asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin has not obtained his entitlement of fuel vouchers; and if he will expedite investigations into this matter in view of the urgency of the case.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
628.
I understand from the Eastern Health Board, which administers the national fuel scheme in Dublin, that following receipt of a completed application form on 25 January 1982, cheques to the amount of £48 have been issued to the person concerned in respect of fuel allowances from that date, and a further cheque for £12 for the period to the end of the heating season is awaiting collection. The board have no record of an application prior to this date.
If the person concerned is experiencing difficulty in meeting any fuel bills for the earlier part of the winter it is open to him to apply to the community welfare officer at his local centre for assistance under the supplementary welfare allowances scheme.
629.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on the disability benefit case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
Following an inquiry by the Deputy in March 1982 regarding the non-receipt of disability benefit cheques in December 1981 and January 1982 a list of all the cheques which issued during these months was sent to the claimant and he was asked to indicate which cheques had not been received by him. While he could not specify exactly all the cheques which had not been received by him he indicated that he was positive he had not received the cheques which had issued on 29 December 1981 and 12 January 1982. A form of indemnity was issued to him in respect of these cheques but so far this form has not been returned. It was intended that, on return of the form, duplicate payments would issue.
The two cheques in question, both of which were cashed, have now been returned to my Department and it appears that the signature of the payee thereon is similar to that of the claimant. The cheque for the period 1 December to 7 December 1981 which issued on 15 December 1981 has not however been returned by the bank. I propose to have an inspector of my Department call on the claimant within the next few days with a view to clarifying the position. The question of the possible underpayment of benefit will also be dealt with by the inspector.
630.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the payment of unemployment assistance has been discontinued to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow as the application was made last January.
The person concerned exhausted his entitlement to unemployment benefit when he completed 390 days on 28 January 1982.
He claimed unemployment assistance and his case was referred to an outdoor officer of my Department for investigation of his means. The necessary inquiries are still in progress and they are expected to be finalised shortly.
His entitlements to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the outcome of the investigations.
631.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in Dublin who is in receipt of a small pension from England would be entitled to a supplementary pension from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
According to the records of my Department the person concerned made a claim to non-contributory old age pension in 1981. The claim was unsuccessful as her means exceeded the statutory limit for entitlements to pension. The Deputy's inquiry has been taken as a repeat claim to pension and a social welfare officer is being asked to investigate her present means circumstances. Her entitlement to pension will be reviewed when this is done.
632.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a long duration disability benefit has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin; and if it will now be recommenced.
The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit from 15 January 1981 to 14 January 1982 when payment was suspended pending review of her entitlement to further payment. When it was ascertained that she had in fact sufficient contributions to qualify her for further benefit payment was restored. All disability benefit due to 15 May 1982 has been paid.
633.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on an unemployment benefit claim of a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
The entitlement of the person concerned to pay-related benefit is governed by the statutory limitation which provides that the total amount of flat rate unemployment benefit, pay-related benefit and income tax refund may not exceed 85 per cent of his average net weekly earnings.
At the commencement of his claim the 85 per cent limit applicable to the person concerned was calculated at £58.44 weekly. However, following a recent review of his claim it was discovered that the amount had been incorrectly calculated and that the appropriate amount was £66.79. This had the effect of increasing the amount of pay-related benefit payable as a supplement to unemployment benefit to £25.09 weekly from 21 January 1982 and to £14.64 from 5 April 1982.
Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of pay-related benefit due to him this week.
634.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if there has been an undue delay in dealing with an application for a widow's pension by a person (details supplied) in Dublin; and if a decision will be made in the near future.
The person concerned, whose claim was received on 18 March 1982, was awarded widow's contributory pension on her husband's insurance, at a reduced rate appropriate to a yearly average of 42 contributions, with effect from 5 March 1982, the Friday following her husband's death.
Two pension books (one for herself and one for the children) containing orders from 2 April 1982 were issued on 29 April 1982 to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. The arrears of pension due from 5 March 1982 to 1 April 1982 have been paid direct to her by payable order.
