asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a living alone allowance will be paid immediately to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
512.
A living alone allowance order book payable from 7 May 1982 and a payable order for £81.70 covering all arrears due have been issued to the person concerned.
513.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit will be paid as a matter of urgency to a person (details supplied) in New Ross, County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed and was allowed unemployment benefit from 28 October 1981. He is at present receiving £65.00 weekly.
Under statutory regulations the amount of unemployment benefit, pay-related benefit and any weekly refunds of income tax may not exceed 85 per cent of a person's average net weekly earnings which in the case of the person concerned amounted to £43.16. As the amount of unemployment benefit which he is receiving is greater than this figure, the person concerned is not entitled to pay-related benefit.
514.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway in view of the change in her means.
The person concerned made an unsuccessful claim for old age pension in 1981. Representations from the Deputy have been accepted as a repeat claim to pension which has been forwarded to the social welfare officer for investigation.
When the necessary inquiries have been completed it will be referred to the local pension committee for decision. If a pension is recommended it will be put into payment on a provisional basis pending the decision of the committee.
If the claimant is not satisfied with the decision she may appeal against it.
515.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not received disability benefit for the period 17 December 1980 to 12 February 1981.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 17 December 1980 to 10 February 1981. As she had less that the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the governing 1978-79 contribution year she was not entitled to payment for the period 17 December 1980 to 4 January 1981.
Following inquiries it has been established that the claimant was entitled to payment from 5 January to 10 February 1981 on the basis of credited contributions in respect of periods in the 1979-80 contribution year when she was in receipt of disability benefit and unemployment benefit and a cheque for the amount of benefit due for this period has now issued.
516.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a PRSI settlement cheque will be sent to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit from 7 July 1981 and was paid from that date to 4 January 1982 when his title to injury benefit expired on the expiration of the statutory period of 26 weeks payment. He was paid disability benefit from 5 January 1982 onwards and has been paid to 16 June 1982, date of the latest medical evidence received.
Payment of disability benefit was duplicated for the period 25 February 1982 to 18 March 1982 resulting in an overpayment of £106.92 for that period. Arrears of benefit amounting to £72.81 for the period 19 March to 7 April 1982 were withheld to offset part of the overpayment and the balance was recovered by weekly deductions of £6.83 from payments due for the period 8 April 1982 to 12 May 1982.
On receipt of the Deputy's inquiry the claim was reviewed and it was established that after making allowance for the recovery of the overpayment of £106.92 the claimant was paid the correct amount of benefit due for the period of his claim up to 16 June 1982. A list of cheques issued showing the amount overpaid and details of the amounts withheld to recover the overpayment has been sent to the claimant. He will see from this that only the exact amount overpaid has been recovered.