asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons sick benefit has not been paid to a person in County Offaly (details supplied) who applied last May.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
413.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit in May 1979 but she was not qualified for payment at that stage as contributions due in respect of the 1977-78 insurance year, on which her entitlement to benefit depended, had not been received.
Following inquiries by my Department the outstanding contributions were collected and payment of disability benefit due to 11 October 1979, the date of the last medical certificate received, issued on 19 November 1979.
414.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons an old age contributory pension has not been paid to a person in County Offaly (details supplied).
The person concerned only reached pension age on 30 November 1979. An old age (contributory) pension at the maximum married rate has been awarded to him from that date and a pension order book has been issued for collection by him at Tullamore post office.
415.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons a contributory pension has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned was in receipt of contributory old age pension at the maximum married rate up to the death of his wife on 5 June 1979. However, the notification of death was not received until after the postal dispute ended. His married rate pension book was then recalled and a single rate book issued instead. When his old book was received it was necessary to clarify with him the number of payments he had received on the "stubs" during the dispute in order to calculate the amount of the arrears due. A payable order for this amount issued to him on 15 November 1979.
416.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have an application for a contributory old age pension (details supplied) in County Cork processed.
The person concerned attained pension age on 16 March 1979. His claim for a contributory pension dated 31 July 1979 was received on 27 August 1979 with an accompanying letter from the local social welfare officer stating that he had first applied for non-contributory pension in error. He quoted an incorrect social insurance number on his claim form. His correct insurance number was only received from him on 28 September 1979 and his marriage certificate on 22 November 1979. He was awarded pension at the maximum married rate effective from 16 March 1979 and a pension order book payable from 5 October 1979 was issued to the post office. The arrears of pension due for the period 16 March to 4 October 1979 will issue shortly by payable order.
417.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons a person (details supplied) in County Offaly has not been granted a full widow's pension due since last May and which should include an increase in respect of her son.
The person concerned is in receipt of a widow's contributory pension at the maximum rate applicable to a widow with one qualified child dependant. Her son, who attained 18 years on 5 April 1979, is employed as an apprentice in a garage. An increase of pension in respect of a child aged between 18 and 21 years is payable only when the child is school-going on a full-time basis. Accordingly the widow is not entitled to an increase in respect of her son.
418.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of orphans pension due since April last will be paid to an applicant (details supplied) in Cork.
The person concerned was in receipt of a contributory orphan's allowance in respect of her 20-year-old grand-daughter up to 6 July 1979. The allowance was terminated on the basis of a statement that full-time university study would cease from that date. Following confirmation on 26 November 1979 that the orphan is continuing to receive full-time education the allowance has been restored. A pension order book payable from 5 October 1979 has issued and all arears due to 4 October 1979 will issue shortly.
419.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension, applied for last July, will be paid to an applicant (details supplied) in County Dublin.
A report will be referred to the local pension committee on this case as soon as the investigation of the claimant's means is completed. An officer of my Department has called twice recently to the claimant's address but there was nobody at home. The officer will call again this week and has advised the claimant to this effect.
420.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present amount of the maternity grant; the year in which it was first introduced; and the figure at which it would now stand if it had been indexed for inflation since introduction.
The present amount of the maternity grant, which was first introduced in 1912, is £8. Two such grants are payable in respect of a confinement if both the husband and wife are insured and satisfy the contribution conditions.
The earliest date for which statistics of inflation are available is January 1922. If the grant had been indexed for inflation since that date the amount in August 1979 would be in the region of £24.
421.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of money in each year 1977 and 1978 wrongly withheld by employers on foot of deductions for social welfare purposes from employees, the amounts subsequently recovered as a result of court action or otherwise, the number of prosecutions of employers for failure to pay over such moneys instituted in each of the years concerned, the number of such prosecutions successfully concluded in each year and the number of such prosecutions initiated in the current year and the amount of money involved in the current year to date.
Information regarding the amounts deducted by employers from employees as their share of social insurance contributions is not available in my Department. As the Deputy is aware, the employer is liable in the first instance for the payment of the full contribution but he may deduct the employee's share from any wages due.
In the years 1977 and 1978 arrears of social insurance contributions —employers' and employees' share—totalling £4.4 million and £4.9 million respectively, were recovered from employers by my Department as a result of action at local level and in some cases following court proceedings. In each of those years more than 400 cases were referred to the Chief State Solicitor for institution of proceedings against defaulting employers.
The corresponding data in relation to 1979 will not be available until after the end of the year.
422.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons a person (details supplied) in County Meath did not receive any payment or disability benefit for five weeks and when he will be paid fully up to date.
The person concerned did not receive his disability benefit payments from 8 October 1979 due to an incorrect entry in the Department's computer records. All benefit due from that date has now been paid. He was transferred to invalidity pension from 29 November 1979.
423.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a non-contributory old age pension paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
A decision will be given on this case by an appeals officer of my Department as soon as confirmation is received that the deed of transfer of the holding has been stamped.
424.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons a person on long duration benefit (details supplied) in Dublin, declared fit for work by a medical referee, who had this decision reversed on appeal and submitted the relevant certificates, has been refused payment at her local labour exchange.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from June 1977 to 8 September 1979 after which date she was considered fit for work following examination by a medical referee of my Department. At the same time she submitted a final certificate from her doctor certifying her as fit to resume work from 10 September 1979.
She then claimed unemployment benefit from 11 September 1979 and this claim was disallowed on the grounds of non-availability for work. This decision was upheld on appeal. Due to an error, however, she received a notification intended for another claimant which indicated that her claim was allowed.
In any event she would not have been entitled to payment of unemployment benefit as she exhausted her entitlement thereto on 4 June 1977 and had not obtained the necessary 13 requalifying contributions after that date. She again cltimed disability benefit from 7 November 1979 and this claim, which covered a further incapacity, has been admitted for payment.
425.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a widow's pension reissued to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
A widow's contributory pension renewal order book, payable from 5 October 1979, was issued to the post office nominated by the person concerned in September 1979. As it has been confirmed that this book was not received by the pensioner a duplicate order book was issued to the designated post office on 21 November 1979.