asked the Minister for Social Welfare if it is intended to pay social welfare payments by cheque.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
651.
Payments in respect of disability benefit, maternity allowance and occupational injury benefit are already made by cheque through the computer system. Unemployment benefit and Unemployment Assistance payments are made in cash at employment exchanges and employment offices and postal claimants are also paid in cash at post offices. Payments of pensions, social assistance allowances and children's allowances are made by means of books of payable orders encashable at post offices. There are no plans at present to change these methods of payment.
652.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange for an early decision on a claim which was lodged by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
I would refer to the reply given by me on 28 October 1981 to a previous question in this case. It has since been established that the incapacity was due to an accident at work and the claim to injury has accordingly been allowed from 6 August 1981, date of the accident.
The relevant regulations provide that where a person, who is in receipt of disablement pension, subsequently meets with another occupational accident, the rate of injury benefit payable shall be reduced by the amount of the disablement pension in payment. Where, however, as a result of this reduction, the weekly rate of injury benefit is less than the weekly rate of disability benefit, the latter benefit and not injury benefit is paid. In this case the rate of disability benefit exceeds the rate of injury benefit, as reduced by the weekly rate of disablement pension already in payment, and accordingly disability benefit is continuing to be paid.
As, however, disability benefit is not payable for the first three days of the claim, injury benefit at the reduced rate has been allowed for the period from 6 August 1981 to 8 August 1981 and as indicated payment on the claim is being made as disability benefit thereafter. All payment due has now been made to 28 November 1981, the date of the latest medical evidence received. He is not entitled to pay-related benefit.
653.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The entitlement of the person concerned to pay-related benefit could not be determined until details of his average net weekly earnings became available. The person concerned only recently furnished the required information and payment of pay-related benefit was allowed. An order paying all arrears of pay-related benefit due issued to him last week for encashment at his local post office.
654.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned had been in receipt of disability benefit from 1972 and was paid to 7 November 1981. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who considered him capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance of benefit and arrangements have been made to have him examined by a different medical referee on 16 December 1981. When the result of the examination is available his claim will be reviewed.
655.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related benefit at the full rate has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare.
The person concerned was paid occupational injuries benefit the full statutory period of 26 weeks from 1 May 1981 to 29 October 1981 at the weekly rate of £62.75 increased to £64.65 from 5 October 1981. On termination of the injury benefit period he was transferred to disability benefit which is payable to him at £55.10 per week. In addition, he was also paid pay-related benefit at the rate of £34.55 per week for the first 147 days of entitlement which terminated on 3 November 1981. His weekly rate of pay-related benefit was, in accordance with the statutory provisions governing the payment of such benefit, then reduced to £25.91 which is the amount currently in payment. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 26 November 1981 has been paid.
656.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned who is a postal claimant furnished evidence of continuous unemployment in support of his unemployment assistance claim. However, following inquiries he admitted that he was in fact employed on certain days during the period of his claim.
He recently provided a statement from his former employer stating that he had not been employed since 1 July 1981. Pending further inquiries regarding the earlier period of his claim, his claim for unemployment assistance was allowed from 1 July 1981 and all unemployment assistance due from that date has been paid to him.
657.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason there was a reduction in the rate of the old age pension paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Due to an increase in the means of the person concerned consequent on the award of a British retirement pension he is no longer entitled to old age pension at the maximum rate. A question for reduction in the rate of his old age pension is being raised. Pension at the reduced rate of £15.55 a week plus £2.15 living alone allowance is in payment to him pending the decision of the local pension committee on the question.
658.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been issued to the person concerned for completion and on its return arrangements will be made to transfer him to invalidity pension.
659.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 30 October 1979 and was paid from 2 November 1979 fourth day of incapacity at the maximum appropriate rate. All benefit due to 5 December 1981 has issued.
660.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a free fuel allowance has not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who is in receipt of the old age pension.
I understand from the Eastern Health Board, which administers the national fuel scheme in Dublin, that the application of the person concerned for assistance under the scheme was refused on the ground that the applicant was not living alone or only with a dependent spouse or other person in receipt of a social welfare or analagous payment, which is a normal requirement for eligibility. It is open to the applicant to appeal against the board's decision.
661.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan is eligible for free telephone rental.
An application from the person concerned which was received in my Department on 17 September 1981 has been approved and she was advised accordingly on 30 September 1981. The allowance cannot, however, be applied until such time as telephone service is provided.
