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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Oct 1982

Vol. 338 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

365.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit and not unemployment benefit. She was not, However, qualified for payment at the date of her claim as, according to the records of the Department, she had not the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1979-80, the contribution year governing her claim. Following protracted inquiries regarding her employment record, it has finally been eastablished that the claimant had sufficient weeks of insurable employment in the relevant contribution year to qualify her for payment.

All disability benefit due, less an amount refunded to the health board in respect of supplementary welfare allowance advanced, has now been paid.

366.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (name supplied) in County Kerry.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 18 June 1982 to 31 July 1982 and all flat-rate disability benefit and pay-related benefit to which he was entitled was paid to him.

He subsequently claimed unemployment benefit on 20 September 1982 and his claim was allowed at the weekly rates of flat-rate unemployment benefit £52.15 and pay-related benefit £14.77. Weekly payments at £66.92 are being made to him as they become due.

367.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.

All arrears of unemployment benefit due to the person concerned were paid to her on 1 October 1982.

Weekly payments of unemployment benefit at the maximum rate payable to a single person, £31.65, continue to be made to her as they become due.

368.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting a widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in Waterford whose husband died nearly a year ago; the reasons for the delay in having the pension issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at the maximum rate of £71.70 per week appropriate to a widow with four qualified children with effect from 30 April 1982. A pension book with orders payable from 29 October 1982 has been sent to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly.

Arrears due will be paid to her shortly after adjustment for supplementary welfare allowance payments which she has been receiving from the South-Eastern Health Board. The delay in awarding pension in this case arose from some incorrect information having been supplied by the claimant in her application form. It was necessary to clarify the position before an award could be made.

369.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will arrange to pay disability-unemployment benefit to person (details supplied) in County Kerry.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 11 June 1981 and was paid at the maximum appropriate rate from 15 June 1981, fourth day of incapacity. The cheques issue regularly each week and payment has been made to 23 October 1982.

The claimant reported non-receipt of five cheques which issued to him during the period 6 February 1982 to 6 March 1982. Following inquiries replacement cheques in lieu of the five cheques not received were issued to him on 20 October 1982.

370.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.

Inquiries to enable the means of the person concerned to be assessed by a deciding officer have not yet been completed. When they are completed entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.

371.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will have the appropriate officer re-examine the position of a person (details supplied) in County Clare, as he is now in receipt of only £18.96 per week and is unable to find work and to presuade any contractor to employ him as he has a 40 per cent disablement.

The person concerned claimed injury benefit under the occupational injuries scheme in respect of an accident at work on 15 December 1981. The claim was allowed and injury benefit was paid at the rate appropriate to a married man with one dependent child from 15 December 1981 to 17 April 1982 after which date the claimant was certified fit to resume work.

The person concerned claimed disablement benefit on 7 July 1982 under the scheme in respect of the same accident. referee of the Department the claim was allowed and disablement benefit was awarded at the weekly rate of £18.96, the rate appropriate to an assessment of 40 per cent disablement from 23 April 1982. All disablement benefit due up to and including 4 November 1982 has been issued.

Disability benefit under the general social insurance scheme was also in payment to the person concerned at the maximum appropriate rate of £59.65 per week from 9 August 1982 to 4 October 1982, the date of the last medical certificate received.

If the person concerned is at present available for but unable to obtain work he should claim unemployment benefit at his local employment exchange. Any unemployment benefit awarded would be in addition to his disablement pension. If, however, he is still unfit for work he should submit medical evidence to that effect, and his claim to disability benefit will be re-examined.

372.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that despite the fact that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 has lodged several claim forms he has still not been paid for one week's disability benefit; that payment of disability benefit was discontinued on 1 July but was restored following an appeal in September; and that to date he has not received his full arrears; the reason for the delay in making these payments; and if a cheque for the outstanding arrears will be issued in the immediate future.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 June 1981 and was paid all benefit due to him from that date to 3 July 1982. Payment was disallowed after 3 July 1982 following examination by a medical referee of my Department who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the decision disallowing payment of disability benefit and, in connection with his appeal, he was examined again by a medical referee who on this occasion expressed the opinion that the claimant was incapable of work from 12 August 1982. Payment of benefit was, therefore, restored from that date and arrears due, less advances of supplementary welfare allowance made by the health board, were paid. Payment of benefit has since continued as medical certificates are received. The question of his entitlement to disability benefit for the period from 5 July 1982 to 11 August 1982 is being referred to an appeals officer for determination.

The claimant reported the non-receipt of a benefit cheque which was issued to him in February 1982 and following completion of inquiries a replacement cheque has now been issued to him.

373.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to restore unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.

The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed with effect from 22 September 1982 on the grounds that his means derived from self employment and the benefit of his wife's pension exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him.

It is open to him to appeal against the disallowance and to have his case referred to an appeals officer for determination. A form for this purpose is obtainable at his local office.

374.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay pay-related benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.

The person concerned who is currently in receipt of flat-rate unemployment benefit has been asked to furnish details of his earnings during the period 6 April 1981 to 1 November 1981, but to date has not done so.

This information is required in order to calculate the amount of pay-related benefit to which he may be entitled.

375.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to restore a non-contributory old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.

The person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the maximum rate, including the additional allowance payable to pensioners over 80 years.

Unfortunately her October 1982 renewal book issued to the wrong post office but arrangements have since been made to have the book delivered to the person concerned.

376.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to restore a non-contributory old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.

It has been decided by the local pension committee that the person concerned is not entitled to a non-contributory old age pension as her means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding and capital, exceeded the statutory limit. It is open to the claimant to appeal against this decision if she is dissatisfied with it.

377.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 16 September 1982. He was not entitled to payment, however, as according to his insurance record, he had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1980-81, the contribution year governing his claim.

