asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the payment of disability benefit will be resumed to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
278.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of an accident at work on 5 January 1981. Pending investigation of his claim he has been paid disability benefit, as an interim measure, from 9 January and all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 16 February 1981 date of latest medical evidence received has issued.
He will be notified of the result of the investigation into his title to injury benefit when the inquiries have been completed.
279.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 6 July 1979 and was paid from 10 July, fourth day of incapacity to 4 October 1980. He was certified fit to resume work on 6 October 1980.
His title to pay-related benefit in respect of that incapacity depended on his earnings for the 1977-78 tax year. These earnings were not available as the firms for whom he worked had gone into voluntary liquidation. The inquiries to establish the amount of his earnings were difficult and protracted. It has, however, been possible only to estimate his earnings in the relevant tax year. Payment has now been made on this basis and a cheque covering all pay-related benefit due issued recently.
He is at present in receipt of disability benefit in respect of a claim commencing 1 December 1980. However this claim links with that ending on 4 October 1980 his entitlement to pay-related benefit is limited to one day as he had almost exhausted his title to such benefit on the earlier claim.
280.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the payment of disability benefit will be resumed to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit from 27 October 1980 in respect of an accident at work on 26 October 1980. Inquiries made from the employers revealed a conflict of evidence about the alleged accident and further investigation of the claim accordingly is necessary before a decision can be made.
In the meantime disability benefit has been awarded as an interim measure and all payments of disability benefit and pay-related benefit have been made on the medical evidence of incapacity received in respect of the period up to 17 February 1981. If, however, the person concerned submits medical evidence in respect of a subsequent period of incapacity the question of payment will be considered as a matter of urgency.
281.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, who was over eighty years of age on 16 January, 1981, did not receive an increase in her non-contributory old age pension.
A pension order book implementing the appropriate increase of £1.50 weekly from 16 January 1981 has issued to the person concerned.
282.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned has not claimed unemployment benefit from my Department recently. He claimed disability benefit from 3 October 1980 but he was not qualified for payment as according to the records of my Department he had less than the statutory minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year.
Following inquiries his record of insurable employment for 1979-80 was recently received and, on this record he is qualified for payment from 5 January 1981. Accordingly all disability benefit due from 5 January 1981 to 28 February 1981, less the appropriate amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid, has been issued.
As he indicated that he had been in employment in the United Kingdom in 1978 he has been requested to supply details of that employment so that his insurance record can be obtained from the British authorities. He has also been requested to furnish details of any other employment in 1978 and 1979. On receipt of this information his entitlement to benefit for the period 3 October 1980 to 4 January 1981 will be reviewed.
283.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The reason for the delay in payment of unemployment benefit to the person concerned is that inquiries had to be made about his contribution record before his entitlement could be established.
These inquiries were recently completed and all unemployment benefit due to the person concerned has been paid.
284.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit in respect of an accident at work on 4 January 1981. Pending investigation of his claim he has been paid disability benefit as an interim measure from 8 January, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 20 February 1981 has been issued.
He will be notified of the result of the investigation into his title to injury benefit when the inquiries have been completed.
285.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit from 25 January 1980 to 24 October 1980 at which stage she ceased to submit medical evidence of incapacity and no further payment was due. Subsequently notification was received that she had resumed employment. It has been ascertained however that she was undergoing a course of training under the care of the Rehabilitation Institute and certification has been resumed. All payment of benefit due to 26 February has now been made to her.
Further payments will issue on receipt of medical certificates of incapacity for work.
286.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 December 1979 and was paid for 52 weeks from 18 December 1979, fourth day of incapacity, to 15 December 1980. Payment ceased after that date as he had not the necessary 156 paid contributions to entitle him to payment for more than 52 weeks. He was notified to this effect before the expiration of that period.
According to the records of my Department he had only 145 contributions paid from the date of his entry into insurance to the date of commencement of his illness. He claims that further contributions are due in respect of him and this matter is being investigated. On completion of the inquiries the question of payment of disability benefit from 15 December 1980 will be reviewed.
287.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 23 April 1979 and was paid all disability and pay-related benefit due to 20 September 1980. Payment was refused after that date following examination by a medical referee who considered him capable of work.
He appealed against the disallowance of his benefit and he was again examined by a different medical referee who also considered him capable of work. The appeals officer to whom the case was referred, following an oral hearing on 21 January 1981, upheld the decision in respect of the period 22 September to 2 December 1980, the date of the latest certificate before him.
No further medical evidence of incapacity has been received since the certificate dated 2 December 1980; but, in view of the Deputy's statement that he has continued to submit certificates weekly, arrangements are being made for a further examination by a medical referee at an early date. In the meantime he is being requested to obtain a medical certificate covering from 2 December and to submit it to my Department.
288.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 11 November 1980 and was paid from 14 November, fourth day of incapacity, to 19 November, date of the last certificate received. He did not furnish a final certificate. On receipt of an employer's statement confirming the period of incapacity a cheque covering the period 20 November to 22 November 1980 issued on 27 February 1981.
He again claimed disability benefit from 8 December 1980 and was paid from 11 December, fourth day of incapacity to 13 December. He was certified fit to resume work on 15 December. Two cheques for £10.23 and £19.95, issued 7 January and 9 January 1981 respectively. Details regarding these cheques have been sent to him. If he still contends that he did not receive them replacement action will be taken immediately.
He also claimed disability benefit from 12 January 1981. A first certificate only was received, but following inquiries the duration of his illness was confirmed by his employers. A cheque issued on 27 February covering the period 15 January 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 24 January 1981, after which date he resumed work.
He is not entitled to pay-related benefit as earnings in the relevant tax year were insufficient.
289.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and when payment will be made.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 9 December 1980 and payment has been made for the period from 13 December 1980, fourth day of incapacity, to 10 February 1981, date of the latest medical evidence received.
The delay in payment of disability benefit was due to his failure to quote his RSI number on the medical certificates forwarded to my Department. The RSI number inserted by him on the claim form did not refer to him and as a result, his reckonable earnings for 1978-79 on which payment of pay-related benefit is based could not be obtained under that number. Following inquiries he has since supplied details of his earnings to my Department and payment of pay-related benefit due to 10 February 1981 was made recently.
290.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the allowance he intends to make available to persons (details supplied) in County Waterford in respect of the taking care of their two grandchildren.
The husband concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the maximum appropriate rate for himself, his wife and two grandchildren. He has been advised to apply for an increase of unemployment assistance in respect of two additional grandchildren. The local office has been instructed to accept a claim from him in respect of these children.
291.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and when payment will be made.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 December 1980 and has been paid from 16 December, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 28 February has issued.
The delay in payment was due mainly to the changeover from the system of insurance numbers to RSI numbers for the purpose of payment of benefit.