asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is in a position to pay a non-contributory old age pension at a reduced rate to persons (details supplied) in Clontarf, Dublin 3, together with the associated benefits for television, electricity and telephone services.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
485.
Only one member of the couple concerned has applied for non-contributory old age pension. His claim has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of a pension has not been recommended by the social welfare officer as the assessment of the claimant's means, consisting of half the weekly value of his earnings from part-time employment, his pension from a former employer and capital, exceeds the statutory limit.
As neither of the parties concerned is in receipt of a qualifying pension or allowance they are not entitled to a free television licence, free electricity allowance or free telephone rental allowance.
486.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in Dublin who is on disability benefit and is sixty-five years of age.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 5 December 1981. As, according to the records of the Department, he has only 74 contributions in respect of insurable employment to his credit since his entry into insurance in 1976, his entitlement is limited to payment for 52 weeks. He would require a minimum of 156 such contributions to qualify for invalidity pension.
An inspector will visit him at an early date with a view to ascertaining whether he had any earlier periods of insurable employment which would serve to qualify him for invalidity pension. If it transpires that he had sufficient additional employment to bring his total of contributions paid to 156, the earliest date from which he could be paid invalidity pension is 5 December 1982 as the relevant regulations require applicants for such pension to have been incapable of work for at least a year before being transferred to invalidity pension.
487.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he will arrange for the grant of an invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
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.
488.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in relation to the payment of pay-related social welfare benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The entitlement of the person concerned to pay-related benefit, as a supplement to his flat-rate unemployment benefit, could not be determined until inquiries to establish his net average weekly earnings for the purpose of calculating the 85 per cent limit applicable to his claim, had been completed. The necessary investigations were recently finalised and payment of pay-related benefit has been allowed. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week.
Further combined payments of flat-rate unemployment benefit (£65.00) and pay-related benefit (£13.42) totalling £78.42 will be made as weekly payments become due.
489.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an increase in unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate £ 11.00 weekly, being the maximum rate of £25.45 less means £14.45 derived from the value of board and lodging on her parents' farm.
She was advised of her right to appeal against the assessment of means in her case, but to date she has not done so.
490.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in Clondalkin, County Dublin.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 5 May to 12 June 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. He was not entitled to payment as he had not the required minimum of 26 paid or credited contributions in the contribution year 1980-81 which governed his claim. According to the Department's records he had only 21 credited contributions in that year. On 24 May 1982 he was requested to furnish details of any additional contributions he had which might serve to qualify him for payment.
Following the receipt of an employer's statement, disability benefit was authorised from 8 May 1982, fourth day of incapacity, and pay-related benefit from 19 May 1982, thirteenth day of incapacity. Payment of all arrears of benefit due on the claim has issued.
491.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that an unmarried mother's allowance is restored immediately to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The person concerned was in receipt of unmarried mother's allowance from December 1980 at the maximum rate appropriate to a person with one qualified child. Following a recent reinvestigation of her circumstances, however, it was ascertained that she is now employed locally as a housekeeper and she has been assessed with means derived from the employment. The rate of allowance payable to her has, in consequence, been reduced to £8.60 per week.
The claimant has indicated that she wishes to appeal against the decision and the necessary form on which to set out the facts and contentions on which she relies in support of her appeal has been sent to her. On return of this from, duly completed, the case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination. She will be notified of the outcome as soon as the decision of the appeals officer is received.
492.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the special circumstances, he will grant the arrears of children's allowances which are due to a person (details supplied) in Rathcoole, County Dublin.
The person concerned claimed children's allowance on 24 May 1982 in respect of her second child who was born on 19 May 1981. The allowance was awarded with effect from June 1982, the month after that in which the claim was received. The appropriate allowance books have been issued direct to the claimant's home address.
In the light of the special circumstances outlined by the Deputy, further inquiries will be made and when these are completed the question of paying allowance from an earlier date will be considered.
493.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the payment of an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
494.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the payment of pension to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
It is proposed to take Questions Numbers 493 and 494 together.
The claims of the persons concerned have been investigated by the social welfare officer who has recommended payment of pension at £12.45 a week, in each case, from 26 April 1982.
Pension order books issued on 12 July on a provisional basis pending the decisions of the local pension committee.
If the persons concerned are not satisfied with the committee's decisions they may appeal against them.
495.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that his means, derived from profit from his farm, exceeded the statutory limit.
The person concerned appealed against the disallowance and his case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination.
His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
496.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned originally claimed widow's non-contributory pension in March 1975, shortly after the death of her husband. She renewed her claim in February 1978 and in October 1981 but on each occasion her application was refused on the grounds of means derived from the estimated yearly value of a farm. She appealed against the decision given on 10 March 1982 but the appeals officer upheld the decision refusing payment of pension.
The decision of an appeals officer on a claim for widow's non-contributory pension is final and conclusive and is subject to review only in the light of new evidence, or of new facts brought to his notice since the date on which it was given, or if it appears to him that there has been any relevant change of circumstances in the meantime.
If, at any stage, the claimant considers that such new evidence has come to light or a change of circumstances has occurred she should apply to the Department to have her claim reviewed.
497.
(Limerick West): asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
A claim for unemployment benefit cannot be traced in respect of the person concerned and the PRSI number quoted does not refer to the person named.
Further inquiries will be made if additional details can be supplied which will enable the applicant to be identified.
498.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned is in receipt of old age contributory pension with a living alone allowance. The arrears of pension due have been paid direct to him by payable order which issued on 12 July 1982.
499.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free travel pass will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
According to the records held in my Department, the person concerned has been issued with a free travel pass. If the pass has been lost or stolen, he should notify my Department and the question of issuing a replacement will be considered.
500.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 7 April 1982 that the person concerned was entitled to a pension of £ 1.15 a week plus 60p adult dependant allowance from 25 December 1981 and £12.45 a week plus £6.30 from 2 April 1982.
A pension order book payable from 2 April 1982 was issued on 5 May and a payable order in respect of arrears due was also issued.
501.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
It has not been possible to identify a claim for unemployment assistance from the person concerned in my Department's records from the details which the Deputy supplied.
If additional particulars can be supplied which would enable the applicant to be identified, further inquiries will be made about the claim.
502.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 1 May to 5 June 1982, the date of the latest medical certificate received. As, according to the records of the Department, she has less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the 1980-81 governing contribution year, she is not entitled to benefit.
The claimant was requested on 15 May 1982 to furnish details of her employment record in the 1980-81 contribution year, but so far she has failed to do so. A further inquiry in this matter was issued to her on 9 July and on receipt of the information requested her claim to benefit will be reviewed.
503.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Kilshanny, County Clare as he has transferred all his assests.
The pension committee allowed pension at a reduced rate in this case to the person concerned. The social welfare officer, however, has appealed against the decision as the assessment of means, consisting of land and capital, exceeds the statutory limit.
The claimant has signed an agreement to transfer one of his holdings but a deed of transfer has not yet been drawn up.
504.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the old age pension application of a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be paid as all the documents were completed over three months ago.
The claim of the person concerned for a non-contributory old age pension has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of a pension from 5 April 1982 at the maximum rate of £34.45 a week plus £2.70 living alone allowance has been recommended by the social welfare officer. The appropriate pension order books containing orders payable from 21 May 1982 have been issued on a provisional basis, pending the pension committee's decision on the claim, and the arrears due are in course of issue.