asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the disability benefit claim of a person (details supplied) in County Clare which was made in June 1981 will be paid.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
531.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit for the period 8 to 19 June 1981. He was not entitled to payment however as, according to the records of my Department, he had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions, paid or credited, in 1979-80, the contribution year governing his claim. Investigations are being made as to whether the person concerned was employed during the year in question.
532.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick is receiving disability benefit at the single person's rate only.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 28 September 1981 and has been paid at the single rate only. The claim for an increase of benefit in respect of his wife was inadvertently overlooked. The matter has now been rectified and all the arrears of benefit in respect of his wife has been issued.
533.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the correct rate of unemployment benefit was paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The correct rate of unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit was paid in this case. Under statutory regulations the total of unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit and any tax refunds may not exceed 85 per cent of a claimant's average net weekly earnings in the period from 6 April up to the date of claim.
In the case of the person concerned the appropriate limit was £22.59 a week. She was accordingly paid as follows.
|
Date |
Unemployment Benefit |
Pay Related Benefit |
Total |
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
From 2 March 1981 |
17.00 |
Nil |
17.00 |
|
From 12 March 1981 |
17.00 |
5.59 |
22.59 |
|
From 6 April 1981 |
20.40 |
2.19 |
22.59 |
|
From 5 October 1981 |
21.00 |
1.59 |
22.59 |
534.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if injury benefit at the correct rate and pay-related benefit are being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of an accident at work on 21 January 1982. Following inquiries regarding the accident his claim for injury benefit was allowed from 22 January 1982. In addition pay-related benefit was paid from 5 February 1982, thirteenth day of incapacity.
The regulations governing the payment of pay-related benefit provide that when the total amount of flat-rate benefit and pay-related benefit exceed a claimant's reckonable weekly earnings in the relevant income tax year 1980-81 the rate payable shall be reduced by the amount of the excess. The claimant's reckonable weekly earnings were £78.64. He was therefore precluded from receiving more than this amount by way of combined payments for the period from 5 February 1982 to 3 April 1982. The rates of flat rate injury benefit and pay-related benefit payable in this period were £75.75 and £2.89, making a combined weekly rate of £78.64.
As from 5 April 1982 the weekly flat rate of injury benefit in this case would ordinarily be £93.85 a week but the claimant is also precluded by the provisions of the Social Welfare Acts from receiving more by way of injury benefit than the weekly amount of his pre-accident earnings from employment. According to the information furnished by the employer and the claimant the pre-accident weekly wage was £86.48 a week. The rate of injury benefit at present payable is therefore limited to that amount. He is not entitled to pay-related benefit in this period.
535.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a non-contributory old age pension is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The claim for pension of the person concerned has been referred to an appeals officer for decision. The appeals officer however has deferred his decision pending receipt of further details from the claimant's solicitor regarding the administration of an estate in which the person concerned has an intestacy interest. As soon as this information is received the claim will be decided.
536.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
There is no record in my Department of a claim to benefit from the person concerned in respect of the period January to April 1981, but following inquiry it was ascertained that she was absent from work due to illness from 15 January 1981 to 14 February 1981. A cheque for the amount of disability benefit due for that period issued to her on 6 April 1982. She subsequently claimed and was paid maternity allowance from 16 February to 23 May 1981.
537.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a maternity allowance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned claimed maternity benefit in respect of her confinement on 9 February, 1982. She was not qualified for payment under the RSI number quoted by her on the claim form but following inquiries it was established that she was, in fact, qualified under a different number. All payment due on the claim issued on 20 April 1982.
538.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The reason that payment of unemployment benefit was not made to the person concerned is that inquiries were necessary to establish the class of contributions payable in respect of her employment during the contribution period 3 July 1978 to 5 April 1979.
The investigations in her case have now been completed and arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of unemployment benefit due to her this week. Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
539.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 20 February 1981 and was paid from 24 February 1981, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit due to 1 May 1982 has been issued.
When the claim was originally being considered the available information indicated that the claimant had been employed only in this country during the relevant tax year governing his claim and his earnings from this employment were not sufficient to entitle him to pay-related benefit. It was subsequently ascertained that he had been employed in Britain during that year. Under EEC regulations British earnings are regarded as reckonable for pay-related benefit purposes and may be aggregated with earnings in this country. On this basis he qualified for payment and an adjusting cheque paying all arrears of pay-related benefit due from the commencement of the claim has now been issued to him.
