asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether his Department have refused unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and, if so, the reasons a young man living on an isolated Gaeltacht island should be so deprived when there is no work available.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
111.
The reason that the person concerned is not in receipt of unemployment assistance is that his means were assessed by a deciding officer of my Department at £24.90 weekly. As this amount exceeds the maximum single rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case he is not qualified for unemployment assistance. The person concerned recently appealed against the decision and arrangements have been made to have his case referred to an appeals officer for determination
112.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned has been allowed at the weekly rate of £8.65 being the maximum rate £75.95 less means £67.30 derived from self-employment and the letting of land. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of unemployment assistance due less the amount paid to him by way of advances of supplementary welfare allowance this week.
113.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 23 February 1981 but was not qualified for payment as, according to the records of my Department, he had not the required minimum of 26 paid contributions to his credit since his entry into insurable employment. He was, however, paid benefit provisionally up to 16 March 1981 pending investigation of his record of insurable employment. It was subsequently established that he had in fact sufficient weeks of insurable employment in 1978 to qualify for benefit. The balance of disability benefit due from 17 March to 21 April 1981, after which date he was certified as fit to resume work, has now been paid. The claimant is not entitled to pay-related benefit on the claim as he was unemployed in the relevant tax year, and accordingly had no reckonable earnings in that year.
125.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the method of assessment employed in determining weekly means derived from "benefit or privilege of board and lodging on father's holding" in the case of single persons applying for unemployment assistance.
The yearly value of board and lodging is one of the items which deciding officers and appeals officers are obliged by the law to take into account in the assessment of the means of applicants for unemployment assistance.
The legislation does not specify the method by which the value of board and lodgings should be calculated. Each case is decided on its merits having regard to the standard of living of the household and the circumstances of the applicant. In cases where the claimant's parent is a farmer the method operated is to estimate the yearly value of the profit from the farm and to divide the amount between the members of the household who are not self-supporting on a proportionate basis.
126.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the assessment of means which resulted in a reduction in unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was assessed by a deciding officer of my Department with means of £15.55 derived from the value of board and lodging at his parents holding. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £19.60 being the maximum rate of £35.15 less means £15.55.
If he is dissatisfied with the assessment of means in his case it is open to him to appeal and to have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.