asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a deserted wife's allowance was not granted to a person (details supplied) in Tallaght, County Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
415.
The claim of the person concerned for deserted wife's allowance was refused on the grounds that her husband did not of his own volition leave her and that she had not made reasonable efforts within the means available to her to prevail on her husband to contribute to the support and maintenance of herself and her child.
She appealed against the decision and the case was submitted to an appeals officer who held an oral hearing of her appeal on 21 May 1980. The appeals officer upheld the decision refusing payment of deserted wife's allowance.
416.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the review of the non-contributory old age pension at present being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be completed.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 10 September 1982 that the person concerned was not entitled to an increase in her old age pension. The assessment of her means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding, does not warrant payment of pension at a rate higher than that being received by her.
Information has since been received that the holding has been transferred to the pensioner's sons. On receipt of documentary evidence of the transfer the case will be reviewed by the social welfare officer with a view to establishing whether there are any new facts which would warrant a review of his decision by the appeals officer.
417.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons disability benefit has been withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will have the case investigated with a view to having benefits restored.
The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit from 23 April 1982. He was notified to attend for examination by one of the Department's medical referees on 24 September 1982. As he did not attend for examination and as the explanation furnished was regarded as not satisfactory, his claim was disallowed for the statutory period of six weeks from 18 October 1982.
Following the submission of a report on his health condition from the claimant's doctor it has been decided to restore payment of benefit. A cheque paying all disability benefit due for the period 18 October to 6 November 1982 was issued on 2 November 1982.
418.
(Limerick-West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid in full to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
On 20 July 1982 the person concerned claimed disability benefit in respect of an incapacity which commenced on 10 May 1982. Payment of all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 24 July 1982, after which date she resumed work, issued on 6 August 1982.
She again claimed disability benefit from 28 August 1982 and payment of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 11 September 1982, when she was certified fit to resume work, was made on 12 October 1982.
419.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment benefit from the Department. He cannot qualify for invalidity pension unless and until he has been in receipt of disability benefit for at least a year and is regarded as permanently incapable of work.
Arrangements are being made to have the claimant interviewed by an inspector of the Department who will furnish a report on his health condition. On receipt of the report he will be advised of the steps to be taken if he wishes to qualify for invalidity pension.
420.
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 claimed disability benefit from 13 October 1982. She was not entitled to payment, however, as she had no contributions to her credit under the RSI number which she quoted in connection with her claim. Following inquiries it was ascertained that she had three RSI numbers but it was eventually established from her employers that she had sufficient contributions in the governing 1980/81 contribution year to qualify her for payment.
All disability benefit due from 16 October, fourth day of incapacity, to 1 November 1982, date of the latest medical certificate received, has now issued.
421.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has been withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and when benefit will be restored.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 17 July 1982 and was paid from 21 July, fourth day of incapacity.
He was called to attend for medical referee examination on 1 October 1982 but failed to attend for examination. The explanation furnished by him for failure to attend was not regarded as satisfactory and under the regulations a six weeks disallowance was imposed from 6 October 1982. He subsequently submitted a medical certificate from his doctor and on review the claim was allowed pending a further medical referee examination. Payment of benefit has now been made to 30 October 1982, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
422.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The investigation of the old age pension claim of the person concerned has not yet been completed. The social welfare officer requires details of his creamery returns and bank account before he can refer the case to the local pension committee for decision.
If payment of a pension is recommended it will be put into payment on a provisional basis pending the pension committee's decision.
423.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned, who is employed on two days of each week, was disallowed in respect of the remaining days on the grounds that she is not available for employment on these days.
She appealed against the decision and an oral hearing of her appeal was arranged to take place on 2 November 1982. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer in her case.
424.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance is at present being examined. When the application was first made, the applicant failed to disclose full details of his means to the social welfare officer.
The applicant was subsequently interviewed at his local office and he was advised that he must disclose all his means to the social welfare officer. The application has again been referred to the social welfare officer for investigation and entitlement to assistance will be determined as soon as the inquiries are completed.
425.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance after he exhausted his title to unemployment benefit and his claim was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means.
As soon as the necessary inquiries are completed his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.
426.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 13 August 1981 and was paid for 52 weeks to 14 August 1982. He was not entitled to payment after that date as, according to the records of the Department, he had not the required minimum of 156 paid contributions to his credit since his entry into insurance to entitle him to payment for more than 52 weeks. However, it was subsequently established that he had sufficient contributions in respect of employment in the United Kingdom to qualify him for further payment of benefit.
All disability benefit due to the claimant up to 6 November 1982 has now been paid.
427.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost which would be involved in granting dental benefit to the wives of insured workers; and if there are any means whereby insured workers can pay extra PRSI to obtain this benefit for their spouses.
It is estimated that the cost of extending dental benefit to the wives of insured workers would be in the region of £4.6 million in a full year.
Dental benefit under the Social Welfare Acts is confined to insured workers who satisfy the statutory contribution conditions. There is no provision under existing legislation whereby insured workers can pay an increased PRSI contribution to obtain dental benefit for their spouses.
428.
(Donegal South-West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason injury benefit has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of an incapacity which he attributed to an accident at work on 6 April 1982. Following inquiries as to the nature and origin of the incapacity, payment of injury benefit was authorised from that date. Payment was made for the statutory period of 26 weeks up to 4 October 1982. In addition he was paid pay-related benefit from 22 April 1982, thirteenth day of incapacity.
On the expiration of the 26 weeks period of injury benefit payment the claim was due for transfer to disability benefit but on the change-over payment was inadvertently suspended. The matter has since been rectified and all arrears of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due for the period from 5 October 1982 to 30 October 1982, date of the latest medical certificate received, has now been issued.
429.
(Donegal South-West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
According to the records of my Department the person concerned exhausted his title to unemployment benefit on 10 September 1982 when he completed 390 days of benefit. He has been asked on numerous occasions to furnish evidence of employment after 14 October 1980 to enable a deciding officer to determine whether he has the necessary 13 re-qualifying contributions paid but to date he has not done so.
The matter has now been referred to a social welfare officer to investigate the possibility of non-compliance by his employer. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the inquiries.
430.
(Donegal South-West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment benefit as he has insufficient contributions during the relevant governing period 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981 to satisfy the statutory contribution conditions.
However, following the completion of an investigation of his means his unemployment assistance claim has been allowed at the weekly rate of £33.95 being the maximum rate payable to him of £57.95 less means of £24.00 derived from his holding. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of unemployment assistance due this week.
Weekly payments at £33.95 will continue to be made as they fall due.