540.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid since 1 January 1982 to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned does not satisfy the statutory contribution conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefit during the relevant contribution period April 1980 to April 1981. A deciding officer decided that her employment during the period in question was insurable at class J rate which provides cover for occupational injuries benefit only and does not cover for unemployment benefit.
It is open to the person concerned to appeal against this decision and to have the insurability of her employment determined by an appeals officer. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit from 4 January 1982 would be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
541.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether unemployment assistance is due to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow for the period November 1980 to April 1981; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department have no record of receipt of a claim to unemployment assistance from the person concerned during the period November 1980 to April 1981.
Inquiries which were initiated following a previous Parliamentary Question tabled by the Deputy have so far failed to locate any such claim at local offices in the Wicklow area and adjoining districts. However it has been arranged that a social welfare officer of my Department will shortly call on the person concerned with a view to clarifying the matter.
542.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to an applicant (details supplied) in County Wicklow.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 April 1982 and was paid from 19 April 1982, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit due to 1 May 1982 has been issued.
His entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and payment due, if any, will issue on completion of inquiries.
543.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 11 October 1980 and was paid from 15 October 1980, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit due to 31 October 1981 was issued. Payment was discontined after that date following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. The claimant subsequently submitted a final medical certificate certifying that he was fit to resume work on 11 November.
In January 1982 the claimant notified my Department that he had not received all the payments due to him for October 1981. A list of the cheques which issued in that month was supplied to him on 21 January 1982 and he was requested to indicate which payments were not received by him but no reply has been received to date. In view of the Deputy's statement that no payment was made for any period after 24 October 1981 a form of indemnity has been issued to the claimant for completion. On its return arrangements will be made for the issue of a duplicate payment of benefit in respect of the period from 26 October to 31 October 1981.
544.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position in relation to an old age pension for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Due to an increase in the means of the person concerned a question for revocation of his pension with effect from 15 January 1982 was referred to the local pension committee for decision. An extension of the means limit took effect however from the beginning of April and a revised recommendation is being prepared which would allow a reduced rate of pension from that date. Arrangements are being made for the issue of a pension book to the person concerned on a provisional basis at the appropriate rate pending the decision of the pension committee.
545.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 3 December 1977 to 2 December 1978. Payment ceased after that date as she had less than the required minimum of 156 paid contributions to her credit since her entry into insurance in 1976 to qualify her to further payment.
The claimant again claimed disability benefit from 30 November 1981 but payment was made in error to 7 January 1982. She was not entitled to payment for this period as she had not requalified for benefit by having at least thirteen weeks of insurable employment between the date of the last payment of disability benefit in December 1978 and the date of her claim.
546.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry was disallowed unemployment benefit.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 3 March 1982 on the grounds that his means derived from the factual value of his farm exceeded the statutory limit.
The person concerned appealed against the disallowance and his case was referred to an Appeals Officer. The appeals officer has decided that further inquiries be made about the value of the applicant's farm.
In the meantime and pending the outcome of his appeal the means of the person concerned have been assessed on the basis of the notional value of his holding. On that basis arrangements have been made to resume payment of unemployment assistance. The current rate of unemployment assistance payable to him is £39.55 being the rate of £52.70 payable to a married man with 5 qualified children with a valuation between £10-£15 less £13.15 means notionally assessed.
547.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 4 January 1982 and was paid from 7 January 1982, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 8 May 1982 has been issued.
Benefit was issued promptly on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity up to 8 February 1982 at which stage it was learned that the claimant had been in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
Payment for the period 9 February to 8 March 1982 was withheld pending information as to the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced. On receipt of the necessary details payment of all benefit due to 8 March 1982 was issued less £100.00 which was withheld for refund to the health board to offset supplementary welfare allowance paid. Payment was then resumed and as already indicated all benefit due to 8 May 1982 has since been issued.
548.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 9 February and all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due from 12 February 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 19 April 1982, after which date he was certified as fit to resume work, has been issued to him. All the payments issued promptly on the receipt of medical evidence of incapacity.
A statement giving details of all the payments has been issued to the claimant and he has been asked to indicate the period, if any, for which he considers he has not been paid disability benefit.
549.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare why disability benefit at the full rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 24 March 1982 to 24 April 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. He was however inadvertently paid benefit at an incorrect rate for the duration of the claim. The matter has now been rectified and an adjusting payment has been issued to the claimant.