Following inquiries it has been established that the claimant was entitled to payment on the basis of credited contributions in respect of periods in the 1980-81 contribution year and a cheque for the amount of benefit due to 21 October 1982 has now issued. Further payments will issue as medical certificates are received while he remains incapable of work.

378.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.

The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 4 August 1982 by a deciding officer on the grounds that he was not available for work.

It is open to him to appeal against the disqualification and to have his case referred to an appeals officer for determination. A form for this purpose may be obtained at any local office.

379.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department will recommence the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 9 August 1982 following examination by a medical referee of my Department who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.

The claimant has appealed against this decision to disallow payment and in connection with his appeal arrangements have been made to have him examined on 29 October 1982 by a different medical referee. On receipt of the report of the further medical referee examination his entitlement to benefit will be reviewed.

380.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying pay-related benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

It was necessary to make inquiries to establish the earnings of the person concerned in the relevant income tax year on which pay-related benefit is calculated.

When these inquiries were completed pay-related benefit at the rate of £12.00 a week was authorised and all arrears due were paid last month.

Combined payments of flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit amounting to £80.05 continue to be made as weekly payments become due.

381.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will agree to grant an invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who has been incapacitated as a result of an injury sustained at work some months ago.

The person concerned claimed disablement benefit under the occupational injuries scheme in respect of an accident at work on 15 March 1982.

Arrangements have been made for an examination by a medical referee of the Department on 28 October 1982 in order to assess the extent of disablement resulting from the accident. As soon as the medical referee's report is available a decision will be given on the claim and any benefit due issued.

The person concerned is in the meantime in receipt of disability benefit at the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with two dependent children.

382.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting living alone and free electricity allowances to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

The person concerned has been in receipt of a living alone allowance since April 1981.

There is, however, no record in my Department of an application from him for a free electricity allowance and the district office of the ESB has no trace of an electricity account registered in his name. To qualify for free electricity allowance a person must first of all be a registered consumer of electricity.

An application form has been issued to the person concerned and he has been asked to complete it and forward it to his local ESB office for attention in the first instance.

383.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who has been out of work through illness for over two months.

The person concerned has been paid all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due on his claim from 26 August 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 19 October 1982, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced to him by the health board.

The delay in payment was due to late receipt of medical evidence and claim form for disability benefit and to the fact that inquiries were necessary to establish the date of commencement of incapacity as varying dates had been quoted by the claimant. Future payments will be made on receipt of medical evidence of continuing incapacity.

384.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department will agree to recommence the payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 18 October 1982. Payment has been authorised at the rate of £75.00 a week and the first payment will be made to him this week.

385.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying occupational injury benefit at the full rate to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who was out of work as a result of an accident from 29 March to 20 September 1982.

The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit from 30 March 1982 in respect of an accident at work on 23 January 1982.

Pending a decision on the injury benefit claim disability benefit was paid as an interim measure at the appropriate rate from 8 April 1982. Pay-related benefit was also paid from 19 April 1982.

A cheque for £209.68 representing arrears of injury benefit due less disability benefit already paid in respect of the period 30 March 1982 to 23 July 1982, when title to injury benefit ceased, issued on 7 October 1982. All injury benefit due has been paid.

386.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department will agree to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

It has not been possible from the particulars furnished to trace a claim to unemployment assistance in the records of my Department in respect of the person and the address mentioned in the question.

I would be pleased to make further inquiries in the matter on receipt of additional details which would enable the person concerned to be identified.

387.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

A claim for disability benefit was received on 24 September 1982 from the person concerned in respect of incapacity for work from 6 September 1982. Her entitlement to benefit could not be immediately determined as two different RSI numbers had been quoted in connection with the claim. These had to be reconciled to establish the correct insurance record. This has now been done and all disability benefit due to 27 September 1982 has been paid. The claimant was certified as fit to resume work after that date.

388.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make arrangements to pay an old age pension allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

The husband of the person concerned receives a retirement pension of £70.30 which includes an increase of £30.05 in respect of her. She herself has an entitlement to non-contributory old age pension at the reduced rate of £20.45. Simultaneous payment of both amounts cannot be made and as the increase payable with the retirement pension is the more favourable to the couple the retirement pension is being paid.

389.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying pay-related benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford directly to her.

It was necessary to make inquiries to establish the earnings of the person concerned in the relevant income tax year on which pay-related benefit is calculated.

These inquiries have recently been completed and pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £41.87 has been allowed as a supplement to the flat-rate unemployment benefit of £27.80 weekly of which she is in receipt.

Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of pay-related benefit due when she next calls to her local office.

390.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.

All arrears of unemployment assistance due to the person concerned in respect of the period from 18 August 1982 have been paid. Weekly payments at £46.35, being the appropriate rate of £80.00 less means £33.65, continue to be made to him as they become due.

The entitlement of the claimant to unemployment assistance during the period 31 March 1982 to 17 August 1982 is still under investigation and will be determined as soon as necessary inquiries are finalised.

391.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.

According to my Department's records the person concerned is a farmer and as he has less than 78 contributions paid during the past three years it is necessary in order to establish whether he is available for employment to determine the net annual income from his holding before his entitlement to unemployment benefit can be determined.

Inquiries in the matter are presently being made by a social welfare officer who is also investigating means for purposes of an unemployment assistance claim which has been accepted from him pending the outcome of his unemployment benefit claim.

His entitlement to unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance will be decided as soon as the inquiries are completed.

392.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.

The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 30 July 1982. Owing to an administration error subsequent medical certificates submitted by her were not associated with her claim and payment of benefit ceased.

All arrears of benefit due to 30 October 1982 have now been issued and further payments will continue on receipt of medical certificates.

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