asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason why a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not been paid the old age pension at the full rate.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
138.
An appeals officer has decided that the person concerned is not entitled to any old age pension as his means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding and capital, exceed the statutory limit.
139.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person (details supplied) in County Galway is not receiving the old age pension at the full rate.
It was decided by the local pension committee that the person concerned is entitled to a non-contributory old age pension at the reduced rate of £5.40 a week plus £1.65 living alone allowance from 4 April 1980. Her means, consisting of capital and a nominal sum assessed in respect of free lodgings, entitle her to pension at this rate. The pensioner did not exercise her right of appeal against this decision.
140.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not been paid unemployment benefit for the past number of weeks; if he will have the case investigated; and the reason payment has stopped.
The person concerned has not claimed unemployment benefit from my Department recently. He claimed disability benefit from 6 September 1980 and has been paid all benefit due to 21 February 1981. The delay in payment, which is regretted, was due mainly to the change over in January 1981 from the system of insurance numbers to RSI numbers for the purpose of payment of benefit.
141.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) will be paid disability benefit due to him.
Payment of all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to the person concerned was issued on 20 February 1981.
142.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension at the full rate has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
An appeals officer has decided that the person concerned, who had been in receipt of a non-contributory old age pension at the rate of £4.20 a week, is entitled to a pension at the rate of £5.40 a week from 4 April 1980. This rate of pension is based on the assessment of his means consisting of profit from a shop with due allowance having been made for family labour. His pension has been adjusted in accordance with the appeals officers decision and arrears due have issued.
145.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the payment of an old age pension to an applicant (details supplied) in County Galway.
There is no record in my Department of the person concerned having claimed non-contributory old age pension. If the Deputy could, perhaps, supply a reference number or specify the exact type of payment claimed, I will communicate further with him in the matter.
146.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person (details supplied) in County Galway has had his old age pension reduced.
The pension of the person concerned was reduced because his daughter, in respect of whom he had been receiving a dependant increase, attained the age of 18 years on 9 October 1980.
147.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension at the full rate is not being paid to persons (details supplied) in County Galway.
An appeals officer has decided that the persons concerned are entitled to the rate of pension currently in payment. Their individual means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding and a small amount of capital entitle them only to this amount.
148.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway who appears to qualify.
The person concerned has been paid all pay-related benefit due from 10 January 1981 to 21 February 1981, the date of the latest certificate received.
149.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance has been reduced by £12 per week in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The reason why unemployment assistance payable to the person concerned was reduced is that as a result of his having become a landholder, his weekly means assessment was increased which resulted in a corresponding decrease in the level of his entitlement. The person concerned has been provided with a form to enable him to appeal against the means assessment. When the completed form is received, his case will be referred immediately to an appeals officer for determination.
150.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is not receiving pay-related benefit.
The reason why the person concerned is not receiving pay-related benefit with his unemployment benefit is that entitlement to pay-related benefit is subject to a condition that the sum of weekly unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit may not exceed 85 per cent of a claimant's previous net weekly earnings. As the person concerned is receiving unemployment benefit at a rate in excess of his previous earnings, pay-related benefit is not payable in his case.