(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
702.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that his means derived from self-employment exceeded the statutory limit.
The person concerned has appealed against the disallowance and his case was referred to an appeals officer who has arranged for an oral hearing of the case to take place on 3 June 1982.
His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
703.
(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 3 May 1982 and was paid from 6 May 1982, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 17 May 1982 has been issued. The cheques in payment of benefit issued on 13 May 1982 and 18 May 1982.
704.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 is entitled to a children's allowance and to any other payments.
The person in question was in receipt of a children's allowance in respect of her schoolgoing son up to and including December 1981 when he attained 18 years of age. Under the legislation children's allowance is not payable beyond a child's eighteenth birthday.
On the information available it is not possible to determine whether there is entitlement to any other payments from my Department. I have, however, arranged to issue a copy of the Department's information booklet to the person concerned. If she considers that she is entitled to any of the services summarised therein she should make application as indicated.
705.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 has not been paid disability benefit since last October; if he is aware that the person concerned was on long duration benefit prior to that, has been submitting her monthly certificates since then; has been in constant communication with his Department, was originally told that the file had been lost and that three months ago she was told that the problem would be sorted out in two to three weeks; and if he will now arrange to have this matter settled, payments resumed and all arrears paid without further delay.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 29 January 1981 and was originally paid to 17 October 1981. She also claimed and was paid maternity allowance under a different RSI number from 14 September to 7 November 1981. As disability benefit and maternity allowance are not payable concurrently, payment of disability benefit was stopped at that time so that her correct RSI number could be established and her entitlement to benefit determined. Following inquiries, which have proved protracted, her insurance position has been regularised and payment of disability benefit has now been made to 15 May 1982, less deduction in respect of the overpayment in September and October 1981.
706.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a claim for seven weeks' benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow will be decided; and the decision that will be reached.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 April 1982 and has been paid from 15 April, fourth day of incapacity. Payment of all disability benefit due has now been made to 17 May 1982, date of the latest medical certificate received. Her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and any benefit due will issue as soon as possible.
707.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost of providing dental and optical benefits for the wives of insured workers.
The cost of providing dental and optical benefits for the spouses of insured workers is estimated at approx £5.150 million a year.
708.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange that demands for the repayment of £1,071.35 which was made in error by his Department to a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be cancelled because this error was brought to the notice of the Department by the pensioner concerned on a number of occasions.
The person concerned is in receipt of an old age pension at the reduced rate of £26.45 a week and the question of her entitlement to the maximum rate of £34.45 a week is currently before the local pension committee for decision.
She received pension at a rate in excess of her correct entitlement since 1978 to the extent of being overpaid the sum in question and the Department is obliged to recover the amount overpaid. To lighten the burden, however, she has been informed that if she wishes arrangements will be made to withold £2.00 per week from her pension entitlement. As this entitlement is currently under review, action to recover the overpayment on the instalment basis mentioned is being deferred pending the pension committee's decision on the question for an increase in pension.
709.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
A pension order book payable from 2 April, 1982 at the maximum rate of £34.45 issued to the nominated post office on 3 May, 1982 and the necessary authorisation to collect it issued to the person concerned on the same day. The arrears due from 4 February 1982 to 26 March 1982 are in course of issue.
710.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider the situation (details supplied) in Dublin where a person has obtained a telephone extension to a bedroom for a brother who is confined to a wheelchair but who finds great difficulty meeting the rental; if he is aware that she badly needs the extension as her brother is unable to move up and down the stairs, and whether he will consider some form of reduction of telephone rental in this case.
It is not possible to say from the information supplied whether the person concerned would qualify for a free telephone rental allowance under the scheme administered by my Department. An application form was issued to her at the Deputy's request on 1 July 1981 but was not returned. A further application form has now been issued.
711.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of unemployment assistance at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £80 a week. This is the maximum rate appropriate to a married man of nil means with six children residing in a rural area.
712.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of a non-contributory old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Although the particulars supplied by the Deputy are insufficient to identify positively the person concerned in my Department's records, the question may refer to a person living in the same general vicinity whose old age pension was revoked in January 1977 when her means exceeded the statutory limit. There is no record of a repeat claim having been received from her since then. On the assumption that she is the person referred to by the Deputy and that she wishes to have her case re-considered I have arranged for a claim form to be issued to enable her to make the necessary re-application.
713.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned attained pension age, then 67 years, on 11 February 1977 and claimed old age contributory pension from my Department.
One of the conditions for the receipt of old age contributory pension requires him to have a yearly average of 20 contributions over the period from 5 January 1953 to 31 December 1976, the end of the contribution year immediately preceding the one in which he attained pension age. As he had a yearly average of 11 contributions in that period he did not qualify for an old age contributory pension.
His entitlement to a non-contributory old age pension was also investigated at that time but he did not have an entitlement to that pension as his means were in excess of the statutory limit. There has been no further application for a non-contributory old age pension since then.
