asked the Minister for Health the reason for the non-payment of disabled persons maintenance allowance to a person (details supplied) in Galway.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
496.
I have made inquiries of the Western Health Board concerning the case referred to by the Deputy. I understand that the board refused the applicant a disabled person's maintenance allowance because he was in receipt of unemployment assistance. His case is being reviewed by the board.
497.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay a deserted wife's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been awarded deserted wife's allowance from 11 May 1981. A pension book with orders payable from 15 July 1982 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly.
The arrears due will be sent to her shortly by payable order after adjustment for the amount of supplementary welfare allowance which she received from the Southern Health Board since May 1981.
498.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay pay-related benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Following the completion of inquiries to establish the average net weekly earnings of the person concerned arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of pay-related benefit due to her next week.
Further combined payments of flat-rate unemployment benefit (£26.25) and pay-related benefit (£3.69) totalling £29.94 will be made to her as weekly payments become due.
499.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick
It has not been possible from the information supplied to trace a claim to unemployment assistance from the person concerned. If the Deputy would furnish additional details to enable the claimant to be identified I will have further inquiries made.
500.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has no income at present.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 8 February 1982 but following the completion of inquiries her claim was disallowed on grounds that she was not genuinely seeking work.
She appealed against this decision but an appeals officer whose decision is final upheld the disallowance of her claim. She has not been in touch with my Department's local office since 6 April 1982.
501.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay all arrears of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 11 February 1982 and was paid at the maximum appropriate rate from 15 February 1982 (fourth day of incapacity) to 8 June 1982. As, at that stage, notification was received that the claimant was receiving supplementary welfare allowance from the South Eastern Health Board, it was necessary to ascertain the amount advanced before payment of benefit could be made. When this information was received all arrears of benefit due in respect of the period 9 June 1982 to 24 June 1982, date of latest medical certificate received, issued, less the amount which was refunded to the South Eastern Health Board.
502.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit payments have been discontinued to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will arrange to pay unemployment benefit to this person.
The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit from 3 July 1981 to 29 May 1982. Payment was disallowed from 31 May 1982 following an examination by a medical referee of the Department who considered him capable of work. The claimant was notified of the decision of 24 May 1982 and advised of his right to appeal. He did not appeal against the decision to disallow his claim.
An inquiry on behalf of the claimant on 9 June 1982 was taken as notice of appeal and he was examined on 18 June 1982 by a different medical referee and was again considered capable of work. He was notified accordingly on 23 June 1982.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 2 June 1982 and to enable his entitlement to be determined he has been asked to furnish information about his availability for employment. As soon as he does so his claim will be decided.
503.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in relation to an application for unemployment benefit from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned does not fulfil the statutory contribution conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit as he is a self-employed contractor who was never insurably employed.
He claimed unemployment assistance on 28 June 1982 and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. When the necessary inquiries are finalised his means will be assessed by a deciding officer and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.
504.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will increase the disability pension of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed disablement benefit in respect of an accident at work on 19 February 1976. Following examination by a medical referee he was awarded disablement pension for life at the rate appropriate to 20 per cent loss of faculty with effect from 10 April 1981. He appealed against the decision and arrangements are being made for an oral hearing of his appeal at an early date. On receipt of the appeals officer's decision he will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
505.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will increase an old age pension for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned is in receipt of a non-contributory old age pension at the rate of £18.45 a week plus £2.70 living alone allowance.
His claim for increased pension has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of an increase has not been recommended by the social welfare officer as the claimant's means, consisting of a holding and capital assessed at £22 weekly, do not entitle him to pension at a higher rate than that in payment.
If he is dissatisfied with the pension committee's decision he will have a right of appeal against it.
506.
(Waterford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford did not receive disability payment for the period 3 to 10 May 1982.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 April 1982 and has been paid at the maximum appropriate rate from 22 April 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 3 May 1982, date of latest medical certificate received.
As it appears from the information supplied by the Deputy that the incapacity continued beyond 3 May 1982 the claimant has been requested to forward a statement from his employer giving the inclusive dates of his absence from work due to illness. When this information is received any benefit due will issue.
507.
(Waterford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford has not received disability benefit since 29 June.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 1 March 1982 and was paid from 4 March, fourth day of incapacity, to 13 July 1982, date of latest medical certificate received.
There was a delay in payment in respect of the period from 23 June to 29 June due to the absence of medical certification for that period. On receipt of a further medical certificate dated 6 July, a cheque for the amount of benefit due from 23 June to 6 July 1982 was issued on 8 July.
508.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a husband and wife (details supplied) in Dublin are in receipt of an invalidity pension totalling £58, that he and his wife are over 60 and that the husband has suffered a heart attack; and if he will have this case investigated as a matter of urgency.
