asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason there has been no decision yet on the application for unemployment assistance which was made in September 1982 by a person (details supplied) in Cork.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
350.
The person concerned has been in continuous receipt of unemployment assistance since May 1982. However, there was a delay in carrying out a re-investigation of his means which he requested. This was due to the fact that the papers were mislaid at the local office.
As a result of the reinvestigation which has now been completed, arrears amounting to £115.47 will be paid to him this week together with the weekly rate of unemployment assistance now payable to him, £8.15, being the maximum rate £26.25 less means of £18.10 derived from the value of board and lodgings in his father's home.
351.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be paid a children's allowance at the maximum rate.
The person concerned submitted an application for a continuation of allowance on 17 January 1983 in respect of her son who reached 16 years of age on 8 February 1983.
Children's allowance at the rate of £17.50 per month has been awarded in respect of this child with effect from 1 March 1983 and an allowance book payable from this date was issued to the claimant on 17 February 1983.
The claimant is now in receipt of a monthly allowance of £73.75 in respect of her six qualified children.
352.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Dublin was allocated two PRSI numbers; and if he will now confirm the correct number as the duplication appears to have resulted in delays of payment in benefit.
The PRSI number under which the contribution record of the person concerned is recorded in this Department is 2430751-0 and is the correct number. Neither this Department nor the Revenue Commissioners have any record to refer to the person concerned under the other number quoted in the question, namely 3430056-0, the origin of which is not known.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £79.60 based on a total of 37 contributions in the contribution year 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981. Inquiries to establish his entitlement to pay-related benefit have recently been completed and pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £13.82 has been authorised. All arrears due to him will be issued by pay-order cashable at his local post office this week and combined payments of £93.42 will continue as they fall due.
353.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and when assistance will be paid.
The person concerned has been continuously in receipt of unemployment assistance from the date of his application on 16 February 1982, at the weekly rate of £12.45 being the maximum rate of £25.45 less means £13, derived from his earning from self-employment and the value of board and lodgings in his parent's home.
354.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned has been allowed at the maximum rate payable to him and arrangements have been made to pay all arrerars due when he next calls to his local office. He is at present engaged in short-time employment for three days every week. Unemployment benefit will, however, be paid for the remaining days of unemployment at weekly intervals.
355.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment benefit as his claim was disallowed on the grounds that he was not unemployed on and from 19 June 1982. He appealed against the disallowance of his claim but following an oral hearing of his case an appeals officer upheld the disallowance. He ceased to sign as unemployed after 7 December 1982.
356.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim to unemployment benefit or assistance referring 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.
357.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned has been assessed with nil means and arrangements have been made to pay this week all arrears of unemployment assistance due, less advances of supplementary welfare allowance which had been advanced to him pending a decision on his claim. Weekly payments of unemployment assistance at the rate of £25.45 will continue to be made as they become due.
358.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned has been in receipt of weekly payments of unemployment benefit since the commencement of his claim on 27 January 1982. He completed 156 days of benefit on 3 September 1982 and as he did not satisfy the contribution condition of having at least 280 paid contributions during a seven year period his rate was reduced from £88.90 to £76.60 with effect from 4 September 1982. Weekly payments of £76.60 continue to be made to him as they become due.
His entitlement to pay-related benefit is governed by the 85 per cent limit which provides that the total sum of flat-rate unemployment benefit, pay-related benefit and income-tax rebate may not exceed 85 per cent of his average net weekly earnings. The 85 per cent limit in his case amounted to £75.25.
Consequently his entitlement to pay-related benefit at £3.50 weekly terminated after 3 April 1982 when the weekly amount of flat-rate unemployment benefit paid to him £71.75 was increased to £88.90.
359.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned is entitled to unemployment benefit at the maximum rate payable to him £59.65 and all arrears due were paid to him on 11 February 1983. Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
360.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 15 September 1982 on the grounds that she was not available for work. The disallowance was upheld by an appeals officer following an oral hearing of her case. She subsequently furnished evidence to show that she had become available for work and her claim was allowed with effect from 30 November 1982. She is entitled to unemployment benefit at the rate of £27.80 a week.
