asked the Minister for Social Welfare if Social Welfare insurance payment has been received in full from an employer in respect of an employee (details supplied) in Dublin and if he will make a statement on the matter with particular reference to the employee's benefits paid to date.
Written Answers - Social Welfare Benefits.
219.
On 12 March 1980 the insured person concerned wrote to my Department alleging that his employer had not paid social insurance contributions in respect of him for periods in 1978 and 1979 when he was in insurable employment. On 15 April 1980 the employer paid contributions due from 1 March 1978 to 5 February 1979. Contributions had earlier been paid in respect of the period October to December 1977.
All benefits due to the insured person have been paid in respect of the six claims to unemployment benefit made by him from 16 February 1979 to 12 April 1980.
220.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin, the amount involved, and the date to which the arrears are backdated.
The person concerned has been claiming disability benefit since 25 February 1980. He is not, however, entitled to payment as he has not the required minimum of 26 paid or credited contributions in 1978, the contribution year governing his claim. According to the records of my Department he had 20 paid and five credited contributions in that year. He was informed of the reason for the non-payment of disability benefit on his claim on 6 March 1980.
221.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 5 November to 10 November 1979, after which date he was certified as fit to resume work. He again claimed benefit from 3 March to 31 March 1980 the date of the latest medical certificate received from him. Payment of benefit could not be authorised as his 1978 insurance card, on which entitlement to benefit depended, had not been received in my Department.
Following inquiries regarding the stamping of the 1978 card it was established that he had been employed for the full year and contributions in respect of that year have now been received which qualify him for benefit.
Payment of disability benefit in respect of the periods 8 November 1979, the fourth day of incapacity, to 10 November 1979, and from 6 March 1980, the fourth day of incapacity, to 31 March 1980 has now been issued.
He has been requested to supply details of his reckonable earnings during the relevant income tax year and on receipt of this information his entitlement to pay-related benefit will be examined.
222.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason full disability benefits are not being paid to two persons (details supplied) in County Dublin and if he will arrange for full payment immediately.
The first person referred to by the Deputy is being paid disability benefit at 70p per week less than the maximum as, according to her insurance record, she had only 43 contributions paid and credited in the 1978-79 contribution year on which her entitlement to benefit depends. She would require at least 48 contributions, paid or credited in that year, to qualify for benefit at the maximum rate.
The second person is being paid disability benefit at the maximum weekly rate.
There was some delay in making payment in respect of one week in March 1980 and for three days early in April 1980 but this matter was subsequently corrected in the payments which issued later in April.
All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to the persons concerned in accordance with the medical evidence received has been paid.
223.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay to date in dealing with replies in the case of an application for an ex gratia widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Laois and if he will arrange to have the necessary information made available without delay.
The person concerned was in receipt of a widow's contributory pension from the date of her husband's death in January 1944 to December 1974 when she attained pension age of 68 years, which was the appropriate pension age at that time. Since December 1974 she has been in receipt of a contributory old age pension at the maximum rate which is higher than the maximum rate of contributory widow's pension.
There is no provision under the Social Welfare Acts for the payment of ex gratia pensions to widows and there is no trace in my Department of an application for such pension from this widow.
224.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the reduced disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 January 1980. Payment of benefit could not be authorised as no contributions had been paid on her behalf since 1974-75. Following inquiries by my Department a cheque in payment of contributions for the contribution years 1976-77, 1977-78 and 1978-79 was received from the employers concerned. These contributions qualified the claimant for benefit and payment of all disability benefit due in respect of the period 17 January 1980, the fourth day of incapacity, to 28 April 1980, the date of the latest medical certificate received, has now been made.
Inquiries are being made regarding her entitlement to pay-related benefit and any payment due will be made as soon as possible.
225.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person in question has been granted a free electricity allowance from the April-May 1980 billing period which is the appropriate billing period under the scheme in his case.
226.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision on a claim for widow's pension on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will issue, and if he will expedite the matter.
The person concerned made a claim for a widow's pension on 31 March 1980. Following an investigation of her claim, she was awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at a reduced rate, with effect from 4 April 1980, on the basis of her means derived from an American pension. A pension order book at the appropriate rate, payable from 4 April 1980, has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her.
227.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a pension book providing for the budget increases has not yet been received by a person (details supplied) in Dublin and if he will make a statement on the general delay in these areas.
As I have already intimated in the reply to a question on 23 April 1980 it was not possible, because of the short interval between the date of this year's budget and the dates from which the increases in the rates of pension had effect, to have pension order books at the increased rates printed and issued to the pensioners before their existing pension books expired at the end of March. In order to avoid a situation where the pensioners would have no books on which to receive payment from the beginning of April it was necessary this year to have two issues of pension books prepared for the 330,000 pensioners in the country.