Following inquiries it has been ascertained that the late husband had additional contributions which had the effect of qualifying the widow for the full rate of pension. A supplementary pension book has now been issued to the widow together with the further arrears of pension from 5 March 1982.
There was no undue delay in the award of pension in this case. It was necessary to make certain inquiries with a view to establishing whether the widow was entitled to the full rate of pension.
635.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on the present position in relation to the application for disability benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin about whom Deputy Jim Mitchell has been in correspondence with his Department.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 6 January 1981. As, according to the records of my Department, she had no contributions paid or credited in the 1979-80 contribution year which governed her claim, she was not entitled to benefit. Payment was, however, made provisionally pending the outcome of inquiries regarding her employment in that year. On completion of the inquiries it was established that she was not employed in 1979-80 and in fact was not entitled to the payments that had already been made to her.
636.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in a case (details supplied) why no pay-related benefit has yet been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if immediate arrangements will be made to have the benefit and arrears paid.
The entitlement of the person concerned to pay-related benefit as a supplement to unemployment benefit is subject to a statutory limitation that the total amount of flat-rate unemployment beneefit with pay-related benefit and income-tax refunds may not exceed 85 per cent of his average net weekly earnings.
The method of calculating the 85 per cent limitation is statutorily prescribed and inquiries to establish the net weekly earnings of the person concerned are still being made. When the inquiries are completed his entitlement to pay-related benefit will be determined without delay.
637.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give the estimated expenditure in a year and the percentage of total expenditure on certain social insurance benefits under the Social Welfare Act 1982 (Schedule A) as follows:—(1) (a) disability benefit and (b) unemployment benefit; (2) (a) maternity allowance, (b) maternity grant, (c) death grant; (3) (a) injury benefit, (b) disablement benefit (gratuity), (c) disablement pension; (4) death benefit; (5) old age contributory pension; (6) invalidity pension; (7) widows' contributory pension; (8) orphans contributory allowance; (9) other benefits; (10) total expenditure; (11) the estimated cost of the pay related element in unemployment benefit; (12) the estimated cost of the pay related element in disability benefit; (13) the estimated cost of basic weekly rate for unemployment benefit; (14) the estimated cost of basic weekly rate for disability benefit; and (15) the estimated cost of basic weekly rate for contributory pension.
The estimated expenditure of the Social Insurance and Occupational Injuries Funds in 1982 is as follows:—
|
Benefit |
Estimated expenditure and percentage of total expenditure |
||
|
£ |
|||
|
1. |
(a) Disability Benefit |
143,250,000 |
(16.08%) |
|
(b) Unemployment Benefit |
151,191,000 |
(16.97%) |
|
|
2. |
(a) Maternity Allowance |
7,651,000 |
(0.86%) |
|
(b) Maternity Grant |
390,000 |
(0.04%) |
|
|
(c) Death Grant |
683,000 |
(0.08%) |
|
|
3. |
(a) Injury Benefit |
4,340,000 |
(0.49%) |
|
(b) Disablement Benefit (Gratuity) |
750,000 |
(0.09%) |
|
|
(c) Disablement Pension |
9,830,000 |
(1.10%) |
|
|
4. |
Death Benefit |
1,130,000 |
(0.13%) |
|
5. |
Old Age Contributory Pension |
176,050,000 |
(19.76%) |
|
6. |
Invalidity Pension |
44,524,000 |
(4.99%) |
|
7. |
Widow's Contributory Pension |
144,402,000 |
(16.20%) |
|
8. |
Orphan's Contributory Allowance |
1,145,000 |
(0.13%) |
|
9. |
Other Benefits (i) Benefits (including Pay-Related Benefit) |
167,212,000 |
(18.76%) |
|
(ii) Administration |
38,520,000 |
(4.32%) |
|
|
10. |
Total Expenditure: |
891,068,000 |
11. The estimated cost of pay related element with unemployment benefit is £38,850,000.
12. The estimated cost of pay related element with disability benefit is £26,250,000.
13. The estimated cost of basic weekly rate for unemployment benefit is £151,191,000.
14. The estimated cost of basic weekly rate for disability benefit is £143,250,000.
15. The estimated cost of basic weekly rate for (i) Old Age (Contributory) Pension is £176,050,000 and (ii) for Widows' and Orphans' (Contributory) Pensions is £145,547,000.
