(Dublin North-West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason occupational injury benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
144.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit in respect of an accident at work on 17 August 1980. Pending inquiries as to his entitlement to injury benefit he was paid disability benefit on an interim basis from 21 August 1980, fourth day of incapacity to 7 April 1981, after which date he was certified fit to resume work.
On completion of inquiries his claim for injury benefit was allowed from 18 August 1980 and an adjusting payment has been made for the full statutory period of 26 weeks after the date of the accident. The delay in the payment of injury benefit was due to the fact that it was necessary to make inquiries as to the nature and origin of the incapacity before his entitlement to this benefit could be established.
145.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
As the person concerned was last insurably employed in the United Kingdom his benefit claim is, in accordance with EEC regulations on social security, the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. He was paid sickness benefit by that Department from 1978 to March 1981 when, following examination by a medical referee, payment ceased as he was regarded as not being incapable of work.
It has been learned from the United Kingdom authorities that following the recent receipt of a medical statement from the claimant's own doctor, certifying continued incapacity for work, the decision to disallow the sickness benefit claim is being reviewed. The Department of Health and Social Security will notify the person concerned in the near future of the outcome of this review.
146.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to have unemployment benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned is an applicant for unemployment assistance. He is a postal claimant and an order has been issued to him paying all unemployment assistance due for encashment at his local post office.
147.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to have maternity benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed maternity benefit in respect of a confinement expected on 27 April 1981. Payment was held pending the receipt of notification of confinement. On receipt of the required certificate a cheque for the full amount due issued on 17 July 1981.
148.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to have disability benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 May 1980 and was paid from 15 May, fourth day of incapacity, to 5 July 1980, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. All payment due for this period was made.
At a later stage a medical certificate was furnished intimating he had been unfit for work between 20 June to 7 August 1980. In view of the conflict in the medical evidence it was necessary to make inquiries to establish the actual period of incapacity before payment could be authorised. As it has been confirmed that the claimant was in fact incapable of work to 7 August the balance of benefit due to that date was paid on 16 July 1981.
149.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to have unemployment assistance paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
An order paying all unemployment benefit due has been issued to the person concerned for encashment at his local post office.
150.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit has not been paid to an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo.
A deciding officer disallowed the unemployment benefit of the person concerned from 20 January 1981 to 2 March 1981 on the grounds that he left his employment without good cause. All unemployment benefit due following the period of suspension has been paid.
The person did not appeal initially against the disqualification of his claim for the period in question. However, he recently obtained an appeal application form at his local office and when he returns this form his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination.
151.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo has received no unemployment assistance since last year.
The claim to unemployment assistance of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that he was not available for work. He appealed against the decision but an appeals officer upheld the disallowance of his claim.
If the person concerned considers that he is now available for employment it is open to him to renew his claim. His case would then be reinvestigated and his entitlement to unemployment assistance would be decided in the light of the outcome of inquiries.
152.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The rate of unemployment assistance payable to the person concerned was reduced to 35p per week following the decision of a deciding officer who reassessed his means at £33.75 derived from land factually assessed and the benefit of his wife's earnings. However, notice was recently received at my Department that the wife of the person concerned is no longer engaged in employment. Consequently the case has been referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these are completed his means will be reassessed in the light of the investigations.
153.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 16 February 1981 to 23 May 1981, after which date she resumed employment. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due in respect of this period has been paid. She also claimed disablement benefit under the occupational injuries scheme on 26 January 1981 in respect of an occupational accident on 24 May 1977. The claim was allowed and payment of disablement benefit in respect of the period 31 October 1980 to 11 June 1981 was made on 14 May 1981. Further payments have been made at monthly intervals since that date.
154.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will ensure that disability benefit is paid immediately to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit for the period 10 March 1981 to 23 June 1981, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. When he first claimed benefit he was not entitled to payment as, according to the records of my Department, he was not qualified on his insurance record. It was necessary to make inquiries regarding his employment in the contribution year 1979-80, the year on which his entitlement to benefit was based. As a result of these inquiries it was established that he had sufficient weeks of insurable employment in that year to qualify him for payment on his claim. All benefit due from 13 March 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 23 June 1981 has now issued.
On receipt of details of his earnings in the 1979-80 tax year pay-related benefit if due, will be paid.
155.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim was not paid the full amount of disability benefit which was due to him.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 16 May 1981 to 15 June 1981, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. All payment due on the claim from 20 May 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 15 June, less the sum of £61.78 overpaid on a previous claim from 7 March to 26 March 1981, has now issued to him. He is not entitled to pay-related benefit.
156.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to have disability benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit initially from 3 February to 13 February 1981, after which date she was certified fit to resume employment. She also claimed from 2 March 1981 to 16 June 1981, the date of the latest certificate received. As her title to benefit in 1981 is governed by the number of contributions paid or credited on her behalf in the 1979-80 contribution year it was necessary to make inquiries to establish whether she had sufficient contributions in that year to qualify her for payment. These inquiries have since been completed and all disability benefit due for the two periods concerned have issued.
The question of her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and any benefit due will issue as soon as possible.
157.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to have unemployment benefit restored to its correct level for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned exhausted 156 days of unemployment benefit at the maximum rate on 25 May 1981. However, as he did not satisfy the statutory condition of having at least 280 paid contributions in the seven years prior to the commencement of his claim the rate of unemployment benefit payable to him fell to be reduced to £51.20 weekly, and this rate is at present in payment. This is the rate appropriate to a married man with three qualified children.
158.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to have a children's allowance book updated for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person in question was awarded an extended children's allowance effective from April 1981 in respect of a child over sixteen years of age. The requisite allowance books with orders cashable from April 1981 to June 1982 were issued on 5 May 1981. As it would appear that the allowance books were not received by the claimant a replacement book has been issued.