The first issue of books, at the pre-budget rates, was made in March and the books were in the hands of the pensioners to enable them to receive payment at these rates from the first week in April. The second issue which provides for the weekly increases is being made at present. It is anticipated that this issue of books will be completed next week.
The supplementary pension order book in respect of the person concerned has now been issued to the designated post office for collection by her.
228.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the arrears of pension and living alone allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork.
The person concerned had been in receipt of a widow's non-contriburory pension at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow with no dependent children from 12 February 1976.
In February 1979 she took up employment and following investigation of her means the pension was reduced, with effect from 26 October 1979, to the rate appropriate to a window with means not exceeding £9 per week.
She subsequently reported to the Department that she had to discontinue the employment owing to ill-health. Her means were reinvestigated and as a result pension at the maximum rate has been restored with effect from 14 November 1979.
Her pension order book has been recalled and on its receipt arrangements will be made for payment of pension at the maximum rate from 14 November 1979. Payment of any adjustment due to her will issue without delay.
She does not qualify for a living alone allowance as she has not attained the age of 66 years.
229.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit payment has not been paid to date to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when payment will issue.
The person concerned has been claiming disability benefit since 5 August 1977. As she has less than 156 contributions paid since her entry into insurance on 22 December 1962 her title to benefit is limited to 52 weeks. This period was completed on 7 August 1978. She cannot qualify for further payment of disability benefit unless she resumes employment which is insurable under the Social Welfare Acts for a period of not less than 13 weeks.
230.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the transfer from long term disability benefit to invalidity benefit for a person (details supplied) in Cork, and when the transfer will be effected.
The person concerned satisfies the contribution and medical requirements for transfer to invalidity pension. An application form on which to apply for the pension has been forwarded to him and on completion and return of the form he will be transferred to invalidity pension and a pension order book will be forwarded to the designated post office for collection by him.
231.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork, and when payment will issue.
The delay in making payment in this case was due to the fact that certain inquiries had to be made concerning the person's employment record. These inquiries have now been completed and arrangements have been made to have benefit paid without delay.
232.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork, and if arrears backdated to 8 February 1980 will be paid and when payment of arrears and benefit will issue.
Unemployment benefit was not paid in this case as a deciding officer has held that the person concerned was not entitled to benefit on the ground that she was not available for work. She has appealed against this decision and her case will be heard shortly.
233.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when payment will issue.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit by my Department from 30 November 1979 to 19 March 1980. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
She has appealed against the decision disallowing her claim for disability benefit and, in connection with her appeal, arrangements are being made to have her examined by a different medical referee at an early date. Her claim will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report and, if it is again considered that she is capable of work, her case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination. If following the forthcoming examination the medical referee considers that she is incapable of work the question of restoring payment of disability benefit from 20 March 1980 will be considered.
234.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork and if payment will be expedited in this case as the applicant has no income of any kind.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 February 1980. His claim was not admitted as contributions in respect of 1978, on which his entitlement to benefit depended, had not been credited to him. This has now been done and payment has been made of all disability benefit due to 6 May 1980, the date of the latest medical certificate received, less the amount paid to him by way of supplementary welfare allowance during the period of incapacity.
He has been requested to supply details of his earnings during the relevant income tax year and on receipt of this information his entitlement to pay-related benefit will be examined.
235.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay to date in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when payment will issue.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 5 December 1979 at the rate appropriate to a married man with four qualified children. All payments have been issued promptly on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity. The last payment in respect of a medical certificate dated 5 May 1980 issued on 7 May 1980.
236.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay to date in the payment of old age pensions to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when payment will issue.
The person concerned applied for an old age contributory pension in 1977 but her claim was refused on the ground that she did not satisfy the average test requiring a minimum of 20 contributions per year since entry into insurance. A repeat claim, made in 1979, was also refused for the same reason and claimant was notified of the decision by letter dated 10 March 1980.
When her husband died in January 1978 she qualified for a widow's contributory pension at the maximum rate which has been paid to her since 22 January 1978. The pension is at a higher rate than the old age non-contributory pension which she had been receiving up to that date. She is not entitled to payment of an old age pension after the 22 January 1978 as the relevant regulations preclude payment of widow's pension and old age pension at the same time. She is also in receipt of a living alone allowance.
237.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork and if arrears retrospective to 26 February 1980 will be paid in this case.
The reason unemployment assistance has not been paid in this case is that a deciding officer has held that the person concerned is not entitled to unemployment assistance because she is not available for and genuinely seeking employment.
