Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Feb 1983

Vol. 339 No. 10

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

255.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who has been waiting for payment since November 1982.

One of the conditions for receipt of disability benefit is that the claimant must have a minimum of 26 weeks in respect of which employment contributions have been paid or credited in the contribution year governing his claim.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 24 November 1982 and he has no paid or credited contributions in the 1980-81 contribution year which governs his claim. In fact he has had only one paid employment contribution to his credit since 1954. The person concerned does not therefore qualify for disability benefit on his claim as he does not satisfy the contribution conditions. It is, however, open to him to apply to his local health board office for advice as to any assistance he may be entitled to from that office.

256.

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

Inquiries to establish the contribution record of the person concerned were recently completed and his claim for unemployment benefit at the maximum rate payable to him £31.65 has been allowed.

Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of unemployment benefit due this week and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.

257.

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

The person concerned was paid injury benefit under the occupational injuries benefit scheme from 29 June 1981 to 25 December 1981 in respect of incapacity due to an accident at work. Injury benefit was paid for the maximum period of 26 weeks. He was then transferred to disability benefit and this was paid for a period 52 weeks to 24 December 1982. This was his maximum entitlement as, according to the records of the Department, he has only a total of 124 paid employment contributions to his credit since his entry into insurance. He would, therefore, need at least 13 further weeks of insurable employment before he could again qualify for disability benefit. Medical certification of incapacity for work has not been received from the person concerned since 24 December 1982.

258.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit, at the maximum rate for a married man with one child, is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.

The person concerned exhausted his title to unemployment benefit on 16 November 1982 when he received 390 days benefit. He claimed unemployment assistance from 17 November 1982 and as he was the holder of a qualification certificate with means assessed at £3.05 weekly his claim was allowed at the weekly rate of £47.45 being the maximum rate payable to him £50.50 less means £3.05.

However, his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for a re-investigation of his means and pending the outcome of these inquiries weekly payments of unemployment assistance of £47.45 continue to be made to him as they become due. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the social welfare officers' report.

259.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is not receiving a free electricity supply.

The person concerned was in receipt of a free electricity allowance from 1971 up to August 1982. As a consequence of the revocation of old age pension, when her means exceeded the statutory limit, her title to free electricity allowance ceased at the same time.

Top
Share