asked the Minister for Social Welfare if all unemployment benefit has been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
101.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance continuously from August 1977 to October 1981. On 8 October 1981 he claimed disability benefit and was paid from 12 October 1981, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit due to 27 March 1982 has been issued. A list of the cheques which issued to the claimant from 4 November 1981 to 27 March 1982 has been forwarded to the claimant and he has been requested to indicate which cheques if any were not received by him.
105.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit from 15 February 1982 but on inquiry it was established that the claim related to an injury sustained at work on 26 May 1981. As this claim was outside the statutory limit of 26 weeks for the payment of injury benefit, he was not entitled to such payment, but he was entitled to disability benefit. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due on the claim up to 20 March 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, has been paid.
There was delay in the payment of benefit in respect of the week commencing on 8 March 1982 as the medical certificate for that week was misfiled. The amount due was, however, included in the cheque which issued on 19 March 1982.
106.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 31 December 1980 and was paid for 52 weeks from 3 January 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 1 January 1982. Payment ceased after that date as she had less than the required minimum of 156 paid contributions from date of her entry into insurance under the Social Welfare Acts in 1972 to the date of commencement of her illness to qualify her for further payment of benefit.
In the meantime her entitlement to invalidity pension has been investigated and it has been established that she is in fact qualified for such pension. An application form has been issued to her for completion and on its return arrangements will be made to pay invalidity pension to her from 2 January 1982.
107.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 27 June 1981 to 11 July 1981 and from 3 November 1981 to 28 November 1981. She was not entitled to payment on either claim as, according to the records of my Department, she had not the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution years. She was requested to furnish details of her insurable employment in these years but in her reply indicated that she was only employed in 1980-81. As the contributions paid in that year are not reckonable for benefit purposes in 1981, they did not serve to qualify her for payment on these claims.
She again claimed benefit from 29 January 1982 and qualified for payment from 2 February 1982, fourth day on incapacity, on the basis of contributions paid in the 1980-81 contribution year which governs payment of disability benefit claims from 4 January 1982. All disability benefit due to 27 March 1982, date of the latest medical evidence received, has been issued.
Her title to pay-related benefit is being investigaged and payment due, if any, will issue on completion of inquiries.
108.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 February 1982 and has been paid form 18 February 1982 at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 24 March 1982, date of the latest medical evidence received, has been issued.
Payment of benefit issued promptly on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity in my Department and there was no delay in payment. The five cheque payments made on the claim issued on the following dates, 26 February 1982, 4 March 1982, 11 March 1982, 18 March 1982, 23 March 1982.
109.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 27 February 1982. He was not however entitled to payment as he has no contributions to credit in the governing 1980-81 contribution year which are reckonable for disability benefit purposes. The contributions paid in respect of his employment at a local cattle mart in that year are reckonable only for occupational injuries and do not confer title to disability benefit.
110.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying an invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
A condition for entitlement to invalidity pension is that the claimant must be regarded as permanently incapable of work. In order to determine whether the person concerned can be regarded as permanently incapable of work arrangements have been made to have her examined by a medical referee of my Department on 1 April 1982. On receipt of the report of the examination, her entitlement to invalidity pension will be considered.
111.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying occupational injury benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 30 May 1981 and has been paid disability benefit and pay-related benefit continuously to 27 March 1982. He did not indicate on either the claim form or the medical certificate that his incapacity was due to an accident at work. My Department did not become aware of the fact that he contends that his incapacity was due to an occupational accident until September 1981. Inquiries as to the origin of the incapacity indicate that there is a conflict of evidence with the employers regarding the alleged accident and further investigation is necessary before a decision can be made on the entitlement to injury benefit.
112.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 2 March 1981 and was paid for 52 weeks to 27 February 1982. Payment ceased after that date as he had less than the minimum of 156 paid contributions required to entitle him to further payment of benefit. According to the records of my Department he had only 66 paid contributions from the date of his entry into insurance to the date of the commencement of his illness. It has been stated however that the person concerned had also been employed by a firm which is now in liquidation. This matter is being investigated and on completion of the inquiries the question of his entitlement to payment of disability benefit after 1 March 1982 will be considered.
113.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a pension at the full rate is not being paid to persons (details supplied) in County Waterford.
It was decided by an appeals officer that the couple concerned were each entitled to old age pension at the following reduced rates: £0.60 per week from 2 March 1981 to 2 April 1981; £5.85 per week from 3 April 1981 to 1 October 1981; £7.15 per week from 2 October 1981.
Their means, each consisting of half the weekly value of capital, payments under a deed of transfer and a nominal sum in respect of free board and lodging, entitle them to pension at these rates.
If there has been any change in their circumstances it is open to them to apply for an increase in their pensions.