550.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why an old age pensioner (details supplied) in County Cork did not receive the full 25 per cent increase in his pension.
The person concerned was in receipt of a maximum rate non-contributory old age pension including an allowance for his wife and two qualified children up to 16 April 1982 when one of his sons attained 18 years of age and ceased to be a qualified child. His pension was adjusted to £59.05 from 16 April 1982. This is the maximum rate payable to a person with a dependent wife and one qualified child and includes the increases applicable under the provisions of the recent budget.
551.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork who applied for disability benefit for the period December 1981 to January 1982 was only paid a single man's allowance when he is married with dependants; and if he will undertake to pay the balance due to him as soon as possible.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 30 November 1981 to 4 January 1982 and in the absence of a claim form for increases for his dependants was paid at the single rate on his claim. The necessary form was issued to him on 16 December 1981 and a duplicate was issued to him on 18 January 1982, following the receipt of a letter from him that he was not being paid for his wife and two children, but neither form was returned to my Department.
In view of the Deputy's inquiry it has been accepted that the claimant is a married man with two dependent children and a cheque in payment of arrears due has been issued to him.
552.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork who applied for unemployment assistance over six months ago will be paid.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £21.00 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his brother's farm and a small amount of capital.
He appealed against the assessment but following a further investigation of the case an appeals officer upheld the decision. Unemployment assistance was not payable as the amount of means exceeded the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him at the date of his claim.
The person concerned has not been in touch with the local office of my Department since April 1981. As the current rate of unemployment assistance (£25.45) payable may exceed the amount of his means it is open to him to renew his claim at his local office.
553.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork, who applied on 26 November 1981, will be paid an old age pension.
The claim of the person concerned for old age pension which was received on 19 March 1982, has been investigated and was referred to the local pension committee for decision on 3 May 1982. Pension at the maximum rate plus an over eighty allowance has been recommended. A pension order book will be issued to the person concerned on a provisional basis in the course of the next few days.
554.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork did not receive his correct rate of unemployment benefit from 2 December 1981 to 1 February 1982; and the reason his benefit was suspended from the week ended 22 January 1982.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 18 November 1981 but did not initially claim an increase in respect of his wife and child dependants. On receipt of the completed claim form giving details of his dependants his weekly rate of benefit was adjusted and payment of the full amount due has been made regularly from 1 February 1982. The issue of the cheque for the arrears due to that date was however inadvertently overlooked at the time but the payment has now been made.
There is no record in my Department of the suspension of payment of benefit for the week ended 23 January 1982. The claimant has therefore been supplied with a list of all the payments made in January together with details of the period covered by each payment so that he may indicate which payments, if any, were not received by him. On receipt of his reply any action necessary will be taken.
555.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when five weeks' arrears of retirement pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan.
The arrears of retirement pension due to the person concerned have been paid to him by means of a payable order which issued on 3 May 1982.
556.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons the payment of benefit has been stopped to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The person concerned ceased employment on 19 February 1982 and received disability benefit from 20 February 1982 to 29 March 1982 after which she was certified fit to resume work and payment of disability benefit was terminated.
She claimed unemployment benefit on 31 March 1982, and all unemployment benefit due at the maximum personal rate of £31.65 has been paid. Following inquiries it has now been established that she is also entitled to an increase in respect of her child. The weekly rate of benefit payable to her is accordingly being increased to £39.15 and all arrears due will be paid this week.
Weekly payments will continue to be made as they fall due.
557.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if arrears of an old age pension have been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
It was decided by the local pension committee on 31 March 1981 that the person concerned was entitled to an old age pension at the maximum rate with effect from 26 February 1981. A pension order book payable from 3 April 1981 at the appropriate rate of £26.25 was issued to the nominated post office on 3 April 1981, for collection by the pensioner and all arrears due were paid by payable order on 28 April 1981.
In view of the Deputy's question, arrangements are being made for the social welfare officer to call on the person concerned to clarify what precisely is at issue.
558.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 21 December 1981 but only one medical certificate was received from him in support of his claim. In the absence of further medical evidence indicating continuing incapacity no payment of benefit was made. It has now been ascertained from his employer that he was absent from work due to illness from 21 December 1981 to 4 January 1982. A cheque paying all benefit due in respect of this period was issued on 3 May 1982.