asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit, outstanding since December 1980 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
181.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 18 February 1976 and was paid from that date at the maximum appropriate rate to 22 November 1980. Payment was disallowed from 24 November 1980 following examination by a medical referee who considered that he was capable of work.
He appealed against the disallowance of benefit and in that connection he was examined by a different medical referee who considered he was incapable of work. Payment from the date of the original disallowance has been restored and all disability benefit due from 24 November 1980 has been issued.
182.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the claim for disability benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will be finalised; and if he is aware of the long delay in this case.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 12 April 1980 to 11 Octomber 1980 and maternity allowance from 13 October 1980 to 3 January 1981. She resumed claiming disability benefit from 5 January 1981 and all disability benefit due to 12 May 1981 has been issued.
The delay in payment was due to the fact that she was quoting an incorrect RSI number on the medical certificates submitted to my Department. In consequence, they were not associated with her claim. The question of her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and any benefit due will issue as soon as possible.
183.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
An order paying all unemployment benefit due to the person concerned was issued to him on 14 May 1981 for encashment at his local post office.
184.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 October 1980 to 21 April 1981, after which date she was certified fit to resume work. In the meantime she also claimed maternity allowance, from 10 November 1980. As disability benefit and maternity allowance are not payable concurrently it was necessary to ascertain the exact period of the maternity allowance claim before her entitlement to disability benefit could be determined. The position has now been resolved and all maternity allowance and disability benefit due to 21 April 1981 has been paid. Her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and any benefit due will issue as soon as possible.
185.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit was stopped from 18 March 1981 to a person (details suppled) in County Dublin.
The claim for unemployment benefit of the person concerned falls to be dealt with under the provisions of the EEC regulations. He does not satisfy the statutory contribution conditions on the basis of his Irish contribution record and as he was last insurably employed in the United Kingdom his British and Irish contribution record cannot be aggregated for the purposes of his unemployment benefit claim. The person concerned, was, however, paid British unemployment benefit by this Department on behalf of the United Kingdom authorities on their authorisation up to 18 March 1981 after which date he exhausted his entitlement.
186.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will re-open the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin in relation to her application for deserted wife's allowance.
As indicated in reply to a previous question from the Deputy about this case, the person concerned was refused a deserted wife's allowance on the ground that she is not regarded as a deserted wife under the regulations governing the scheme. It was held that she had not, as required by the regulations, made reasonable efforts within the means available to her to prevail upon her husband to contribute to her support. In view of the fact that she now contends that she recently made efforts to obtain support from her husband it is proposed to have her claim reinvestigated.
187.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Galway did not receive the 1980 increase in unemployment assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was not entitled to an increase in his rate of unemployment assistance from April 1980 under the provisions of the 1980 budget as his means were assessed on a notional basis. He was advised that it was open to him to have his means factually assessed and if found to be to his advantage his rate of unemployment assistance would be revised. The person concerned, however, did not opt for a factual assessment and accordingly unemployment assistance continued to be paid to him at the rate appropriate to a recipient with means assessed on a notional basis. If the person now desires to be factually assessed he may do so by applying to the local office dealing with his claim.