714.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit in respect of 1981 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 May 1981 and payment was made at that time from 15 May 1981, fourth day of incapacity to 26 May 1981. He subsequently submitted a final certificate dated 5 June 1981 but due to an administrative error payment was not made on this certificate. Following the receipt of the Deputy's inquiry payment of disability benefit from 27 May to 5 June 1981 has now been made.
715.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
It has been determined by an appeals officer that the person concerned was not entitled to a non-contributory old age pension from 31 July 1981 to 1 April 1982 as his means exceeded the statutory limit applicable during that period but that he is entitled to a pension at the rate of £6.45 a week plus an increase of £3.30 for his wife from 2 April 1982. The appropriate pension order book has been issued.
716.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit at the full rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 11 December 1981 to 23 February 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. As he quoted different RSI numbers on the medical certificates and other documents submitted to my Department, three separate claims under different RSI numbers were prepared and payments were made for a portion of the period of the incapacity. The claims have now been brought together under a single RSI number and an adjusting payment of disability benefit was issued on 18 May 1982. The rate of benefit paid was the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with five dependent children.
This man did not claim disability benefit during 1979. He was registered as unemployed and was paid unemployment assistance from 1 January to 31 December 1979.
717.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when maternity benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
It has not been possible from the information given in the question to trace a claim to benefit from the person concerned. If the claimant's RSI number, Christian name or other particulars can be supplied that would enable the claim to be identified, the matter will be dealt with urgently.
718.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
In order to qualify for unemployment assistance a person must be the holder of a qualification certificate which is a statement of his means. The person concerned applied for a qualification certificate on 20 January 1982 but withdrew his application on 5 March 1982. Since he is not the holder of a qualification certificate he cannot, therefore, qualify for unemployment assistance. The person concerned ceased signing the unemployment register on 20 April 1982.
719.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in Inchicore, Dublin 8 has claimed unemployment and pay-related benefits and was told by the employment exchange that he is not entitled to pay-related benefit; whether the person is entitled to pay-related benefit; if so, when it will be paid to him; and when the arrears will be paid.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit as a supplement to unemployment benefit is subject to the statutory limitation that the sum of flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit and any income tax refund may not exceed 85 per cent of a claimant's net average weekly earnings. The 85 per cent limit applicable to the person concerned is £60.20 and as he is currently in receipt of flat-rate unemployment benefit at the rate of £68.05 weekly, he is not entitled to pay-related benefit.
720.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the insurance number of a person (details supplied) in Drimnagh, Dublin 12 has been traced; and if the person is now due any disability benefit.
There is no record in my Department of the receipt of a recent claim for benefit in respect of the person concerned. Even if she had such a claim in 1981 or 1982 she would not be qualified for payment as a period of more than two contribution years had elapsed since the last contribution to her credit in 1977. Before she can again become entitled to benefit she will require to have at least 26 paid contributions in respect of insurable employment. She has been notified of the position and advised to quote RSI No: 1629658 AW in all future communications.
721.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the facts of a case (details supplied) in Inchicore, Dublin, he will arrange for a free travel pass to be issued to the person concerned.
As the person concerned is not yet 66 years of age and is not in receipt of an allowance or pension which would entitle her to free travel, it is regretted that it is not, therefore, possible to issue a free travel pass to her. She will, however, attain the age of 66 years on 19 January 1983 and will qualify for free travel from that date in her own right.
In the meantime it is open to her to apply to her local community welfare officer for advice as to whether she may qualify for assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme if she is unable to meet the cost of travel to visit her husband in hospital.
722.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if any social welfare is payable in a case (details supplied) in Clondalkin, Dublin.
The payment which would normally be appropriate in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy would be an increase of the invalidity pension in respect of a prescribed relative. One of the conditions for this payment is that the prescribed relative is not a married person wholly or mainly maintained by his or her spouse. As the relative in this case is a married woman living with her husband the conditions for payment of the prescribed relative allowance would not be satisfied.
723.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the facts of a case, he will arrange to have a free travel pass issued to a person (details supplied) in Inchicore, Dublin 8.
As the person concerned is not yet 66 years of age and is not in receipt of an allowance or pension which would entitle her to free travel, it is regretted that it is not, therefore, possible to issue a free travel pass to her. It is, however, open to her to apply to her local community welfare officer for assistance under the Health Acts towards travel expenses incurred while attending for medical treatment.
724.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the facts of a case (details supplied) in Inchicore, Dublin 8, he will make arrangements for the payment of a death grant.
The scheme for the payment of death grants was introduced from 1 October 1970 and only contributions paid after that date count for death grant purposes. The deceased was over pensionable age on 1 October 1970 and, accordingly, had no employment contributions to his credit after that date. In the circumstances a death grant is not payable in respect of him.
725.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in Inchicore, Dublin 8, is entitled to a contributory or non-contributory old age pension.
There is no record of receipt in my Department of a claim for either contributory or non-contributory old age pension from the person concerned. As her insurance record shows that she has a sufficient number of contributions since 6 July 1953 to qualify for old age contributory pension, a claim form has been sent to her for completion and return to my Department. Her claim will be dealt with when the completed form is returned.