asked the Minister for Social Welfare if full disability benefit has been paid to a qualified applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
834.
The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit from 11 January 1980 to 20 February 1982. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She has appealed the decision to disallow payment and in connection with her appeal arrangements have been made to have her examined on 12 May 1982 by a different medical referee. On receipt of the report of this examination the question of her entitlement to benefit will be reviewed.
835.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an applicant (details supplied) in Dublin is not receiving disability benefit equal to the maximum amount payable in unemployment assistance.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance from 7 January to 27 February 1982 and was paid at the rate of £16.40 per week. She subsequently claimed disability benefit from 1 March 1982 and was paid at the rate of £23.45 per week from 1 March to 3 April 1982 and £29.30 per week from 5 April 1982, when the budget increases came into operation. Payment at this rate continued up to 24 April 1982, after which date she was certified fit to resume work.
836.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 February 1982 but he was not qualified for payment at that stage. According to the records of my Department he had not the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the contribution year 1980-81 which governed his claim. He was informed accordingly and requested to state whether he had been employed during that period. It was subsequently established that he had sufficient weeks of insurable employment in 1980-81 to qualify him for payment. A cheque paying all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due from 15 February to 6 March 1982, after which date he resumed work, issued on 7 May 1982.
837.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was reduced from £35.05 to £4.70 per week in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was recently reviewed and a deciding officer increased the means assessed against him from £0.10 weekly to £39.25 derived from self-employment with effect from 31 March 1982. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him is accordingly £4.70 being the maximum rate of £43.95 less means £39.25.
The person concerned has appealed against the assessment of his means and arrangements are being made to have his case determined by an appeals officer. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
838.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in Dublin who draws disability benefit at present would qualify for an invalidity pension; and, if so, the amount of that pension.
It has not been possible from the information supplied to trace a benefit claim in respect of the person concerned. If the RSI number or the Social Insurance number of the claimant can be quoted this would enable the claim to be identified and the information sought by the Deputy to be given.
839.
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 was in receipt of disability benefit from October 1975 to 6 February 1982 when payment was disallowed following examination by a medical referee of my Department who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance of benefit and in connection with the appeal he was examined on 22 April 1982. The medical referee on that occasion expressed the opinion that he was incapable of work. Arising out of the report of the second examination the claim was reviewed and payment was restored with effect from 8 February 1982. All disability benefit due from that date to 15 May 1982 has now been issued.
840.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that social welfare cheques sent to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin were never received by the payee; and if he will arrange to issue replacement cheques as a matter of urgency.
841.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in a person (details supplied) in County Dublin receiving social welfare cheques; if he is aware that many cheques were not received; and if he will ensure that the postal address being used in this case is correct so that the long delivery delays experienced to date will not recur.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 840 and 841 together.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 28 July 1981 and was paid from 31 July 1981, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. The payments issue regularly on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity in my Department and all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 10 May have been paid. All the cheques issued to the address quoted by the claimant on the original claim form and on the medical certificates. The claimant reported the non-receipt of cheques on three separate occasions. Replacement action has already been taken in respect of the two cheques which issued 10 December 1981 and 5 February 1982. A form of indemnity had been issued to him in respect of a cheque which issued on 23 April 1982 and on return of this form replacement action will be taken in respect of this cheque.
842.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Dublin is entitled to arrears of unemployment benefit in respect of four months which she spent in Wales.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from my Department in January last and was paid from the date of claim. On the information supplied by her when claiming benefit on her return to this country she would not be qualified for unemployment benefit from my Department or from the United Kingdom authorities during the period of her residence in Wales.
843.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit which has been due since 1 March 1982 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following the completion of inquiries the unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that she is not available for employment. The person concerned has appealed against the disqualification of her claim and arrangements are being made to have her case determined by an appeals officer. The case will be dealt with as early as possible.
844.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick in respect of the period from 5 November 1981 to 16 November 1981.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 5 November, 1981 but he was not entitled to payment as he had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions to his credit in the governing 1979-80 contribution year under the RSI number quoted by him. Following inquiries it was established that he had sufficient weeks of insurable employment in that year to qualify him for benefit but that the contributions were paid under his old insurance number. All disability benefit due on the claim from 5 November to 14 November 1981, after which date he resumed work, issued on 6 May 1982.
845.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployed benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer from 16 February 1982 to 22 March 1982 on the grounds that he left his employment voluntarily without good cause. He has appealed against the disqualification of his claim and his case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officers' decision in respect of the period in question. Payment of unemployment benefit was allowed from 23 March 1982. However, payment for a two week period was inadvertently delayed due to misfiling of papers but the arrears were included with current weekly payment of unemployment benefit which was paid to him on 7 May 1982.
846.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have free telephone rental sanctioned for a person (details supplied) in County Cork who lives alone and who is 70 years of age.
A free telephone rental allowance has been approved in this case with effect from 20 February 1981 and the Department of Posts and Telegraphs have been asked to apply the allowance from that date.
