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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 May 1981

Vol. 328 No. 11

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits

78.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons for the non-payment of benefits to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who had an accident in his work-place on 19 January 1981 and who submitted all necessary information without delay but received no benefits up to 26 February 1981; and if he will explain the delay in making payments in this case.

The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit on 20 January 1981 in respect of an accident at work on 19 January 1981.

Pending determination of the claim to injury benefit, he was paid disability benefit on an interim basis in respect of the period from 22 January, fourth day of incapacity, to 13 April 1981. The amount paid was reduced by an amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid by the South Eastern Health Board which has been refunded to them.

Following the completion of inquiries made from the employers, injury benefit was allowed from 19 January 1981, the date of the accident. An adjusting payment of injury benefit due for the period up to 13 April, less the disability benefit paid on an interim basis, was made on 28 April. Injury benefit had been paid up to 4 May, the date of the latest medical evidence received.

83.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons for the non-payment of social welfare benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit in respect of the period 16 December 1980 to 24 February 1981 and following inquiries regarding her employment record, payment was made for the full period of her illness.

Inquiries regarding her entitlement to pay-related benefit have now been completed and a cheque covering the amount due is being issued.

90.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford is in receipt of unemployment assistance of only £11.00 although he has no other means.

At the date of his claim to unemployment assistance the person concerned was the holder of a qualification certificate with means assessed at £6.00 weekly. He applied for a reassessment of his means and, pending the outcome of inquiries, he was paid unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £11.00, being the maximum rate of £17.00 less means of £6.00

Investigations in the case were recently completed and a deciding officer has assessed him with nil means effective from the date of commencement of his current claim. His rate of unemployment assistance was accordingly increased to £17.00 weekly.

All arrears of unemployment assistance due were paid to him on 16 March 1981.

94.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will sympathetically reconsider the application for a maternity allowance submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal in view of the special circumstances of the case.

The person concerned claimed maternity allowance on 27 November 1980 in respect of a confinement on 13 December 1979. The claim was not allowed at the time because it was outside the statutory prescribed time for claiming maternity allowance.

On re-examination it has been decided to accept that the claim was made within the prescribed time.

All benefit due on the claim has now been paid.

114.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends to up-date the unemployment assistance payable to farmers; and, if so, when.

All social welfare schemes, including the scheme of unemployment assistance for smallholders, are reviewed annually by my Department in the light of changing circumstances and current budgetary considerations.

Following the most recent review, unemployment assistance payable to smallholders was increased by 20 per cent under the provisions of this year's budget with effect from the 1 April 1981.

115.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Dublin is due arrears since 5 August 1980 in respect of a contributory old age pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Arrears of pension are not due in this case which concerns retirement pension. The person concerned reached the age of 65 on 10 July 1980 and would have been entitled to retirement pension from that date if he had retired from work. He continued in employment up to 29 September 1980 and on ceasing employment was paid unemployment benefit from 30 September to 7 January 1981.

He claimed retirement pension on 3 November 1980. A pension order book was issued to the designated post office paying from 8 January 1981, the date from which he ceased to claim unemployment benefit. The cheque in payment of the difference between the amount of retirement pension to which he was entitled and the amount of unemployment benefit received was issued to him on 3 April 1981.

117.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.

The person concerned has not claimed unemployment benefit from my Department.

On 28 November 1980 he claimed injury benefit in respect of an accident at work on 24 November 1980.

Inquiries as to the nature and origin of the incapacity were necessary before payment of injury benefit could be allowed. On completion of the inquiries it was accepted that the incapacity was due to an accident at work. The claim to injury benefit was allowed and payment has been made in respect of the period from 24 November 1980 to 24 January 1981, when he was certified fit to resume work.

Ordinarily in such cases payment of disability benefit is made on an interim basis pending completion of inquiries regarding entitlement to injury benefit. He was not however entitled to disability benefit as he did not appear to have at least 26 weeks of insurable employment in the contribution year governing his claim.

118.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Galway who is receiving £8.20 unemployment assistance has applied for a review of his case; and the action he proposes to take in the matter.

The person concerned is presently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £12.50, being the maximum rate of £19.75 less means of £7.25, payable in his case. He appealed against the assessment of means and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. At the appeals officer's request, certain inquiries are presently being made and when these are completed the claim will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

119.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare why his Department have not dealt with the application of a person (details supplied) in County Galway for unemployment assistance.

The person concerned has been paid continuously since 5 July 1980 when he renewed his claim to unemployment assistance. His claim was, however, recently reviewed and, as a factual assessment of his means proved to be advantageous to him, a deciding officer revised the assessment of his means. The rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case has been increased to £62.95 — maximum rate £63.70 less means £0.75. An order for all arrears due has been issued to his local post office.

Further payments will continue as they fall due.

120.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare is he is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Galway is due occupational injury benefit as a result of injuries received when working with the Department of Fisheries and Forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit continuously from 8 March 1975 to date at the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with one qualified child.

There is no trace of receipt of a claim for occupational injury benefit in connection with his present incapacity. Furthermore his employers, who were contacted recently, have indicated that they have no record of the report of an occupational accident in which he was involved.

The papers have however been referred to the local social welfare officer for inquiries in connection with the alleged accident. He will be informed of the result of these inquiries as soon as possible.

123.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be paid the social welfare benefit which is due to him.

The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit from 5 February 1981. Pending investigation of his title to this benefit he was paid disability benefit from 9 February 1981, fourth day of incapacity on an interim basis. He was also paid pay-related benefit from 19 February 1981, thirteenth day of incapacity. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 7 May 1981 has been issued.

On completion of the inquiries he will be notified of the decision on his claim to injury benefit.

135.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be paid a widow's pension at the full rate.

The person concerned has been awarded a non-contributory widow's pension at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow with no qualified children with effect from 23 January 1981. A pension book payable from 8 May 1981 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and a payable order for the arrears of pension prior to 8 May 1981 has been issued direct to her.

141.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons for not granting the full increase to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who is in receipt of invalidity benefit.

The person concerned is not in receipt of invalidity pension from my Department. Since March 1968 he has been in receipt of occupational disablement pension following an accident at work. He is also in receipt of an unemployability supplement which includes increases in respect of his wife and child.

The rates of disablement pension and unemployability supplement at present in payment to him include the increases provided for in the budget from April last. He is therefore receiving the full amount of disablement pension and unemployability supplement, including increases for his wife and child, to which he is entitled.

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