662.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the arrears of a non-contributory widow's pension will be paid to an applicant (details supplied) in County Wicklow.
Arrears of non-contributory widow's pension for the period from 27 September to 12 November 1981 were sent to the person concerned on 27 November 1981. A pension book containing orders payable from 13 November 1981 issued on 11 November 1981 to the designated post office and the claimant was notified to this effect.
663.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit is payable to an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned, who is a postal applicant for unemployment benefit, has failed to reply to inquiries issued to him from his local office. Replies to these inquiries are necessary before his entitlement to unemployment benefit can be determined. When the person concerned replies to the inquiries his entitlement will be determined without delay.
664.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if all disability and pay-related benefits have been paid to an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed occupational injuries benefit in respect of an accident at work on 21 September 1981. Pending a decision on his injury benefit claim he has been paid disability benefit at the weekly rate appropriate to a married man. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 24 November 1981, date of latest medical certificate received, has been paid. A decision will be given on his claim for injury benefit as soon as the necessary documentation, requested from his employers, regarding the accident is received.
665.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned is an applicant for unemployment benefit. At the date of his claim my Department had no record of his employment during the relevant contribution period and inquiries were necessary to ascertain if he fulfilled the statutory contribution conditions. These inquiries were recently completed and his unemployment benefit claim was allowed at the weekly rate of £66.20. All arrears of unemployment benefit due to him were paid last week.
666.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been issued to the person concerned for completion and on its return arrangements will be made to transfer him to invalidity pension.
667.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will return a dependant's old age pension book to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It was necessary to recall the pension book of the person concerned as the wrong rate had been inadvertently issued to her during the general October renewal of pensions. The correct rate book was issued on 19 November and has been received by her.
668.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will pay disability and pay-related benefits to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 8 September 1981 and has been paid, at the maximum personal rate, from 11 September, fourth day of incapacity to 26 September, after which date he resumed work. Payment of disability benefit was originally made to 21 September 1981, the date of the latest medical certificate received. Following inquiries it was ascertained from his employers that he was absent from work owing to illness up to and including 26 September 1981, and payment was accordingly made up to that date. As pay-related benefit is not payable for the first two weeks of illness he only qualified for payment for the period of his illness from 22 September to 26 September 1981 and the cheque which issued to him on 27 November 1981 included payment for this period.
669.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 8 October 1980 and payment of all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 27 November 1981 has issued. Further payments will issue on the receipt of medical evidence of incapacity.
670.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free travel pass will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
A free travel pass was issued to the person concerned on 9 November 1981.
671.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The claim of the person concerned to unemployment assistance has been allowed and arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due to him next Thursday, 3 December 1981 at his local office.
672.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related and unemployment benefits have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned has been in receipt of pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £10.86 in addition to his flat-rate unemployment benefit. However, following the recent completion of inquiries regarding his reckonable weekly earnings the rate of pay-related benefit payable to him has been increased to £60.00 weekly. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of pay-related benefit due this week.
673.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary has had his old age pension reduced by a half.
As the means of the person concerned have increased a question for reduction of his old age pension is before the local pension committee for decision. Pension at the reduced rate of £16.75 plus £8.45 adult dependant allowance is in payment to him pending the decision of the committee.
674.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit from 19 September 1980 in respect of an accident at work on that date and was paid for the full statutory period of 26 weeks up to 19 March 1981.
As injury benefit is not payable beyond this period his claim subsequent to that date was treated as one for disability benefit. According to the records of my Department, however, the claimant has less than the required minimum of 26 paid contributions to his credit since his entry into insurance and accordingly he is not qualified for payment of disability benefit.
675.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to process the application for a non-contributory old age pension for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The application for a non-contributory old age pension from the person concerned is at present being investigated. It is expected that it will be possible to refer the application to the local pension committee for decision shortly.
676.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will restore unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The claim to unemployment assistance of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that his means, derived from the value of board and lodging on his father's farm exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case.
The person concerned appealed against the disallowance but an appeals officer, whose decision is final and conclusive, upheld the means assessment in the case and consequently he is not entitled to payment of unemployment assistance.
677.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will expedite the payment of unemployment benefit or assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned is an applicant for unemployment benefit and inquiries in his case were recently completed.
His claim to unemployment benefit was allowed and as he is a postal recipient an order paying all arrears due issued to him for encashment at his local post office last week.
678.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to return a social assistance book to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The social assistance allowance of the person concerned has been restored to her with effect from 12 November 1981.
