asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of unemployment assistance to a person (name supplied) in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
59.
Following the receipt of the report of the local social welfare officer referred to in my reply to the Deputy's previous question of 29th March last regarding the application for unemployment assistance of the person concerned a deciding officer decided that on and from 30th March, 1977, the applicant's means assessed on a factual basis exceeded the statutory limit applicable in his case. Accordingly he was not entitled to payment of unemployment assistance. He has been notified of this decision and of his right to appeal against it if he is dissatisfied.
60.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why £9 unemployment assistance only was paid to a person in County Offaly (details supplied).
: The person concerned was being paid unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £9.00 on the basis of his weekly rate of means of £19.15, being the estimated income which he as head of the household could reasonably expect to receive from his wife's earnings while she was in wage earning employment. Following his requests for reinvestigation of his means a deciding officer reassessed his weekly rate of means at £6.35 from 23rd February, 1977, to 25th March, 1977, and at Nil from 26th March, 1977, and authorisations of payment to him were revised accordingly. All arrears of unemployment assistance due were paid to him on Thursday last and further payments at the weekly rate of £28.15 being the maximum weekly rate payable in his case will continue as they fall due.
61.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the approximate number of persons in receipt of the following pensions in respect of the Dublin county area: (a) contributory old age pension, (b) retirement pension, (c) widow's pension and (d) invalidity pension.
: Statistics are not maintained on a regional basis for contributory old age, widows' and retirement pensions and information on which to base reliable approximations of the number of recipients of these pensions in the area specified is not available. The number of invalidity pensions in payment in the Dublin area on 30th April, 1977, was 1,634 of which 324 were in the Dublin county area, including Dún Laoghaire.
62.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have pay-related benefit paid to a person in County Cork (details supplied).
Entitlement to pay-related benefit of the person concerned depended on the amount of his earnings in the 1975-76 income tax year. Information regarding his earnings in that year was not available to my Department. He has been requested to supply particulars of 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 any payment which may be due to him will be made without delay.
63.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why retirement pension has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
A retirement pension which includes an allowance in respect of his wife has been awarded to the person concerned at the rate of £19.95 a week with effect from 3rd February, 1977, increased to £21.75 a week as from 31st March, 1977. A pension book containing pension pay orders payable from 7th April, 1977, was issued on 19th May, 1977, to his local post office for collection by him. A payable order for £181.35 in respect of the balance of arrears due was issued to him on 20th May, 1977.
64.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath, who applied last February.
An authorisation for the payment of pay-related benefit due to the person concerned on his claim of 28th February, 1977, was issued to him on 13th May, 1977. Further payments will continue as they fall due.
65.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in making payment of 3 weeks unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and when payment will be made.
The person concerned made an application for unemployment assistance on 7th March, 1977, following the exhaustion of his unemployment benefit entitlement. Particulars of his case had been forwarded to the local social welfare officer for investigation of his circumstances. Necessary inquiries into his circumstances were somewhat protracted as the applicant was not available for interview on a number of occasions when an officer of the Department called at his home. They have now been completed, however, and unemployment assistance has been awarded to him from the date of his application at the maximum rate applicable in his case. All unemployment assistance due less a refund of home assistance amounting to £8.00 due to the Eastern Health Board was paid to him on Friday last.