She may appeal against this decision and the necessary form for doing so is being sent to her. In the meantime it may be that she could be entitled to some supplementary welfare allowance and she is being advised to contact her local community welfare officer about this.
238.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason arrears of children's allowance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork despite numerous requests and when payment will issue.
According to the Department's records the person concerned is at present in receipt of children's allowance in respect of her first child. She claimed an allowance in respect of her second child on 29 April 1980. This claim was received in the Department on 1 May and the allowance was awarded on 8 May. The appropriate allowance book, with orders cashable from May 1980, the earliest date from which payment can be made, has been issued direct to her. There are no arrears due.
239.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Cork has not been receiving regular weekly payments of sickness benefit and pay-related benefit and when the arrears due for period of 27 October 1979 to 3 February 1980 and 6 April to 2 May 1980 will be paid.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 27 October 1979 but due to confusion of her insurance number with that of another benefit claimant payment was not authorised until recently. Cheques in payment of all disability benefit and pay-related benefit up to 3 May 1980 the date of the latest certificate received, have now been issued to her.
240.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a contributory old age pension due since December 1979 has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when payment will issue.
According to the records of my Department the person concerned was born on 24 December 1914 and on that basis would attain pension age of 66 on 24 December 1980. He was in receipt of disability benefit from 2 January 1979 to 19 April 1980 when it came to light that his correct date of birth was 13 December 1913 and that he had, in fact, attained pension age on 13 December 1979. He was accordingly advised to claim contributory old age pension but there is no trace in my Department of such a claim having been received.
A claim form for contributory old age pension has been sent to him and as soon as he returns this claim form duly completed a decision will be given in his case without delay. In the meantime payment of disability benefit is being continued pending a decision on his claim for old age contributory pension.
241.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the arrears of contributory pension have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork, despite numerous requests, and when payment will issue.
The person concerned attained pension age on 4 March 1979. As the postal dispute was in progress at that time and as she had been in receipt of disability benefit it was assumed that payment of benefit was continued after pension age as was the practice in such cases.
It has been discovered, however, that for a period of four weeks after attaining pension age, she did not receive payment of disability benefit or pension. A payable order for the amount of pension due to her in respect of this period has now been issued to her.
242.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of sickness benefit and pay-related benefit to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when payment will issue.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 28 February 1980 to 13 March 1980, the date of the last medical certificate received. On the claim form and medical certificates submitted in connection with her claim she quoted an incorrect number.
As it was not possible to trace her insurance record from the details furnished by her it was necessary to have inquiries made regarding her insurance number. On completion of these inquiries payment of all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to her in respect of the period in question was made to her.
243.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in dealing with a claim for an allowance by a person (details supplied) in Cork who made an application in September 1979; the reason arrears of payment retrospective to 29 February 1980 only have been paid in this case and if he will arrange for the payment of arrears backdated to September 1979.
The person concerned was in receipt of a widow's contributory pension at the maximum rate applicable to a person with two qualified children prior to 6 July 1978 when her son, who was then over 18 years, left school. Her pension was reduced accordingly.
On 26 September 1979 the pensioner's daughter attained the age of 18 years and, as she had previously left school, the pension was further reduced.
It was subsequently notified to the Department that the pensioner's son had resumed full-time education in September 1979. A pension order book, effective from 29 February 1980, in respect of the increase in pension payable, was issued to the designated post office for collection by the pensioner. A payable order for arrears due from 28 September 1979 to 22 February 1980 has been issued direct to the pensioner.
244.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason sickness benefit and pay-related benefit have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork for the period 9 April to 16 April 1980, and when payment will issue.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit and pay-related benefit in respect of the period from 10 March 1980 to 3 May 1980, after which date he was certified by his doctor as fit to resume work.
Seven cheques in payment of the claim were issued to the claimant on various dates from 3 April 1980 to 8 May 1980. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to him has been issued.
The cheque paying benefit for the period 9 to 16 April 1980 issued on 18 April 1980. In view of the question now raised as to the receipt of payment in respect of this period I am having the matter investigated and I will inform the Deputy of the outcome.
245.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of old age pension to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when payment of arrears and pension will issue.
The claim to old age non-contributory pension was disallowed in this case by the local Old Age Pension Committee on the grounds the claimant's means exceeded the statutory limit for entitlement. She did not appeal against the decision. If there has been a change in her circumstances in the meanwhile she should be advised to reapply and her case will be re-examined.
246.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason children's allowance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when payment will issue.
According to the Department's records the person concerned is at present in receipt of a children's allowance in respect of five children. However, the allowance in respect of her eldest child ceased in July 1979 when she attained the age of sixteen years. If the child is still at school or otherwise continues to be eligible for children's allowance the claimant should submit an application for a continuation allowance in accordance with the instructions included with each allowance book. I have had the relevant application form, which is obtainable in any post office, forwarded to this claimant.
