asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying occupational injury benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; the reason disability benefit was stopped; and why payments at the pay-related rate cannot be made to him.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
201.
The person concerned made a claim for injury benefit on 12 November 1982 in respect of an incapacity resulting from an occupational accident on 9 November 1982. Pending completion of the necessary investigation with the employers of the nature and circumstances of the accident, he was paid disability benefit on an interim basis at the rate of £79.60 a week from 13 November 1982 (fourth day of incapacity) to 31 January 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received. Cheques for this were issued regularly as medical certificates were received.
Following investigation of the accident he was awarded injury benefit at the rate of £93.85 a week from the date of the accident and a payment of £208.46 was issued on 8 February 1983 in adjustment of injury benefit due less disability benefit paid in respect of the period up to 31 January 1983.
The pay-related benefit regulations provide that where the weekly rate of flat rate benefit payable to a person in respect of any period is equal to or greater than the amount of the person's reckonable weekly earnings in the relevant tax year, pay-related benefit shall not be payable. The flat rate benefit payable in this case was greater than the average weekly reckonable earnings, £36.30 in the relevant tax year, 1980-81, and consequently he was not qualified for pay-related benefit.
202.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay an old age pension at the full rate to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is in receipt of old age contributory pension at the weekly rate of £70.30. This is the maximum rate payable to a married man under age 80 years whose wife is over 66.
203.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay disability benefit immediately to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has not worked for two years.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 18 December 1981 to 15 December 1982, a total of 52 weeks. Payment ceased after that date as he had less than the required minimum 156 paid contributions to his credit since his entry into insurance to entitle him to further payment. He cannot requalify for further payment of benefit until he resumes employment and has at least 13 contribution weeks of insurable employment after the date of last payment of benefit.
204.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when social welfare benefit will be paid in full to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if it will be paid on a regular basis.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit as medical certificates were received from 8 July 1982 to 27 November 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work.
A cheque for £75 in respect of the period from 15 November 1982 to 20 November 1982, inclusive, issued on 18 November 1982. A cheque for £12.50 in respect of 22 November 1982 issued on 24 November 1982. A final cheque for £62.50 in respect of the period from 23 November 1982 to 27 November 1982, inclusive, issued on 2 December 1982.
He was not entitled to pay-related benefit as his average weekly reckonable earnings, £71.74, in the relevant 1980-81 tax year were less than his weekly rate of disability benefit £75. A claim for disability benefit has not been received from him in respect of the period from 30 December 1982 to 28 January 1983.
205.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be approved and paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned has been allowed at the maximum weekly rate payable to him, £25.45, and arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week. Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
206.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance payments will be reviewed and paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £32.25 derived from self-employment as a contracted school bus driver and from the sale of vegetables. He is not, therefore, entitled to unemployment assistance as the amount of means assessed against him exceeds the maximum weekly rate of unemployment assistance payable to him.
The person concerned has been signing for unemployment assistance only during the school holiday periods, the most recent of which was from 23 December 1982 to 10 January, 1983. He did not qualify for payment for this period because of the means assessed against him. He has, however, applied to have his means re-assessed and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the report of the social welfare officer.
207.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare as a matter of urgency.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim to unemployment assistance which refers to the person named in the details supplied. Further inquiries in the matter will be made if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the person concerned to be identified.
208.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as he has submitted seven certificates and has received no benefit.
All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to the person concerned to 26 January 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received, has now been paid.
209.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting a widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as the application was made last October and as all necessary details were submitted to his Department.
The person concerned has been awarded widow's non-contributory pension at the maximum personal rate appropriate to a widow over 66 years, together with a living alone allowance, with effect from 12 November 1982.
Pension books with orders payable from 17 December 1982 were issued to the designated post office on 7 February 1983 for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. Arrears due for the period from 12 November 1982 to 16 December 1982 are being sent direct to the claimant by payable order. The pension claim was received on 10 November 1982 and being a non-contributory case it was necessary to have the widow's means investigated before a decision could be given.
210.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay all outstanding unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit and inquiries are presently being made to establish his contribution record. When the investigations are completed his entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined.