847.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment and pay-related benefits to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Arrangements have been made to pay the person concerned all arrears of pay-related benefit due to him this week. Further weekly payments of flat-rate unemployment benefit £66.90 and pay-related benefit £47.41 will continue to be made to him as they fall due.
848.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an application for a non-contributory old age pension for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry was not investigated by his Department.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned was only received in my Department on 14 April 1982. Arrangements have been made to have the claim investigated by a social welfare officer as soon as possible.
849.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The unemployment assistance claim 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 son's farm and from the benefit of his wife's old age pension exceeded the statutory limit. The person concerned recently appealed against the decision and arrangements are being made to have his case determined by an appeals officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
850.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in providing unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
The person concerned does not appear to have registered as unemployed at a local office of my Department. He should, therefore, call or write to his nearest local office and complete a form of application for unemployment assistance. His case will then be referred to a social welfare officer for investigation after which his means will be assessed by a deciding officer. The entitlement of the person concerned will be determined in the light of the means assessed against him.
851.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of the period from 15 January to 22 March and disability benefit from 7 April to 17 April 1982. Following inquiries it has been established that he was entitled to payment on both claims. A cheque paying injury benefit, disability benefit and pay-related benefit due issued to him on 10 May 1982.
852.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment benefit as she does not satisfy the statutory contribution condition of having 26 weeks of insurable employment since the date of her entry into insurance. She is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £25.45 weekly being the maximum rate payable to a single person residing in an non-urban area with nil means.
853.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick is not receiving disability benefit.
The person concened claimed disability benefit from 15 December 1981 and was paid from 18 December 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 18 March 1982. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the decision to disallow payment and in connection with his appeal arrangements have been made to have him again examined by a different medical referee on 18 May 1982. On receipt of the report of this examination his entitlement to benefit will be reviewed.
854.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick is not being paid disability benefit.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 21 September 1981 and was paid this benefit to 15 March 1982. At that stage payment was inadvertently suspended. The matter has now been rectified and payment of all arrears of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due has issued, less the amount refunded to the South Western Health Board in respect of supplementary welfare allowance advanced.
855.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make improved arrangements for the payment of unemployment benefit and assistance in Clondalkin, County Dublin, having regard to the fact that under the existing arrangements people have to queue in large numbers outside the Garda station in Clondalkin even in inclement weather; and the steps he is taking in the matter.
The question of providing employment exchange facilities in the Tallaght area is being actively pursued by my Department. This will enable improved facilities to be provided in that general area including Clondalkin for unemployment benefit and assistance claimants.
856.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Thurles, County Tipperary.
The claim of the person concerned has been investigated and will be referred to the local pension committee as soon as the claimant produces satisfactory evidence of his age. Subject to this evidence being produced, the social welfare officer will be recommending payment of pension at the maximum rate and a pension order book will be issued provisionally pending the pension committee's decision.
857.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) has been told by his Department that he was entitled to disability benefit on several occasions and yet each time it was subsequently refused; whether the person is entitled to disability benefit or an invalidity pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 13 October 1981. He was not entitled to payment however as, according to the records of my Department, he has less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1979-80 the contribution year governing his claim.
Following inquiries it was ascertained that he had been self-employed as a butcher from 1974 to September 1980. He was employed from October 1980 to October 1981 and had 23 paid contributions in 1980-81 and 27 paid contributions in 1981-82 contribution years. On the basis of this record he is not qualified for payment of benefit during 1981 or 1982 but if he remains incapable of work he will be qualified for payment of disability benefit from January 1983.
The question of entitlement to invalidity pension will be considered in January 1983 if at that stage he is still incapable of work.
858.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disqualification but following an oral hearing of her case an appeals officer upheld the disallowance. If the person considers that she is now available for work it is open to her to renew her claim for unemployment benefit.
859.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when invalidity benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 23 June 1981 but he was not entitled to payment at the time as he had less than the required minimum of 26 paid contributions to his credit since his entry into insurance. Following inquiries it was established that he had sufficient weeks of insurable employment to qualify him for benefit. Payment of disability benefit was made from 26 June 1981, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit due to 1 December 1981, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, was issued on 11 May 1982. As he was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance during the period of his claim the amount of allowance advanced was withheld from benefit due and refunded to the South Eastern Health Board. He again claimed disability benefit from 15 December 1981 and was paid from 18 December 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 22 April 1982, date of the latest medical evidence received. A cheque paying all disability benefit due was issued on 11 May 1982.
860.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a children's allowance will be paid in respect of the period 21 September 1981 to 1 December 1981 to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was awarded children's allowance with effect from the 1 October 1981 at the rate of £6.00 per month in respect of her son born on the 21 September 1981. This is the earliest date allowance can commence to accrue in respect of a child born in September 1981.
An allowance book payable from October 1981 was issued on the 4 November 1981 to the post office of payment for collection by the claimant. The Department of Posts and Telegraphs have confirmed that the allowance orders for October 1981 and November 1981 were cashed on the 10 November 1981.
If the claimant is not satisfied that she received payment for the months October and November 1981 she should notify the Department accordingly and she will be afforded an opportunity of examining the cashed orders.