247.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork for the period 28 April to 2 May 1980 and when payment will issue.
Payment of disability benefit for the period 28 April 1980 to 2 May 1980 was included in cheques which issued to the person concerned on 5 and 9 May 1980.
The cheque which issued on 6 May 1980 covered the period from 24 April to 30 April 1980 and the cheque which issued on 9 May 1980 covered the period from 1 May to 7 May 1980.
248.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason children's allowance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when payment will issue.
The person concerned claimed children's allowance on 7 December 1978 in respect of her daughter born on the 9 August 1978 and was awarded an allowance as from January 1979.
This was the earliest date from which payment could in the normal way be made to her as she had not claimed the allowance within three months of the date of birth of her child. She was informed to this effect in January 1979.
249.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason arrears of retirement pension are still outstanding to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when payment will issue.
The person concerned was awarded retirement pension with effect from July 1975 and his pension order book and renewal pension books were issued to the designated post office at the appropriate times since that date.
My Department is not aware that any arrears of pension are outstanding to this man. It is understood, however, that his pension is collected regularly on his behalf from the post office by a neighbour or by his wife. The pension order payable on Thursday, 8 May 1980 was cashed on that date by a neighbour.
250.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a non-contributory old age pension has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when payment will issue.
Old age non-contributory pension has not been paid to the person concerned as her means exceed the statutory limit for entitlement.
251.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in effecting a transfer from disability benefit to invalidity benefit for a person (details supplied) in Cork and when the transfer will be completed.
The relevant regulations provide that a person who is in receipt of disability benefit may be transferred to invalidity pension if he/she is permanently incapable of work. A person is regarded as permanently incapable of work if for the period of one year immediately preceding the date of transfer he/she had been continuously incapable of work and if it is shown to the satisfaction of a deciding officer or an appeals officer that the person is likely to continue to be incapable of work for at least a further year.
A person concerned has only been in receipt of disability benefit since 25 October 1979 and accordingly she does not satisfy the conditions for transfer to invalidity pension.
She is in receipt of pay-related benefit in addition to disability benefit.
252.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork for the periods 9 April to 15 April 1980 and 18 March to 31 March 1980, and when payment of the amount outstanding will issue.
The person concerned is at present claiming disability benefit from my Department.
All disability benefit due, including the amounts for the periods referred to by the Deputy, has been issued to him up to 5 May 1980, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
As it appears that he may not have received the cheques which issued for the two periods in question, I am having the matter investigated so that the issue of replacement cheques may be considered.
He has been requested to forward details of his reckonable earnings for the 1978-79 income tax year so that his entitlement to pay-related benefit may be determined.
253.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an increased rate of pension has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork who is a contributory pensioner and when payment of the increase will issue.
The person concerned has been in receipt of a reduced personal rate of contributory old age pension appropriate to a person whose yearly average of contributions paid or credited is 33 contributions. He would require a yearly average of 48 contributions paid or credited to qualify for the maximum personal rate of pension. His pension, however, includes the standard increase in respect of his wife.
The supplementary pension book containing the budget increase in the rate of pension in his case is being issued to the designated post office this week.
254.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason sickness benefit and pay-related benefit have not been paid up to and including 5 May 1980 to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when the amount outstanding will be paid.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit and pay-related benefit from 7 January to 5 April 1980. He was paid disability benefit only from 7 April 1980 to 22 April 1980 the date of the latest medical certificate received.
He is not entitled to pay-related benefit from 7 April 1980 as, following the recent budget increases the weekly rate of disability benefit payable to him from that date exceeds his reckonable weekly earnings in the 1977-78 income tax year on which his entitlement to pay-related benefit is based.
255.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason sickness benefit and pay-related benefit have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when payment will issue.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 10 March to 27 March 1980, the date of the latest medical certificate received. On the medical certificates and claim forms submitted in connection with his claim he quoted his Revenue (R.S.I.) number instead of his insurance number.
As it was not possible to trace his insurance record from the details furnished by him it was necessary to have inquiries made regarding his insurance number. On completion of those inquiries payment of all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to him in respect of the period in question was made to him.
256.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason sickness benefit and pay-related benefit have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork and when payment will issue.
The person concerned has been paid disability benefit and pay-related benefit from 13 March 1980 to 2 May 1980, the date of the latest medical certificate received. A delay in payment occurred in respect of the period 19 April to 25 April 1980 due to unavoidable delay in associating the medical certificate for that period with his claim. The adjusting payment was included in the cheque which issued following the receipt of the medical certificate dated 2 May 1980.