The person concerned is receiving invalidity pension at the rate of £58.55, comprising £35.50 personal rate and increase of £23.05 in respect of his wife. This is the maximum rate of invalidity pension applicable to a married man who is under 66 years of age. When he attains age 66 years he will receive payment of pension at a higher rate.
509.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The claim of the person concerned to deserted wife's allowance was refused on the grounds that her husband had not left her of his own volition. She appealed but the decision was upheld by an appeals officer.
In the light of recent representations the appeals officer is prepared to review the case and in this connection has arranged for an oral hearing on 21 July 1982. The claimant has been notified to this effect and advised that she may be accompanied at the hearing by a member of her family or, with the consent of the appeals officer, by any other person.
510.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when free travel will be granted to a person (details supplied) in Dublin, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
No application for free travel has been received in my Department from the person concerned.
From the information supplied, it is not possible to state if the person is qualified for free travel. An application form, however, has been issued to him and when the completed form has been returned to my Department his entitlement will be considered and he will be notified of the outcome.
511.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to an applicant (details supplied) in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned originally claimed deserted wife's allowance on 28 July 1976 but her claim was refused on the grounds that she was under 40 years of age and had no qualified child. She re-applied on 10 April 1978 and, as she then had a qualified child, the allowance was awarded at the maximum appropriate rate from 13 April 1978, the Thursday following the date of application. Payment of the allowance continued up to 7 September 1978 when she resumed employment. As her means derived from earnings from this employment exceeded the statutory limit the allowance was terminated from that date.
On 4 June 1982 the claimant notified the Department that she wished to claim deserted wife's benefit. The question of her entitlement to the benefit had, however, already been investigated in 1978 and it was decided that she was not entitled to payment on either her own or her husband's insurance prior to the date of desertion. She was notified to this effect at the time. An inspector will call on her at an early date to investigate her means with a view to restoring payment of deserted wife's allowance if her circumstances so warrant.
512.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when social welfare cheques will be issued to a person (details supplied) in Dublin as he has not received payments for the past few weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 March 1982 and payment was made from 6 March, fourth day of incapacity, to 6 July 1982, date of latest certificate received. The claimant reported the non-receipt of three disability benefit cheques which issued during the period from 1 June to 21 June 1982 and replacement cheques were issued in each instance.
513.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he proposes to grant an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The claim of the person concerned for a non-contributory old age pension has been partially investigated and will be referred to the local pension committee for decision on completion of the necessary inquiries. If payment of pension is recommended it will be put into payment on a provisional basis pending the pension committee's decision.
514.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a person (details supplied) in Galway is entitled to a free telephone rental allowance.
One of the conditions for the receipt of a free telephone rental allowance is that the applicant must be living alone or with one or more persons who are permanently incapacitated. The person concerned resides with her husband who she has stated is incapacitated. She has been requested to furnish medical evidence to this effect. On receipt of the medical evidence a decision will be given in the case and she will be notified of the outcome.
515.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the refusal of small farmer's dole to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It has not been possible to identify a claim for unemployment assistance in respect of the person concerned from the details supplied. If the Deputy will furnish additional details to enable the applicant to be identified I will have furtheir inquiries made.
516.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the non-payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 22 March to 17 April 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. A cheque for £240.98 paying disability benefit due to him for the period 25 March, fourth day of incapacity, to 17 April 1982 was issued to him on 21 April 1982.
The claimant, who was interviewed by an inspector recently, stated that he did not receive the benefit cheque. In the circumstances a form of indemnity was issued to him on 14 July 1982. On its return, duly completed, replacement action will be taken.
517.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying a deserted wife's allowance to a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
The person concerned has been awarded deserted wife's benefit, at the maximum rate for a woman with three qualified children, with effect from 1 April 1982. A book with orders payable from 15 July 1982 has been forwarded to the designated post office for collection by her. She was notified accordingly.
Arrears due for the period 1 April 1982 to 14 July 1982 will be paid shortly to the claimant by payable order after deduction of the amount of unemployment assistance which she received during that period.
There was no undue delay in making payment in this case. Before deciding a claim it is the normal procedure to interview the husband to obtain his version of the desertion. A number of efforts were made to do so but were unsuccessful. In the circumstances it was decided to make the award on the basis of the information available.
518.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the recent reduction in the amount of social assistance being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will ensure that the full amount is paid forthwith.
The person concerned was in receipt of combined flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit amounting to £37.05 when he exhausted his entitlement on 23 May 1982 on the completion of 390 days. He claimed unemployment assistance from 24 May 1982 but as he was assessed with means of £11.40 derived from his capital the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him is £14.05 being the maximum rate of £25.45 less £11.40 means. The person concerned has appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. His unemployment assistance claim will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.