person concerned on 25th October, 1976, was disallowed by a deciding officer on the ground that she did not satisfy the statutory condition for entitlement to unemployment benefit which requires a claimant to be available for employment. The claimant appealed against the decision, but it was upheld by an appeals officer after an oral hearing of the case at which she gave evidence on her own behalf.
An appeals officer's decision is final in the absence of new facts or fresh evidence.
77.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why free electricity was stopped for a person (name supplied) in County Offaly who is 91 years of age and whose wife is 77 years; and if he is aware of the hardship this has caused.
The free electricity allowance of the person concerned was terminated because he no longer satisfied the condition for entitlement that he must be living alone. To satisfy the condition he would require to be either living alone or only with the following excepted persons: his wife, a dependent child, an invalided person, another old-age type pensioner, or if he is incapacitated one other person to give him care and attention. In the course of normal investigation, however, it was found that his household consisted of his wife, his married daughter, his son-in-law and two grandchildren. As his son-in-law does not come within the expected category he does not satisfy this condition. At the time of his original application in 1970 his household consisted only of himself and of his wife.
78.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying a widows' and orphans' pension to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
An application for contributory widow's pension was received from the person named by the Deputy on the 5th January, 1977. An incorrect social welfare insurance number was quoted by the applicant on her claim form and this caused delay in identifying the insurance record of her late husband.
An award of pension at the maximum rate of £19.35 a week was made in the case on 10th February, 1977.
79.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that the non-contributory old age pension payable to a person (name supplied) in County Cork was discontinued and that his case was not referred to the local committee; and if he will now arrange to have it sent to the local committee.
I am aware that the old age pension which was in payment to the person concerned was discontinued because following investigation of means a question had been raised as to whether he was entitled to pension at the rates paid. This question has to be referred to the local pension committee for decision and this is now being done. It is regretted that the Deputy was wrongly informed in reply to his representations that the case had already been referred to the committee, but in fact this reference was suspended to enable certain matters to be clarified.
80.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange payment to a person (details supplied) in County Cork of unemployment benefit which was due on 7th February, 1977.
All unemployment benefit due to the person concerned was issued for payment on Friday, the 11th February, 1977. The payment which was to have been made in the previous week was delayed due to a trade dispute which affected postal deliveries in the Limerick area.
81.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a married man with three children in County Tipperary (details supplied) is not receiving his maximum entitlement to unemployment assistance.
The maximum rate of unemployment assistance is not payable to the person concerned as his weekly rate of means was assessed by a deciding officer for unemployment assistance purposes at £5.85. On the basis of these means, which are mainly derived from self-employment as a carpenter, he is entitled to unemployment assistance at the reduced weekly rate of £16.65, that is, the maximum rate of £22.50 applicable in his case, less his weekly rate of means. He has been notified of his right to appeal against the deciding officer's assessment of means in his case if he is dissatisfied with it.
82.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of people entitled to free travel on the most recent date for which figures are available; and the number of additional people who will be entitled to free travel from 1st April, 1977.
The estimated number of persons in the country at present entitled to free travel is 286,000. It is estimated that an additional 40,000 persons will become entitled to free travel from 1st April, 1977.