asked the Minister for Health the grounds on which a person (details supplied) in Dublin who is a spastic was refused a disability allowance.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
472.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the allowance available under the disabled person's (maintenance) allowance regulations. I have made inquiries from the Eastern Health Board regarding the case referred to by the Deputy. The applicant is at present undergoing training organised by the National Rehabilitation Board.
Should the applicant be unable to secure employment following this course the Eastern Health Board will examine her eligibility for a disabled person's maintenance allowance.
473.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in regard to an application for an old age pension from a person (details supplied) in Kinvara, County Galway, now that she has transferred her land to her nephew.
The person concerned is in receipt of non-contributory old age pension at the weekly rate of £16.45 a week, which is the correct rate of pension payable to a person whose means are between £22-£24 weekly.
No application for an increase in pension or evidence of a transfer of land or other change in circumstances has been received in my Department from the pensioner since pension was awarded in 1980. If the pensioner considers that she is entitled to an increased rate of pension arising from a significant change in her circumstances it is open to her to re-apply and her case will be re-investigated.
474.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Mervue, Galway, in view of the fact that she does not qualify for pay-related social insurance benefit.
A claim for unemployment benefit has not been received from the person concerned. A claim for disability benefit was however received recently and was disallowed as she had less than 26 contributions paid or credited in the 1980-81 contribution year which governs her claim. A similar contribution condition would govern entitlement to unemployment benefit and the person concerned would not accordingly be entitled to that benefit even if she had submitted a claim. If the person concerned wishes to pursue further her entitlements it is suggested that she call to the employment exchange, Galway.
475.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when injury benefit or other appropriate social welfare benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who was involved in a road accident on 7 May 1981 and who has received no payment or benefit of any kind since the accident.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 8 May 1981 and was paid from 12 May 1981, fourth day of incapacity, for a period of 52 weeks to 10 May 1982. He was not entitled to payment beyond that date as he had less than a total of 156 paid contributions since his entry into insurance. He entered insurance on 26 August 1980 and had only 40 paid contributions between that date and the date of commencement of his illness. In order to requalify for disability benefit he would require a further thirteen weeks of insurable employment. The claimant was not entitled to injury benefit as his incapacity was not due to an incapacity arising out of and in the course of his employment.
If the claimant did not receive cheques in respect of any period between 12 May 1981 and 10 May 1982 he should notify the Department and the matter will be investigated. On a review of the claim it was discovered that pay-related benefit was not paid initially as the claimant had no earnings in the income tax year 1979-80 which governed the claim. As it has since been established that he commenced employment for the first time in August 1980 his pay-related benefit is calculated by reference to his earnings in the first six months of employment. Arrears of pay-related benefit due for the period 22 May 1981, thirteenth day of incapacity, to 10 May 1982, were issued on 7 July 1982.
476.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Castleisland, County Kerry, or a decision to the contrary notified to the person.
The person concerned has been continuously in receipt of unemployment assistance since November 1980 and weekly payments are made to him as they fall due. The present rate of unemployment assistance payable to him is £48.35, being the maximum rate of £57.95 less means of £9.60 derived from self-employment.
477.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in Tralee, County Kerry.
According to the records of my Department the person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 11 March 1982 to 23 March 1982 and again from 27 May 1982 to-date. All flat-rate unemployment benefit to which he was entitled was paid as weekly payments become due. He became entitled to pay-related benefit as a supplement to flat-rate unemployment benefit from 28 May 1982 when the statutory 12-day waiting period for pay-related benefit expired. The rate payable to him is £38.96. However, due to a computation error at the local office dealing with his claim the weekly amount of pay-related benefit was underpaid by £10.00.
Arrangements have been made to pay all outstanding arrears of pay-related benefit due to him this week. Combined weekly payments of £70.61 will continue to be made to him as they fall due.
478.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare was refused a qualification certificate for social assistance, i.e. farmers' dole from November 1981 to February 1982, when his income for the previous year was not £2,000.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that his means derived from capital and from land factually assessed exceeded the statutory limit. The transfer of portion of his land to his son was deemed to have been for the purpose of qualifying for unemployment assistance and he was assessed with its value. He was advised of the decision on 15 February 1982 and he was supplied with a form to enable him to appeal against the disallowance. Up to now he has not appealed against the decision.
479.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 2 April 1982 and all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due on the claim, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the Western Health Board, has now been paid.
480.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a retirement pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
The person concerned, who attained age 66 years on 24 April 1982, has been awarded an old age contributory pension from 30 April 1982. A pension book containing orders valid for payment from 9 July 1982 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by him and he has been notified accordingly. The arrears of pension due for the period from 30 April 1982 to 8 July 1982 have been paid direct to him by a payable order.
481.
(Donegal South-West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Ballybofey, County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 September to 19 September 1981, after which date she was certified fit to resume work. As at the date of her claim she had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the 1979-80 governing contribution year it was necessary to make inquiries regarding her employment record in that year before her title to benefit could be determined. It has since been ascertained that she had sufficient paid contributions in that year to qualify her for payment. A cheque for the amount of benefit due from 17 September 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 19 September 1981 was issued on 6 July 1982.
482.
(Donegal South-West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Stranorlar, County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 17 March to 26 June 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. He was not entitled to payment as, according to the records of the Department, he had not the required minimum of 26 paid or credited contributions in the contribution year 1980-81 which governed his claim. On 30 March 1982 he was notified of the position and was requested to furnish details of his employment in that year which might serve to qualify him for payment. In reply he furnished particulars of contributions in the contribution year 1981-82. On 5 July 1982 the claimant was again requested to furnish information regarding his employment in the 1980-81 year (6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981). On receipt of his reply his claim will be reviewed and he will be notified of the outcome.
483.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in Johnstown, County Kilkenny.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 April 1982 to 7 June 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. Payment issued to 15 May 1982, after which date payment ceased pending inquiries regarding the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced to the claimant by the South-Eastern Health Board. On completion of the inquiries all arrears of benefit due to the claimant were issued.