638.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will apportion the estimated income from and outgo on contributions and social insurance benefits under the Social Welfare Act, 1982, for the year ending 31st March, 1983, (base — total outgo including the Exchequer contributions — equals 100) indicating, in particular and in a separate table:—(i) the estimated income at the rate of 5.5, 11.3, 2.6, 6.6 and 4 per cent; (ii) other income; (iii) the estimated Exchequer contribution; (iv) total income and (v) if he will give separately the estimated yield from (a) the youth employment levy and (b) the health service contribution.
As the accounting year for the Department of Social Welfare is the calendar year all figures in the reply refer to the calendar year 1982. Table A shows the estimated income and expenditure of the Social Insurance Fund for 1982 in actual terms and expressed as a percentage of total expenditure. Table B shows the estimated income of the Social Insurance Fund using the various percentage contribution rates quoted by the Deputy in respect of full-rate contributors and pro rata rates for modified rate contributors.
TABLE A
|
Income |
Expenditure |
||||
|
£000's |
% |
Benefits |
£000's |
% |
|
|
Contributions from |
Disability Benefit |
143,250 |
16.40 |
||
|
Employers and Insured Persons |
Invalidity Pension |
44,524 |
5.10 |
||
|
653,150 |
74.80 |
Maternity Allowance |
7,651 |
0.88 |
|
|
Maternity Grant |
390 |
0.04 |
|||
|
Other Income |
1,377 |
0.16 |
Treatment Benefit |
8,500 |
0.97 |
|
Old Age Contributory Pension |
176,050 |
20.16 |
|||
|
Exchequer Contribution |
218,671 |
25.04 |
Retirement Pension |
79,165 |
9.07 |
|
Widow's Contributory Pension |
144,402 |
16.54 |
|||
|
Orphan's Contributory Allowance |
1,145 |
0.13 |
|||
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
8,627 |
0.99 |
|||
|
Death Grant |
683 |
0.08 |
|||
|
Pay-Related Benefit |
70,800 |
8.11 |
|||
|
Unemployment Benefit |
151,191 |
17.31 |
|||
|
Administration Expenses |
36,820 |
4.22 |
|||
|
873,198 |
100.00 |
873,198 |
100.00 |
TABLE B
Social Insurance Fund Income in 1982 using various rates of contribution for full-rate contributors and pro rata rates for modified-rate contributors
|
Contribution Income at a rate of |
Contribution Income at a rate of |
Contribution Income at a rate of |
Contribution Income at a rate of |
Contribution Income at a rate of |
||||||
|
5.5% |
11.3% |
2.6% |
6.6% |
4% |
||||||
|
£000's |
% |
£000's |
% |
£000's |
% |
£000's |
% |
£000's |
% |
|
|
Contributions from Employers and Insured Persons |
230,240 |
26.37 |
473,040 |
54.17 |
108,890 |
12.47 |
276,290 |
31.64 |
167,400 |
19.17 |
|
Other Income |
1,377 |
0.16 |
1,377 |
0.16 |
1,377 |
0.16 |
1,377 |
0.16 |
1,377 |
0.16 |
|
Exchequer Contribution |
641,581 |
73.47 |
398,781 |
45.67 |
762,931 |
87.37 |
595,531 |
68.20 |
704,421 |
80.67 |
|
Total Income: |
873,198 |
100.00 |
873,198 |
100.00 |
873,198 |
100.00 |
873,198 |
100.00 |
873,198 |
100.00 |
The estimated yield from the youth employment levy in 1982 is £41.00m and the estimated yield from the health service contribution in 1982 is £64.00m.