She had been in receipt of the allowance until early October 1981 when she notified my Department that she was living in Dublin and had left her child with its grandmother. The allowance was terminated with effect from 8 October 1981 as she did not fulfil the statutory condition for receipt of the allowance of having a qualified child residing with her.
She has since returned to live with her child and an allowance book with orders payable from 3 December 1981 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her. Arrears due from 12 November have been paid direct to her after adjustment for the amount of supplementary welfare allowance she received from the Southern Health Board since that date.
679.
(Wexford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance at the full rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned, who is a recipient of unemployment assistance, recently applied for a reassessment of his means. His case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation and when inquiries are completed the assessment of his means will be reviewed.
680.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will pay a maternity grant and arrears of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 14 August 1981 and subsequently maternity allowance in respect of a confinement on 6 October 1981. She was not qualified for payment of either benefit as she had less than the minimum of 26 paid or credited contributions in the contribution years governing those claims. It subsequently transpired that she had sufficient insurable employment in the 1980-81 contribution year to qualify her for payment of maternity benefit but due to the failure of the employer to pay the contributions at the proper time they were only recently credited to her insurance record. Payment of all maternity benefit due on her maternity claim from 31 August to 21 November has now been made.
Her entitlement to unemployment benefit is governed by the contributions paid and credited in the 1979-80 contribution year. She had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions to her credit in this year but it has now been established that she had further insurable employment for which the contributions had not been paid. Special credits have, however, been allowed which have the effect of qualifying her for benefit. Arrangements have accordingly been made with the Employment Exchange, Newcastle West, to have payment of benefit issued to her this week.
681.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 6 July 1981 and has been paid at the maximum appropriate rate from 9 July, fourth day of incapacity. Payment of all disability and pay-related benefit due to 3 August 1981, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, has been made.
682.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 8 October 1981, and all benefit due to 23 November 1981, less the amount refunded to the health board of supplementary welfare allowance advanced, was paid on 26 November 1981. The payment made to the claimant was at the personal rate and the allowance for his wife and three qualified child dependants was paid to the wife.
Entitlement to an increase of benefit in respect of a grandchild is being investigated and on completion of inquiries any arrears due will be paid.
683.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
Inquiries to establish the reckonable earnings of the person concerned were completed recently and her claim to pay-related benefit has been allowed at the weekly rate of £10.10.
Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of pay-related benefit due to her when she calls to her local office on Friday, 4 December 1981.
684.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a claim for disability benefit will be sanctioned for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 September 1981 and was paid from 17 September, fourth day of incapacity. In addition he was paid pay-related benefit from 28 September 1981, thirteenth day of incapacity. Payment of all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due has been made to 26 November 1981, date of latest medical evidence received.
685.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Cavan is entitled to have a dependent relatives' allowance in respect of his wife and family included in his disability benefit; and, if so, when it will be paid.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 26 August 1981 and has been paid at the maximum appropriate rate, from 29 August 1981, fourth day of incapacity. Payment of all disability benefit due to 25 November 1981, date of latest medical evidence received, has been made.
The cheque paying the increase of benefit in respect of his wife and four qualified children issued on 20 November 1981. When details of his earnings in 1979-80, the relevant tax year, are available pay-related benefit, if due, will be paid.
686.
(Wexford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if childrens allowances in respect of two children will continue to be paid to a parent (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The children's allowance renewal book in this case which was issued in July 1981 was returned to the Department by the post office for amendment to the husband's name in view of the death of his wife.
The amended allowance book with orders cashable from September 1981 was reissued to the person concerned on 13 November 1981 and a payable order in respect of the arrears due to August 1981 will issue without delay.
687.
(Wexford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit at the full rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 21 November 1980 and was paid from 25 November, fourth day of incapacity at the maximum appropriate rate, to 23 November 1981. Payment ceased after that date as he had not the necessary 156 paid contributions to his credit since his entry into insurance, to entitle him to payment for more than 52 weeks.
The claimant's entitlement to pay-related benefit in respect of the period for which he was paid disability benefit has not yet been decided. The case has been referred to an inspector for further inquiries about the claimant's reckonable earnings during the period at issue.
688.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Due to increases in his British retirement pension a question for reduction of his non-contributory old age pension has been raised by the social welfare officer and is at present before the local pension committee for decision. Pension at the reduced rate of £23.95 a week is currently in payment to him pending the decision of the committee.