In the meantime he is in receipt of weekly payments of unemployment assistance at £11.55 being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him £25.45 less means £13.90 derived from the value of board and lodging in his parent's home.
211.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay all outstanding unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned has been allowed at the weekly rate of £66.90 based on his having 41 credited contributions in the relevant income tax year April 1981 to April 1982. Payment of all unemployment benefit due to him will be made when he attends at his local office on Friday, 11 February 1983 and further payments will continue as they become due.
212.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned who attained age 66 years on 23 January 1983, has been awarded an old age contributory pension with effect from 28 January 1983 at the rate appropriate to his yearly average of 27 contributions. A pension book containing orders valid for payment from 28 January 1983 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by him and he has been notified accordingly.
213.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not receiving disability benefit as she has been submitting medical certificates since 1970.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 18 January 1982, when maternity allowance ceased to be payable to her, but she was not entitled to payment as she had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1980-81, the contribution year governing her claim. According to the records of the Department she had only 21 credited contributions in 1980-81.
However, she qualified for payment on her 1981-82 contribution record from 3 January 1983, the commencement of a new benefit year, and all disability benefit due from that date has been issued to her.
214.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit at the maximum rate and pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned has been paid disability benefit at the reduced rate of £58.50 per week from 13 December 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 19 January 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received, based on his insurance record of 41 contribution weeks of insurable employment in 1980-81, the contribution year governing his claim. To qualify for the maximum weekly rate of £59.65, appropriate to a married person with one child, he would need to have at least 48 contribution weeks paid or credited in the 1980-81 contribution year. He has been requested to supply details of any other employment which he may have had, in order that his entitlement to the higher rate of benefit might be considered.
The claimant has also been paid pay-related benefit at 40p per week since 23 December 1982, thirteenth day of incapacity. The amount of pay-related benefit payable is subject to the total of disability benefit and pay-related benefit not exceeding the claimant's reckonable weekly earnings in the 1980-81 income tax year.
215.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit or a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit in January 1982 but as she had no relevant insurance record she was not qualified for benefit.
Inquiries are still continuing to establish the insurability of her last employment and when these are completed her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed.
The person concerned has, however, been awarded deserted wife's benefit at the weekly rate of £44.05 with effect from 17 June 1982, the date of receipt of her application. An order book payable from 10 February 1983 has issued and all arrears of deserted wife's benefit due to her less supplementary welfare allowance she received will be paid to her shortly.
216.
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 were paid to him on 18 January 1983.
Further weekly payments at £49.50 being the maximum rate payable to him £50.50 less means £1.00 are being made as they become due.
217.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £23.35 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £2.10 derived from the value of board and lodging on his father's holding and from fishing.
He recently applied for a review of his means and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries. When the investigations are completed his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed.
218.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The claim for unemployment assistance from the person concerned is at present under investigation.
It is expected that inquiries will be completed shortly and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will then be determined without delay.
219.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the payment of unemployment benefit which has been due since November 1982 to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 3 January 1983.
Under statutory regulations a person cannot be treated as unemployed if he is engaged in an occupation from which he derives any remuneration or profit unless the occupation could ordinarily be followed by him in addition to his usual employment and outside the ordinary working hours of that employment and either the remuneration or profit does not exceed £2 a day or the person has not less than 78 employment contributions paid during the previous three years.
The person concerned has not got the required 78 contributions in the previous three years. As he is the owner of a farm it is necessary to carry out an assessment of his income from the farm in order to determine whether he satisfies the alternative condition. Arrangements have been made to carry out an early assessment of his farm income and a decision as to his entitlement to unemployment benefit will then be made without delay.
220.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
All arrears of disability benefit due to the person concerned were issued on 8 February 1983.
221.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 26 March 1982 to 1 January 1983 but was not qualified for payment as she had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1980-81 the contribution year governing her claim. According to the records of the Department she had only 18 credited contributions in that year.
She does, however, satisfy the contribution conditions for receipt of full rate of disability benefit during the benefit year which commenced on 3 January 1983, based on her 1981-82 insurance record. No medical evidence has however been received since 1 January 1983.