asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in dealing with the claim for an old age pension for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
196.
A transfer of part of the claimant's property is involved in this case. The particulars of the transfer which the social welfare officer required to enable him to assess the applicant's means were only recently furnished. The claim has been referred to the local pension committee recommending that no pension be awarded from 10 October 1979, as the means exceed the statutory limit.
The person concerned is entitled to a pension at £3.45 plus £1.80 adult dependant allowance a week from 3 April 1981. If he is not satisfied with the committee's decision he will, of course, have the right of appeal against it.
202.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of recipients of social welfare benefit on the Gaeltacht islands who have applied for factual assessment in respect of the payment of social welfare.
According to the records of the relevant local offices of my Department approximately 260 recipients of unemployment assistance residing on islands in the Gaeltacht areas have applied for factual assessment of their means since April 1980.
203.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person who leaves employment in the United Kingdom to return to this country is entitled to pay-related benefit; and, if so, if it is at the rate in the United Kingdom.
Pay-related benefit is payable as a supplement with unemployment benefit, disability benefit or maternity allowance. An insured person must first be in receipt of one of those flat rate benefits to be eligible for pay-related benefit.
The amount of pay-related benefit payable is calculated on a person's reckonable weekly earnings in the relevant income tax year which is the last complete income tax year before the pay-related benefit year in which the claim to the appropriate flat rate benefit commenced.
Reckonable earnings, equal to the weekly average earnings applicable in this country, are credited for the relevant income tax year in the case of insured persons who were in employment insured under the legislation of another member state of the EEC during that year.
210.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person (details supplied) in County Galway has had his unemployment assistance reduced by £25 per week.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance based on the notional value of his land holding and he applied for a factual assessment of his means. The resultant inquiries revealed that his wife was employed and the benefit of her earnings fell to be included in the assessment of means. Means were assessed at £29 weekly which reduced the rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case from £31.40 weekly to £6.85 weekly.
The person concerned appealed against the assessment and an appeals officer reduced the assessment of means to £19 weekly effective from 18 June 1980. His rate of unemployment assistance has accordingly been increased to £16.85 weekly and all arrears due to him have been paid. His weekly rate was increased under the 1981 budget provisions to £22.85 payable from 1 April 1981.