asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and when payments will be made.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
1.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 23 January 1981 and has been paid all benefit due from 27 January, fourth day of incapacity to 13 February 1981. It is understood that he resumed work on 14 February 1981.
The delay in payment was due mainly to the change-over in January 1981 from the system of Insurance Numbers to RSI Numbers for the purpose of benefit.
4.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is not in receipt of free electricity.
The person in question has not yet reached 66 years and is not in receipt of an invalidity or blind pension under the Social Welfare Acts or a disabled person's maintenance allowance from a health board. She does not therefore qualify under the free electricity allowance scheme.
If however her income is insufficient to meet her needs she may qualify for assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme operated by the health board.
13.
asked Minister for Social Welfare the amount of injury benefit now due to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; why there has been a delay in the payment of benefit; and when all the arrears will be paid.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit for the periods from 29 May 1980 to 7 July 1980 and from 1 September 1980 onwards in respect of an accident at work on 29 May 1980.
Pending investigation of his claim, disability benefit was paid as an interim measure from 4 June 1980 to 7 July 1980 when he was certified fit to resume work. Disability benefit has also been paid in respect of the period since 4 September, 1980. In addition pay-related benefit is also in payment.
Following investigation of the claim, injury benefit has been allowed in respect of the periods from 29 May to 7 July and from 1 September to 26 November 1980.
Under the Social Welfare Acts, payment of injury benefit is limited to a maximum period of six months from the date of the occupational accident. Injury benefit accordingly was payable only in respect of the periods of incapacity up to 26 November 1980 and an adjusting payment of £98.57 including pay-related benefit has been issued.
The delay in deciding the claim to injury benefit arose from inquiries which it was necessary to make from the employers about the periods in which the claimant was absent from work due to the occupational accident.
14.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a children's allowance book, effective from 1 September 1980 has not been issued to the parents of a child (details supplied) in County Dublin.
A children's allowance book was issued to the person concerned on 19 November 1980.
On being notified of the non-receipt of this book on 10 February 1981 my Department arranged to stop payment on the original allowance book and a replacement book was issued with effect from January 1981.
A payable order for £21.00 covering the months October to December 1980 has also been issued.
15.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and when payment will issue.
The claim for unemployment benefit from the person concerned was disallowed on the ground that he failed to satisfy the contribution condition on his 1979-1980 contribution record.
On re-examination of this case, however, it now appears that title can arise on the basis of his insurance record in the previous year by virtue of recent regulations. Accordingly payment of unemployment benefit has now been authorised and arrangements have been made to have payment made this week.
16.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of pay-related benefit on the unemployment benefit claim of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and when payment will be made.
Pay-related benefit cannot be calculated in this case without details of the claimant's earnings during the period May 1979 to November 1979. The person concerned has been requested to furnish the required information on a number of occasions but to date he has not done so. As soon as this information is made available, title to pay-related benefit will be determined without delay.
17.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of pay-related benefit on the unemployment benefit claim of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and when payment will be made.
The reason for the delay in the payment of pay-related benefit to the person concerned is that inquiries had to be made to establish the amount of reckonable earnings during the relevant income tax year before entitlement could be decided.
These inquiries have now been completed and it has been established that the person concerned is entitled to the maximum rate of pay-related benefit £50.40 from 14 February 1981.
Arrangements are being made to pay all arrears due this week.
18.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and when payment will be made.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 9 January 1981 and was paid from 13 January, fourth day of incapacity, to 14 February 1981 after which date he was certified fit to resume work.
At the date of his claim he was not entitled to payment as he did not have the necessary minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the relevant governing contribution year. Following inquiries it was established that he had in fact sufficient contributions to qualify him for payment.
As it is understood that he had earlier employment for which contributions have not been paid and which might affect his benefit position further inquiries are necessary. On completion of these inquiries any balance of disability benefit due will issue.
The question of his entitlement to pay-related is also being investigated and payment, if any, due will be made on completion of these inquiries.
19.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and when payment will be made.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 December 1980 and all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due from 18 December 1980, fourth day of incapacity, to 24 February 1981, date of the latest medical evidence received, has been issued.
The delay in this case, which is regretted, was due mainly to the change-over from the system of insurance numbers to RSI numbers for the purpose of payment of benefit.
30.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny ceased on 14 January 1981.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 2 October 1980 and has been paid at the maximum appropriate rate to 7 March 1981. All disability benefit due has issued. He has no entitlement to pay-related benefit.
The delay in payment was due to the fact that he has been quoting his insurance number only on the medical certificates submitted in connection with his claim.
It has been decided to pay him weekly in future and to require him to submit medical evidence of incapacity at monthly intervals only.
31.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and when payment will be made.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 2 February 1981, and has been paid from 5 February, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All benefit due to 7 March 1981 has now issued.
The delay in payment was due to the fact that he has been quoting his insurance number only on the medical certificates submitted in connection with his claim. When details of his earnings in the relevant tax year are available pay-related benefit due, if any, will be paid.
32.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of the balance of disability and pay-related benefits to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will have these payments made immediately.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 29 October 1980 and was paid from 1 November 1980, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate to 17 January 1981, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. Payment of disability benefit was made promptly on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity.
Payment of pay-related benefit was delayed pending receipt of details of his earnings in the relevant tax year. A cheque for the full amount due issued recently.
33.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the nonpayment of pay-related benefit on the unemployment benefit claim of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit has been authorised in this case and payment will be made this week. The delay was due to a communication difficulty between the local office and headquarters of the Department.
34.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
On the insurance records available to the Department, the person concerned does not satisfy the statutory contribution conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefit.
Investigations are being made, however, regarding certain employments in which the person concerned claims to have been engaged. When the necessary inquiries are completed his entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed. He is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £33.70.