asked the Minister for Social Welfare why disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
225.
The person concerned was in receipt of occupational injury benefit for the statutory period of 26 weeks from November 1979 to 29 May 1980. After that date he should ordinarily have been paid disability benefit but he was not qualified for payment as he had no contributions to his credit for 1978, the contribution year governing his claim. It has now been established that the arrears of contributions due for that year have been paid and that he is in fact entitled to payment of disability benefit.
Payment of all disability benefit due from 30 May 1980 has been made.
226.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make arrangements to have disability benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in book form.
An application form on which to apply for an invalidity pension has been forwarded to the person concerned. 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.
227.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance was reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if the matter has since been re-investigated.
The reason why the rate of unemployment assistance was reduced when the person concerned resumed his claim on 30 October 1980 is that he was paid at an incorrect rate on his previous claim.
Arrangements are now in train to have his case factually assessed and if advantageous to him to have his rate of unemployment assistance revised.
228.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department will grant assistance to an applicant (details supplied) in Dublin for dental treatment under the national insurance scheme.
The insured person in question is not entitled to dental benefit under the social welfare dental benefit scheme as he does not satisfy the necessary contribution conditions. He had only 13 contributions in 1978, the contribution year governing his claim in March 1980. He required a minimum of 26 contributions in 1978 in order to qualify.
He was notified to this effect in August 1980 and requested to furnish information regarding his employment in 1978 and advised that if he had a total of 26 weeks employment in that year his claim would be allowed.
If he is the holder of a medical card he may be entitled to dental treatment under the adult medical card holders scheme which in his area is administered by the Eastern Health Board.
229.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit has been paid in full to an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo.
All unemployment benefit due has been paid to the person concerned since the commencement of her claim.
Her claim had been subject to a six weeks disallowance which was subsequently revised when she furnished evidence which showed that she had good cause for leaving her previous employment.
230.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit has been paid in full to an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned has been paid all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 7 February 1981. Further payment will be made after that date on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity.
231.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned ceased employment on 19 December 1980 but did not claim unemployment benefit until 20 January 1981.
He is not entitled to unemployment benefit as no contributions appear to have been paid in respect of him since 1965.
Pending completion of inquiries about his outstanding contribution record, payment of unemployment assistance has been authorised in his case.
232.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why redundancy and unemployment benefits have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The reason why unemployment benefit has not been paid to the person concerned is that, although he was not in employment since January 1979, he only recently applied for benefit at his local office.
Certain inquiries have to be completed in his case and when the necessary information is to hand his entitlement will be determined as quickly as possible. As regards redundancy payments, the person conderned should apply to the Department of Labour.
233.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance was terminated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if the allowance will be restored.
The reason why payment of unemployment assistance to the person concerned was terminated is that following a re-investigation of his case a deciding officer disallowed his claim from 5 November 1980 on the grounds that his means exceeded the statutory limit for receiving unemployment assistance.
The claimant has been provided with a form to enable him to appeal against the disallowance of his claim.
His case will be referred to an appeals officer immediately the completed form is received.
234.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Due to an error in my Department payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was terminated on 6 December 1980. The matter has since been rectified and all disability benefit due to 10 January 1981 has been paid.
She claimed maternity allowance as from 12 January 1981 and payment has been made on her claim up to 7 February 1981.
235.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will authorise free electricity and television licence allowances for a person (details supplied) in Dublin in view of the facts of this case.
There is no trace in my Department or in the District ESB office of an application for a free electricity allowance from the person referred to by the Deputy.
On the basis of the information furnished he is not in receipt of a pension which would qualify him for a free electricity allowance or a free television licence.
If he is unable to meet his needs from his own resources it is possible that he may qualify for aid under the supplementary welfare allowances scheme operated by the health board. He may take application to the local community welfare officer at the health centre nearest his home.
236.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the facts relating to the application, which was unavoidably delayed, of a person (details supplied) in Dublin for children's allowance, he will make arrangements for the payment of the allowance from the date of the birth of the child.
Following receipt of a claim from the woman concerned in November 1980 a book of children's allowance orders payable from December 1980 issued to her.
In the exceptional circumstances outlined by the Deputy, however, I have made arrangements for the immediate payment to her of the allowance due for the period from June 1980 to November 1980.
237.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the increase in the number of people now signing for unemployment benefit and assistance at the employment exchange in Killarney, County Kerry, and of the serious problem in regard to accommodation and facilities there; and, if so, if he will now arrange for suitable alternative accommodation.
There has been an increase over the last year of about 50 in the number of persons who attend each week at the Employment Office, Killarney, for payment of unemployment benefit and assistance. However, the accommodation and other facilities which are provided for unemployed persons by the branch manager of the Employment Office, Killarney, in accordance with her contract of employment with my Department, are adequate to cope with this increase
238.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline the reasons why an application for unemployment benefit by a person (details supplied) in Dublin has been disallowed; and the precise problem, if any, that exists with regard to a deficiency of employment contributions paid in respect of, or credited to the claimant, for the appropriate contribution years.
The reason why the person concerned is not entitled to unemployment benefit is that his insurance record shows no insurance contributions paid or credited in respect of him in the relevant contribution years.
The matter of outstanding contributions is at present under inquiry and his entitlement will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the investigations.
The claimant has been advised to claim unemployment assistance pending the completion of inquiries in his case.