asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance was stopped on a person (name supplied) in County Offaly; and why he was not allowed to sign at Tullamore employment exchange which was more convenient for him.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
52.
The person concerned was paid unemployment assistance up to and including 28th December, 1976. Following the receipt of representations made on the person's behalf a deciding officer disallowed his application for unemployment assistance on the ground that he was not available for employment with effect from 29th December, 1976. He was notified of this decision and of his right to appeal against it if he was dissatisfied.
Persons who reside over six miles from a local office are normally required to have their evidence of unemployment certified by a member of their local Garda and are normally paid at their local post office. If, however, they represent that these arrangements constitute a hardship to them alternative arrangements are made where possible. As the person concerned was residing over six miles from the local office he was requested to furnish evidence of unemployment in the normal manner. This he agreed to do. Had he represented that the normal procedure constituted a hardship to him his request for an alternative arrangement would have been sympathetically considered. No such request was made by him.
53.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why sickness benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly from 24th June, 1976, to 1st February, 1977.
The claim for disability benefit by the person referred to by the Deputy was disallowed from 24th June, 1976, following his examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. The claimant appealed against the disallowance of benefit and in connection with his appeal he was again examined on 19th July, 1976, by a different medical referee who also found him to be capable of work. Following an oral hearing of the appeal at which the appellant attended, the appeals officer upheld the decision disallowing the claim. The appellant did not submit further medical evidence of incapacity on this claim. He submitted a new claim with a first certificate and notice of incapacity dated 1st February, 1977, and benefit is in payment on this claim.
54.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why deserted wife's benefit or allowance has not yet been sanctioned for a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
An application for deserted wife's allowance was received from the person concerned on 22nd December, 1976. The case has involved inquiries at various localities for the purpose of determining eligibility and every effort is being made to have them completed and a decision given on the application as soon as possible.
55.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position concerning an application for noncontributory old age pension made by a person in County Cork (name supplied).
By decision of the local old age pension committee given on 25th June, 1976, the latest claim to pension by the person concerned was disallowed on the ground that the means exceeded the statutory limit for entitlement to pension. No appeal was received against this decision.
56.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the renewal of the payment of disability benefit to a person (name supplied) in County Cork whose local doctor has certified that she is not fit for work.
The claim for disability benefit by the person referred to by the Deputy was disallowed from 14th February, 1977, following her examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the decision disallowing her claim and in connection with her appeal another examination by a different medical referee has been arranged. Her claim for benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report on this further examination.
57.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have unemployment assistance or benefit paid to a person in County Cork (details supplied).
The person concerned is not entitled to payment of unemployment assistance as he is not the holder of a qualification certificate which is a necessary requirement for entitlement. Unemployment benefit is not payable as he does not satisfy the relevant contribution conditions.
Following a reinvestigation of the person's means in February, 1976, in connection with a previous claim for unemployment assistance, a deciding officer revoked his qualification certificate on the ground that his means calculated in accordance with the Unemployment Assistance Acts exceeded the statutory limit applicable in his case. He was notified of this decision and of his right to appeal against it if he was dissatisfied.
His renewed application for a qualification certificate has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. When his report is to hand it will be submitted without delay to a deciding officer for consideration of entitlement to a qualification certificate and to unemployment assistance.
58.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person referred to by the Deputy claimed disability benefit from 13th January, 1977, and pay-related benefit is in payment on his claim as from 27th January, 1977, the 13th day of incapacity, at the weekly rate of £10.39, the rate appropriate to his reckonable earnings.
59.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if this person will be entitled to occupational injury benefit in view of the fact that the accident happened at work nine weeks ago.
The person referred to by the Deputy claimed injury benefit in respect of incapacity arising from an accident on 12th January, 1977, and pending completion of necessary inquiries is being paid disability benefit at the weekly rate of £26.80 which includes increases in respect of his wife and three children. His reckonable weekly earnings for pay-related benefit purposes, as supplied by the Revenue Commissioners, amounted to £14.92 and as his weekly rate of flat rate disability benefit exceeds this amount he is not entitled to pay-related benefit.
Conflicting accounts of the circumstances in which the accident occurred have been given by the claimant and by his employer and further inquiries are being made to clarify the position. When these inquiries are completed a decision will be given on his claim for injury benefit.
60.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit will be paid to a person in County Meath (details supplied) who submitted three medical certificates in October, 1976.
Disability benefit could not be paid on the claim of the person referred to by the Deputy as her insurance card for the contribution year which governed the period of her claim had apparently been incorrectly stamped and the position was being investigated. The matter has now been cleared and payment of the amount of benefit due has been made.
61.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have unemployment assistance paid to a person in County Cork (name supplied).
The person concerned was not entitled to unemployment assistance on his application of 5th January, 1977, as he was not the holder of a qualification certificate, which is a necessary requirement for entitlement to unemployment assistance. His application for a qualification certificate was refused on the ground that his means for unemployment assistance purposes exceeded the statutory limit. The applicant has appealed against the decision and his appeal has been referred to an appeals officer.
62.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why an applicant in Dublin for deserted wife's allowance (name supplied) who applied in mid-December, 1976, and who had a visit from an inspector of his Department on 20th January, 1977, has not yet received the allowance.
The person concerned first made application for deserted wife's allowance or benefit on 14th November, 1975. At that time all her six qualified children were in care and her application was rejected on the grounds that she was under 40 years of age and had no qualified child residing with her. A fresh application was received on 15th December, 1976, and was referred to the local social welfare officer for verification of the residence position of her children. It was ascertained that five of her children had resumed residence with her on 31st December, 1976, and an award of deserted wife's benefit at the appropriate rate of £31.05 a week was made to her on 9th March, 1977, with effect from 6th January, 1977. Inquiries regarding the residence position of her remaining child are still proceeding.
63.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange regular payment of unemployment benefit to a person in County Cork (name supplied) who has not received payment for seven weeks.
The person concerned made a claim for unemployment benefit on 24th January, 1977. Certain inquiries were necessary to establish that he satisfied the statutory conditions for entitlement thereto. On completion of these inquiries his claim was allowed and all arrears of unemployment benefit due were paid to him on 4th March, 1977. Further payments will continue as they fall due.