asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the reduction in unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
299.
The rate of unemployment assistance payable to the person concerned was reduced following a review of his case and the re-assessment of his means by a deciding officer. If the person concerned is dissatisfied with the decision it is open to him to have his case referred to an appeals officer for determination. A form for this purpose may be obtained at this nearest local office.
300.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is not receiving unemployment benefit.
The claim for unemployment benefit of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer for a period of six weeks from 24 December 1980 on the grounds that she did not avail of employment which had been offered to her. She appealed against the disallowance but an appeals officer upheld the decision of the deciding officer after an oral hearing. The person concerned has since resumed employment.
301.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment and pay-related benefits to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The entitlement to unemployment benefit of the person concerned could not be decided until details of his United Kingdom contribution record were received. The contribution record came to hand on 9 March 1981 and all unemployment benefit due was paid on 12 March. Entitlement to pay-related benefit will be decided when the person concerned provides particulars of his earnings during the period prior to his claim which have been requested from him.
302.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a non-contributory old age pension paid to an applicant (details supplied) in County Cork.
Details of a transfer of property affecting the non-contributory old age pension claim of the person concerned were only furnished to my Department on 16 March 1981.
The social welfare officer is now in the process of re-assessing the claimant's means. When the re-assessment has been completed the claim will be placed before an appeals officer for decision.
303.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of the balance of disability benefit which is due to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 6 November 1980 and was paid promptly on receipt of medical evidence to 21 November 1980 after which date no further medical evidence was received.
An employer's statement was, however, recently submitted to my Department showing the period for which he was absent from work through illness at the time. Payment of all benefit due for the balance of the period of the illness has now been made.
304.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of a maternity grant to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; the reason disability benefit was not paid; and why she has not received unemployment benefit.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 5 May 1980 to 19 July 1980. She also claimed maternity allowance from 12 May 1980 to 2 August 1980. As according to the records of my Department she had not the minimum of 26 contributions paid since her entry into insurance she was not entitled to either benefit. She was notified accordingly at the time.
As a result of inquiries into her insurance and work record, it has been established that she was in fact employed for sufficient weeks to qualify her for payment. All disability benefit and maternity allowance due was paid. In addition a maternity grant of £8 was paid. The question of her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated on completion of the inquiries and any benefit due will issue. There is no record of a claim for unemployment benefit from her.
305.
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.
The person concerned, who had been in receipt of unemployment benefit up to 3 January 1981, claimed disability benefit from 5 January 1981. He has been paid at the maximun appropriate rate from that date. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due has issued.
The delay in payment is due to the fact that he is quoting his insurance number instead of his RSI number on some of the medical certificates submitted in connection with his claim.
306.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of maternity and disability benefits to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned claimed maternity allowance in respect of a confinement certified as due on 24 February 1981. She was not qualified for payment as according to the records of my Department she had not the required number of contributions paid since her entry into insurance.
Following inquiries in this country and in Great Britain, where she was employed for about 16 years it has been established that she had in fact sufficient contributions to qualify her for benefit. Payment has now been made in respect of the period 19 January to 7 March 1981. Further payment of maternity allowance will be made when she furnishes the certificate of confinement or the child's birth certificate.
A considerable amount of time was spent identifying this person because of the Deputy's failure to quote her RSI number.
307.
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.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 January 1981 and was paid from 17 January, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit, and pay-related benefit due, less the amount reimbursed to the health board of supplementary welfare allowance advanced, has been paid to 7 February. He was certified fit to resume work by his own doctor after that date.
There was some delay in payment after the 28 January pending clarification of the amount of supplementary welfare allowance due for refund to the health board. When the amount advanced was established the balance of benefit due was paid.
308.
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.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 5 February 1981 and has been paid from 9 February 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 9 March 1981.
His title to pay-related benefit is being investigated and on completion of inquiries payment due, if any, will be 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.
309.
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.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 2 February 1981 and was paid from 5 February, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit due to 14 March has been paid.
The delay in payment was due to the fact that he continues to quote his insurance number, instead of his RSI number on medical certificates submitted in connection with his claim.
When details regarding his earnings are available pay-related benefit, if due, will issue.
310.
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.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 16 February 1981 and was paid from 19 February, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due has been paid to 9 March 1981.
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.
311.
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.
The person concerned has less than 156 contributions paid since entry into insurance. Her title to disability benefit is accordingly limited to a total of 52 weeks.
She was paid disability benefit from 12 March 1980 to 29 November 1980, the date of the last medical certificate received from her. It has now been accepted, however, that she continued to be incapable of work after that date and payment has been allowed up to 23 December 1980, on which date she exhausted her title to 52 weeks payment. A cheque paying benefit from 30 November to 23 December 1980 issued recently. The payment for 41 weeks on her present claim was linked with previous claims on which she had been paid for 11 weeks, making a total of 52 weeks.
She is not entitled to further payment unless she resumes insurable employment and works for a total of not less than 13 weeks.