asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in New Ross, County Wexford.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
514.
The person concerned exhausted his title to unemployment benefit on 8 October 1981 when he completed 390 days of unemployment benefit. He will not requalify for unemployment benefit until he obtains at least 13 weeks of insurable employment with contributions payable at the appropriate class.
He was in receipt of unemployment assistance from 9 October 1981 to 26 May 1982 when his qualification certificate, which is a prerequisite for the receipt of assistance, was withdrawn as he failed to show that his means, derived from self-employment, did not exceed the statutory limit. Although informed of his right to do so, he did not appeal against this decision.
515.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in Croom, County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 11 January 1982 to 16 January 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. He was not entitled to payment at the time as, according to the records of the Department, he had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the 1980-81 year which governed his claim. It was subsequently ascertained that he had sufficient weeks of insurable employment in that year to qualify him for payment. A cheque paying all benefit due from 14 January, fourth day of incapacity, to 16 January 1982 has now been issued.
516.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who has been signing on at the Limerick Employment Exchange for a number of weeks.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 8 June 1982 and his case was referred to a social welfare office for investigation. Following the completion of inquiries means of £0.85 were assessed against him derived from the value of board and lodging in his parent's home.
Payment of unemployment assistance at the rate of £25.40 being the maximum rate £26.25 less £0.85 means was authorised and all arrears due were paid to him on 1 July 1982.
Weekly payments of unemployment assistance at £25.40 will continue to be made to him as they fall due.
517.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the full rate of children's allowances will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Enniscorthy, County Wexford.
An allowance book containing orders at £11.25 per month payable from August 1982 to October 1982 has been issued direct to the person concerned. This book restores her allowance to £45.00 per month which is the correct rate payable in respect of her four qualified children for the months in question.
518.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a social welfare allowance increased to the maximum rate for a person (details supplied) in Charleville, County Cork.
The person concerned is in receipt of a social assistance allowance at a reduced rate of £14.60 per week based on means of £1,716 per annum derived from employment. The maximum rate of pension is payable only where the means do not exceed £312 per annum.
The local officer of the Department has been asked, however, to reinvestigate the means of the claimant to see if there has been any change in circumstances since her means were last assessed. On receipt of his report the rate of allowance payable in her case will be reviewed.
519.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to sanction a free telephone rental allowance for a person (details supplied) in Charleville, County Cork.
The conditions of the free telephone rental allowance scheme require that all persons residing with an applicant be so permanently incapacitated as to be unable to obtain aid in an emergency. From the information furnished by the person concerned it appears that he is residing with his wife, who is not an incapacitated person. In such a situation it is regretted that the allowance would not be payable.
The applicant's wife is not in receipt of a qualifying pension or allowance which would enable her to qualify for the allowance.
520.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance or benefit to a person (details supplied) in Charleville, County Cork.
The claim to unemployment benefit to the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. The person concerned appealed against the disallowance and an oral hearing of her case will be heard by an appeals officer on 12 July 1982.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
521.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance or benefit to a person (details supplied) in Mallow, County Cork.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 31 March 1982. Pending inquiries about her contribution record a claim for unemployment assistance was accepted and following the completion of investigations she was assessed with means of £2.35 weekly. Her unemployment assistance claim was allowed and all unemployment assistance due at the weekly rate of £23.10 being the maximum rate of £25.45 less means £2.35 has been paid to her.
The inquiries concerning her contribution record were recently finalised and her contribution record has now been established which provides her with a title to unemployment benefit at £31.65 weekly.
Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of unemployment benefit due to her this week less the advances of unemployment assistance which she received.
522.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in regard to a person (details supplied) in Galway as she was refused benefit on the grounds that she was unavailable for work when in fact she was available for work but was unable to attend the appeal because her father died; and if he will have the matter investigated.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance and an oral hearing on her case was arranged to take place on 18 May 1982. The person concerned did not attend the hearing and no word was received at the employment exchange, Galway, as to why she did not attend. The appeals officer upheld the disallowance.
However, arrangements are now being made to have her case re-listed for hearing by an appeals officer at the earliest possible date. She will be notified of the time and place and her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
523.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in New Ross, County Wexford.
No claim to unemployment benefit in respect of the person named by the Deputy can be traced but the wife of the person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 27 January 1982. Her claim was refused by a deciding officer on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the deciding officer's decision. However, after an oral hearing of her case an appeals officer confirmed the disallowance.
524.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an application for invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in Dublin will be granted.
A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to the person concerned. On its return, duly completed, arrangements will be made to have him transferred to invalidity pension at an early date.
525.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will have investigated, as a matter of urgency, the application by a person (details supplied) in North Strand, Dublin, for a living alone allowance; and if the allowance will be granted as soon as possible.
The person concerned, who is in receipt of a contributory old age pension, applied for a living alone allowance on 29 April 1982. Following investigation he was awarded the allowance from 29 January 1982 three months prior to the date of application. A pension order book with orders valid from 7 May 1982 was issued to the designated post office on 25 June 1982. The arrears due from 29 January to 6 May 1982 have been paid direct to him by payable order.
526.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment and maternity benefits to a person (details supplied) in Bantry, County Cork; and if he will now make arrangements for payment.
Inquiries were necessary to establish whether the person concerned satisfied the statutory contribution conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefit. These investigations were recently completed and payment of unemployment benefit was authorised at the weekly rate of £26.90. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of unemployment benefit due this week.
My Department have no record of a recent claim to maternity benefit. The last such claim recorded from the person concerned was in respect of the period 30 August 1976 to 4 December 1976 and all maternity allowance due was paid in respect of that period.