asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
108.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 7 April 1981 and was paid from 10 April 1981. Payment was discontinued from 27 April 1981 as no further medical evidence had been received. Payment of disability benefit was made at the single rate only as the claim form on which to claim an increase for dependants was not returned to the Department.
He again claimed disability benefit from 4 May 1981 and has been paid from 7 May 1981, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with three qualified children. Pay-related benefit has been paid from 18 May 1981, 13th day of incapacity. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 6 June 1981, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, has been issued.
Payment of benefit on the second claim was delayed as it was necessary, in the absence of a final certificate on his claim from 7 April 1981, to ascertain the duration of his absence from work through illness for the period of that claim. The inquiries proved, however, to be protracted and it was decided to issue payment for the period of his second claim while awaiting the necessary information from his employers. Accordingly all benefit due to him for the period 7 May 1981 to 6 June 1981 was issued on 15 July 1981.
It was subsequently ascertained from his employers that he had not been absent from work owing to illness for any period in April 1981. He has therefore been overpaid benefit in respect of the period 10 April to 27 April 1981 and further inquiries are being made about this.
127.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a deserted wife's allowance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
Deserted wife's allowance at the maximum rate of £26.25 a week, increasing to £27.05 from 1 October, has been awarded to the person concerned with effect from 5 May 1981, the date she reached 40 years of age. This allowance is not payable to a woman under 40 unless she has at least one qualified child residing with her.
An allowance book was issued to the designated post office on 2 September 1981 for collection by her and arrears due were sent directly to her on 15 September 1981.
128.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of an unmarried mother's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned was awarded a social assistance allowance of £41.25 weekly, the maximum weekly rate appropriate to a woman with two qualified children, with effect from 8 April 1981. This rate was increased to £42.55 from 1 October 1981.
An allowance order book payable from 10 September 1981 was issued to the designated post office on that date for collection by her. The arrears due, less adjustments for overpayments, were sent to her by payable order on 28 September 1981.
Earlier payment in this case was not possible as it was necessary to clarify the position regarding the two children. They had been included as dependants on their grandfather's unemployment assistance claim following a question in the matter by the Deputy, replied to on 3 March last. Both have, as indicated, now been transferred to the mother's claim.