asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange for the immediate payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
108.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 May 1981 and was paid from 22 May, fourth day of incapacity, on receipt of medical evidence. As no further medical evidence was received after 25 May 1981 he was requested, if still incapable of work, to furnish further certificates or a statement from his employers giving inclusive dates of absence from work. It has now been confirmed that he is still absent from work due to illness and accordingly all benefit due to 18 July has been paid, less amount refunded to the Western Health Board in respect of supplementary welfare allowance advanced. The claimant is sending his medical certificates to his employers instead of directly to my Department.
109.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
All disability benefit due to the person concerned in respect of his absence from work from 29 April 1981 to 6 June 1981 has been issued. He is not qualified for pay-related benefit. The delay in payment of benefit arose because medical certificates which had been sent to the Department were not received.
110.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned is a postal claimant and unemployment benefit is paid to him each week by paying order at his local post office. However, certain inquiries had to be made before his entitlement to pay-related benefit could be established. These inquiries were recently finalised and payment of pay-related benefit has been allowed at the weekly rate of £29.12. An order paying all arrears of pay-related benefit issued to him on 20 July 1981 for encashment at his local post office.
111.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny which is owed for quite some time.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit in respect of an incapacity from 5 November 1980 and payment was authorised at the maximum appropriate rate. A cheque for the amount of benefit due from 27 November 1980 to 14 January 1981 was prepared but, due to an administrative error, was not issued. Subsequently regular payments were issued up to 5 May 1981.
Following inquiries it was established that she was certified fit to resume work on 21 April 1981 with the result that she was overpaid from that date to 5 May 1981. The amount of the overpayment has been deducted from the benefit due for the period from 27 November 1980 to 14 January 1981 and a cheque for the balance has now issued to her.
112.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as the claim has been lodged for some time.
It is a statutory provision that a widow is disqualified for receiving pension if and so long as she and any person are cohabiting as man and wife. The claim to pension of the person concerned was refused on this ground. She has appealed against the decision and arrangements have been made to hold an oral hearing of her appeal on 29 July 1981.
113.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 February 1981 and has been paid from 23 February, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All payment due to 17 July 1981 has been made.
114.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and when the arrears will be paid.
The person concerned, whose claim was received on 17 June 1981, has been awarded widow's contributory pension from 12 June 1981, the Friday following her husband's death. A pension order book containing orders from that date has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly.
As her husband was also insured in the United Kingdom, the relevant papers have been forwarded to the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to have her claim examined under the EEC Regulations.