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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Jun 1980

Vol. 321 No. 10

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

112.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal did not receive an increase in unemployment assistance.

The reason the person concerned did not receive an increase in unemployment assistance is that she is paid as a smallholder whose means from her holding are assessed on a notional basis and the increases from 2 April 1980 were not applicable to this category of beneficiary.

She has however applied to have her means factually assessed. Her entitlement will be reviewed in the light of this assessment which may be to her advantage as persons on factual assessment are entitled to the increases in unemployment assistance rates payable from last month. If the results of the factual assessment of means are not to her advantage she can remain on the notional assessment of means.

117.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will have the claim by a person (details supplied) in County Waterford for unemployment assistance reinvestigated as this claimant has no means of support.

The application for unemployment assistance by the person concerned was refused on the ground that his means derived from the value of the board and lodging afforded to him on his father's farm exceeded the statutory limit applicable to him. This assessment was made as recently as last January and was confirmed by an appeals officer who upheld the disallowance in February of this year.

As there do not appear to be any changes in the person's circumstances since that time, a reinvestigation of the case does not appear necessary. However, if the person concerned is of opinion that his circumstances have changed, he should reapply for unemployment assistance giving details of the changes and his case will be reinvestigated.

126.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit and pay related benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 6 March 1980 to 16 May 1980 as medical certificates were received and there was no delay in the issue of this benefit.

His entitlement to pay-related benefit is based on his reckonable earnings in the income tax year 1978-79. As details of his earnings were not available to my Department under the Revenue number quoted by the claimant his entitlement to that benefit could not be immediately determined. He was requested to furnish evidence of his earnings in that year and on receipt of the necessary information a cheque in payment of all arrears of pay-related benefit due to him to 2 May 1980 was issued on 15 May 1980.

He has since been paid disability benefit and pay-related benefit to 23 May 1980, the date of the latest medical certificate received.

127.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability and pay-related benefits to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to the person concerned from 24 April 1980, the fourth day of incapacity, to 12 May 1980, the date of the latest medical certificate received, was issued on 20 May 1980.

There was an initial delay in the processing of the claim as the claimant did not forward the necessary medical evidence of incapacity to my Department until two weeks after the commencement of his illness.

131.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.

A cheque was issued to the person concerned on 30 May 1980 in payment of all arrears of disability due to 31 May 1980, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to him during the period of incapacity covered by the arrears.

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