asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the payment of a children's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who first applied in July, 1980.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
218.
My Department was not made aware of the non-receipt of a children's allowance book which was issued in August 1980 until the Deputy's question was received. The necessary arrangements have been made to issue a replacement book with effect from January 1981, and a payable order for £47.50 covering the months June to December 1980 has also been issued.
219.
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 Cork; and when payment will issue.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 13 January 1981 and has been paid all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due from 16 January 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 25 February 1981, date of the latest medical evidence received.
The delay in payment was due mainly to the change-over from the system of insurance numbers to RSI Numbers for the purpose of payment of benefit.
220.
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 Cork; and when payment will issue.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 18 August 1980 and all disability benefit due from 21 August 1980, fourth day of incapacity, to 7 March 1981, has been issued.
As regards pay-related benefit details of his reckonable earnings for 1979-80 were not available in my Department and it was necessary to request him to furnish an employer's statement of his earnings in that year. On receipt of this information all pay-related benefit due was issued.
The delay in payment was due mainly to the change-over from the system of insurance numbers to RSI numbers for the purpose of payment of benefit.
221.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of occupational injury benefit to a person (details supplied) in Cork; and when payment will issue.
The person concerned was paid injury benefit from 8 August 1980, date of accident, to 5 February 1981 at which stage his entitlement to injury benefit was exhausted as he had been paid for the full statutory period of 26 weeks.
His claim from 6 February 1981 onwards was treated as one for disability benefit. He is not entitled to payment, however, as he had not the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the relevant governing contribution year. He has, however, been requested to furnish details of his insurable employment for the years 1978-80 and on receipt of this information his claim will be reviewed.
222.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason full unemployment benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork; and when the payment of the arrears due to date will issue.
The reason that unemployment benefit is not being paid to the person concerned is that the contributions payable by him during the relevant contribution periods (Class D) do not qualify him for unemployment benefit. He is, however, being paid unemployment assistance at the rate of £6.00 weekly, the maximum rate appropriate to a single man (£17.00) less the value of his means (£11.00).
223.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of occupational injury benefit to a person (details supplied) in Cork; and when the payment of the arrears due will issue.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit from 2 January 1981. It has been established, however, as a result of inquiries that the occupational injury occurred in June 1976 and that he has already been paid for the full statutory period of 26 weeks. As injury benefit is not payable beyond the 26 weeks period his claim was treated as one for disability benefit. Payment was made initially at the personal rate only. On receipt of the claim form giving particulars of his wife and children an adjusting payment was issued. All disability benefit due from 6 January 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 13 February, date of the latest medical certificate received, has been paid.
The delay in payment was due mainly to the change-over from the system of insurance numbers to RSI numbers for the purpose of payment of benefit.
The question of the entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and payment due, if any, will be made on completion of these inquiries.
224.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of arrears of a children's allowance to a person (details supplied) in Cork; and when payment will issue.
A children's allowance book was issued to the person concerned on 28 August 1980. This book was unfortunately delivered to the post office of payment, where it was held, instead of to the claimant. I regret this.
Following notification in December 1980 of the non-receipt of the allowance book and subsequent inquiries a replacement book was issued with effect from December 1980 and a payable order for £28.00 covering the months August 1980 to November 1980 issued on 26 February 1981.
225.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of pay-related and unemployment benefits to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and when payment of the arrears will issue.
On the information available to the Department pay-related benefit is not payable in the case as the claimant's rate of unemployment benefit exceeds 85 per cent of his previous average earnings.
Further inquiries are being made as to the full extent of the previous earnings and when these are completed his title to pay-related benefit will be reviewed.