All arrears due were paid to her last week and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
361.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned has been allowed at the maximum rate payable to him, £50.50. He is a postal applicant and arrangements have been made to issue to him an order for encashment at his local post office this week paying all arrears of unemployment assistance due. Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
362.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned has been awarded an invalidity pension from 17 February 1983. A pension book for payment from 3 March 1983 has been issued to the nominated post office for collection by him. Arrears of pension due, less the amount of disability benefit already paid, will be issued by payable order.
363.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be increased for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The present rate of old age pension — £12.45 a week — which is in payment to the person concerned was determined by an appeals officer on 27 July 1982, based on the assessment of means derived from capital.
No application for increase has since been received from the person concerned. If there has been a change in his means and he considers that he is now entitled to a higher rate of pension, his case will be re-investigated on receipt of an application from him.
364.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will have payments of disability benefit resumed to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 4 September 1981 to 27 November 1982. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and on 15 February 1983, he was examined by a different medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was not capable of work. Payment was restored from 29 November 1982 and all benefit due has been paid.
365.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as she has received nothing since 1 January 1983.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 1 January 1983. Payment then ceased pending review of her insurance record to determine her entitlement to further benefit from 3 January 1983, the commencement of a new benefit year. It has been established that she is entitled to continued payment but medical evidence of incapacity to enable payment to be made has not been received since December last. On receipt of such evidence payment of benefit will issue. She has been informed accordingly.
366.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned did not qualify for unemployment benefit as he did not satisfy the contribution condition which requires that he must have at least 26 contributions paid or credited in the contribution year 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981. However, he qualified for unemployment assistance at the maximum rate for a single person of £25.45 a week. All arrears of unemployment assistance due, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance which he received in the meantime, were paid to him last week. Further weekly payments of £25.45 will continue as they become due.
367.
Mr. O'Keeffe
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit is being investigated. However, due mainly to the exceptionally heavy increase in the number of new applications for qualification certificates, which are a pre-requisite for unemployment assistance, there was delay in referring this case to a social welfare officer for investigation. Urgent inquiries are being made and as soon as they are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.
368.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned applied for a qualification certificate which is a pre-requisite for the receipt of unemployment assistance on 27 October 1981. His application was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory income limit. He appealed against the decision of the deciding officer and the decision was upheld by an appeals officer.
The person concerned re-applied for a qualification certificate on 19 October 1982. The social welfare officer investigating the case is at present awaiting details from the applicant of accounts necessary to determine his entitlement to a qualification certificate. As soon as these are received from the applicant the case will again be submitted to a deciding officer and a decision will be given without delay.
369.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment benefit at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was last employed in the United Kingdom from where he returned to this country. In accordance with the provisions of EEC regulations he was paid unemployment benefit on behalf of the United Kingdom Department of Health and Social Security for 77 days ending on 24 November 1982. He is not qualified for unemployment benefit from my Department as he has no record of insurable employment here and accordingly does not satisfy the contribution conditions.
He has however lodged a claim for unemployment assistance and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. When the inquiries are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.
370.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of an old age pension at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was in receipt of old age pension at the rate of £45.75 a week including £15.30 in respect of his wife. Due to an increase in the assessment of his means, consisting of half the weekly value of the couple's British retirement pensions, profit from letting of flats and capital a question for reduction of his old age pension to £24.75 a week has been referred to the local pension committee. This is the maximum rate to which he is entitled having regard to his means and pension at this rate is in payment pending the decision of the pension committee.
371.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the correct rate of unemployment benefit is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit is governed by his contribution record during the period 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981. During this period he had 31 credited contributions only and no reckonable earnings as he was engaged in self-employment.
He is therefore in receipt of the appropriate reduced rate unemployment benefit, £48.80, to which he is entitled and in the absence of reckonable earnings he is not qualified for pay-related benefit.
372.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a claim for unemployment benefit which was made in December, 1982 will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and when pay-related benefit will be paid.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 27 December 1982 and her claim was allowed at the maximum rate payable to her £31.65. The first payment was made to her on 7 January 1983 and thereafter at weekly intervals.
She is not entitled to pay-related benefit with her flat-rate unemployment benefit as the weekly amount paid to her exceeds the 85 per cent limit of her average weekly earnings which in her case amounted to £29.11.