asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
494.
The person concerned claimed a deserted wife's allowance on 9 June 1980 but payment was refused originally on the grounds that she did not submit a marriage certificate.
The claim has since been reviewed and an allowance at the maximum appropriate rate was awarded from the date of her claim. An allowance book, with orders payable from Thursday, 19 November 1981, was issued to the designated post office on 17 November 1981 for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. The arrears of allowance, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced, has been paid direct to her.
495.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why an old age non-contributory pension is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It was decided by the local pension committee on 24 September 1981 that the person concerned is not entitled to a non-contributory old age pension as his means exceed the statutory limit. The claimant has been notified of the committee's decision and of his right to appeal against it. No appeal has been received to date.
496.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a children's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is in receipt of children's allowances in respect of two qualified children. An allowance book which had been issued to the claimant was recalled for verification of the amount in payment and was re-issued on 13 November 1981.
497.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be decided until certain inquiries were completed. These inquiries have now been finalised and the person concerned has been assessed with nil means with effect from 16 June 1981. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £34.10, increased to £35.15 from 30 September 1981, and all arrears due were paid to him on 19 November 1981.
498.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit which was discontinued on 8 August will be paid to a person (details supplied); the reason benefit was discontinued; and why he was not notified that his benefit had been terminated.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 April 1980 and was paid from that date to 15 August 1981. According to the records of my Department he has less than 156 paid contributions to his credit since his entry into insurance in 1965 and he was, therefore, entitled to payment for 52 weeks only. This period expired in his case on 11 April 1981 but due to an administrative error payment continued up to 15 August 1981.
He has a total of 152 paid contributions to his credit and inquiries are being made in this country and in Great Britain, where he was employed for some time, with a view to establishing whether he had any further employment which would bring his total of paid contributions to 156 and thus qualify him for continued payment of benefit. An officer of my Department will call on him at an early date to request details of his employment.
499.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned was awarded deserted wife's allowance at the maximum rate appropriate to a woman with two qualified children with effect from 8 October 1981 the date on which she was three months deserted.
An allowance book with orders payable from 19 November 1981 was issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. The arrears of the allowance were paid on 3 December 1981 after an adjustment had been made for supplementary welfare allowance advanced during the period covered by the arrears.
500.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the arrears of a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
A payable order for £278.25, covering arrears of non-contributory old age pension from 13 February 1981 to 1 May 1981, inclusive, was issued to the person concerned on 10 July 1981. My Department were notified recently that the pensioner did not receive the payable order and a replacement was issued to him on 17 November 1981.
501.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a maternity allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and why she has received no reply in the past five weeks to her application and two letters to her Department.
The person concerned claimed maternity benefit in respect of her confinement expected on 27 November 1981. She did not qualify for payment on her 1979-80 record but, following inquiries, it was established that she had sufficient contributions in 1978-79 to qualify her for benefit.
Payment of maternity allowance for the period 19 October 1981 to 14 November 1981 has already been issued to her. Further payments will be made on a weekly basis up to 9 January 1982, when her entitlement ceases. There is no trace of the letters which it is alleged the claimant wrote to my Department.
502.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who applied on 21 October 1981.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 22 October 1981 and was paid from 26 October, fourth day of incapacity. Payment of all disability benefit due has been made to 11 December. Further payments will be made on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity. She is not entitled to payment of pay-related benefit.
503.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person's disability benefit was reduced from £86 to £60 (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and why benefit has not yet been paid.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 September 1981 and was paid all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due up to 9 October 1981. Although payment of disability benefit continued to issue after that date, due to an administrative error payment of pay-related benefit ceased from 10 October 1981. This matter has now been rectified and payment of all the arrears due has been made.
504.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The claim to unemployment assistance of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that he was not genuinely seeking employment. The person concerned appealed against the disallowance and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. An oral hearing was held on 9 December 1981 and the decision disallowing the claim was upheld by an appeals officer.
505.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 21 September 1981 and has been paid from 24 September, fourth day of incapacity. Payment of all disability benefit due, at the maximum personal rate, has been made to 9 November, after which date he resumed work. On return of the claim form which was sent to him any adjustment due in respect of dependants will issue. When details of his earnings in 1979-80, the relevant tax year, are available, pay-related benefit, if due, will be paid.
506.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange that people who are in receipt of long-term disability benefit from Britain will receive the free electricity allowance.
I do not propose at present to extend the free electricity allowance scheme to include persons other than those already covered.
507.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange for the regular weekly payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 8 September 1981 and has been paid from 11 September, fourth day of incapacity. All benefit due to 19 December 1981 has issued. Payment of benefit will continue to issue promptly on the receipt of medical evidence of incapacity.
508.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be given in relation to an application for a non-contributory old age pension by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
An appeals officer has decided that the person concerned is not entitled to a non-contributory old age pension as his means, consisting of half the weekly value of capital and profits from letting of land, exceed the statutory limit.
509.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will investigate the case of an overpayment by her Department to the extent of £548 to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from my Department in respect of incapacity for work from 15 April 1981.
It subsequently transpired that he was paid benefit for a period for which he had not claimed and he has returned the cheques which issued to him in respect of this period.