asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in dealing with an application for a prescribed allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - County Galway Prescribed Allowance.
317.
The person concerned has been in receipt of a widow's non-contributory pension since 1974. A claim for an increase in respect of a prescribed relative was received in my Department on 28 April 1980. Protracted inquiries regarding the prescribed relative were necessary before a decision could be given.
Due to pressure of work this claim was inadvertently overlooked and a decision was not given until 15 September 1980. An increase of pension was awarded from 28 April 1980. The pension was adjusted from 3 October 1980 and arrears were issued direct to the pensioner.
318.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in respect of a widow (details supplied) in County Galway, the reason his Department have failed to pay (i) contributory old age pension for six weeks after the death of her spouse and (ii) the widow's pension.
The spouse of the person concerned died on 14 September 1980, and the pension book with two orders uncashed up to 5 October 1980 was returned to this Department. This book was re-issued to the person concerned on 30 September 1980 and the renewal book from 6 October 1980 was recalled from the Post Office.
On receipt of this pension order book, it was cut, leaving four orders to be cashed up to and including 24 October 1980 and was re-issued to the person concerned on 21 October 1980. A widow's pension book was issued to Ballinasloe Post Office on 17 October 1980 with first order payable from 31 October 1980.
319.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of old age pension at the full rate to two persons (details supplied) in County Galway.
Although pension at the full rate was awarded by decision of an appeals officer to the couple in question appropriate rate pension books could not be issued to them until they had returned the reduced rate books held by them. These were received on 28 October and maximum rate books issued on 29 October 1980. Arrears due are in course of issue.
320.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is not being paid the old age pension at the full rate.
The local pension committee awarded old age pension to the person concerned at the rate of £4.20 a week. However, the Deputy's recent representations have been accepted as an appeal on her behalf against this decision and the case is being referred to an appeals officer.
321.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in dealing with the claim of a person (details supplied) in County Galway for an increase in the old age pension.
A non-contributory old age pension at the maximum rate was awarded to the person concerned by the local pension committee on 24 May 1980. However, the social welfare officer appealed against this decision as the deed of transfer of her holding had not been stamped. Following new arrangements which I introduced in June 1980 for dealing with pension claims involving deeds of transfer, the file was referred back to the social welfare officer for a final report as the extent of the land transfer needed further clarification. These inquiries could not be finalised until the end of August. The claim was subsequently referred to an appeals officer who has awarded pension at the maximum rate from 15 October 1979.
The appropriate pension order book has been issued and the arrears due are in course of issue.
322.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in deciding the claim by a person (details supplied) in County Galway for an old age pension.
There was no delay in deciding the old age pension claim in this case. The local pension committee by their decision of 29 September 1979, disallowed the claim on the grounds that the applicant's means exceeded the statutory limit for entitlement. No appeal against this decision was received but if the person in question will now submit an appeal I will arrange to have his case examined.
323.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason old age pension at the full rate has not been paid to two persons (details supplied) in County Galway.
Old age pension at the maximum rate has not been paid to the persons concerned as their means, consisting of considerable capital, do not entitle them to pension at a higher rate than that in payment.
324.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway had his unemployment assistance reduced by £11 per week.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £63.45 per week which is the appropriate rate for a married man with eight dependent children whose means have been factually assessed at £1 per week. Following a review, his means were re-assessed at £11.50 per week.
He appealed against this decision and the appeals officer reduced the assessment to £6 per week. He is, therefore, entitled to unemployment assistance at the rate of £58.45 a week. The revised factual assessment is more beneficial to him than if his means were assessed on a notional basis.
325.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
326.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in deciding the claim of a person (details supplied) in County Galway for unemployment assistance.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 326 together.
The delay in this case was due to the fact that large numbers of smallholders in the Galway area applied to have their means factually assessed, resulting in a substantial increase in the work load of the Department's outdoor staff in the area which could not be dealt with immediately.
Investigations in this case have now been completed and arrangements have been made to have the unemployment assistance including all arrears due, issued to the person concerned immediately.
327.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in forwarding an old age pension book to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The local pension committee's decision awarding old age pension to the person concerned could not be implemented while her husband was in receipt of a pension which included an adult dependant allowance in respect of her. The married rate book was returned to the Department at the beginning of October and a pension book in her own right, payable from 3 October, then issued to the claimant. Arrears due to her have also been paid.
328.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason his Department have failed to return an old age pension book to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The pension order book of the person concerned which was recalled for adjustment on 26 September 1980 was returned to him on 10 October.
329.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway, no longer qualifies for free electricity allowance.
The person in question is no longer entitled to the free electricity allowance because one of his sons who is over 18 years of age and who is not receiving full-time education is residing with him. The living alone condition of the scheme is, therefore, not satisfied in his case and the allowance which applied to his electricity account is being terminated.
330.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a disability pension is no longer being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit by my Department to 10 February 1979. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee of my Department who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the decision disallowing his claim for disability benefit and, in connection with his appeal, he was examined by a different medical referee who also considered him to be capable of work. This view was upheld by an appeals officer.
As the claimant continued to submit medical evidence and appealed against the continued disallowance of benefit he was examined again by a third medical referee. This referee also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. This view also was upheld by an appeals officer.
Following a further appeal by the claimant he was referred for examination by a specialist on the 21 October 1980. The specialist's report was subsequently considered by the appeals officer who decided that the report confirmed the medical referees' findings; consequently there were no grounds to warrant a revision of his previous decision in the case.
331.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the refusal of an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
A claim for a widow's non-contributory pension, made by the person concerned, was rejected on the ground that her means exceeded the statutory limit of £1,196.00 per annum. The widow appealed the decision and the case has been referred to an appeals officer. The appeals officer's decision will be notified to her as soon as it is available.
332.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason his Department will not sanction the free electricity allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Galway who appears to qualify.
As the applicant has not yet reached the qualifying age of 66 years under the free electricity allowance scheme, her application has been disallowed.
333.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason old age pension is not being paid at the full rate to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Old age non-contributory pension at the maximum rate is not in payment to the person in question because his means, consisting of a holding and capital, are in excess of the level which would entitle him to that rate. The means assessment has been upheld by an appeals officer.