asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
378.
The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment benefit on the grounds that he does not satisfy the contribution conditions during the relevant contribution period 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982. He has been advised accordingly.
He is not at present entitled to unemployment assistance as his means exceed the statutory limit. He has been advised that it is open to him to apply to have his means reassessed for the purpose of his entitlement to unemployment assistance but to date he has not done so.
379.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payments of disability benefit will be updated for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been paid all disability benefit due to him to 26 February 1983.
380.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will investigate a social welfare claim for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned was last insurably employed in France. Under the EEC regulations on social security his claim for sickness benefit is the responsibility of the Centre De Securite Social Des Travailleurs Migrants in Paris. Accordingly his claim and initial medical evidence were transferred to that Institution by my Department on 1 November 1982. Subsequent medical certificates and a copy of my Department's medical referee's report were transmitted to them during November and December 1982 and in January 1983.
As it now appears that no decision has been received by the claimant representations have been made by my Department to the institution in question to have the claim expedited.
381.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been paid all arrears of disability benefit due to 22 January 1983, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced.
382.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The weekly means of the person concerned were assessed at £29.55 derived from his wife's earnings. However, this figure was inadvertantly read as £79.55, and as this exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance in his case, £63.75, he was deemed not to be entitled to payment. The error was discovered and rectified and all arrears of unemployment assistance due to him were paid on 3 February 1983, at the weekly rate of £34.20, being the maximum rate of £63.75 less means £29.55. Weekly payments of £34.20 will continue as they become due.
The person concerned has appealed against the assessment of means in his case and the matter has been referred to a social welfare officer for a further report before being submitted to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of that officer's decision.
383.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
All arrears of unemployment assistance due to the person concerned were paid to him on 1 February 1983.
Weekly payments at £57.95, the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him continue to be made as they become due.
384.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
All arrears of unemployment assistance due to the person concerned, less advances of supplementary welfare allowance which had to be recouped to his local health authority, were paid to him last week. Further weekly payments at the maximum rate of £57.95 will be made as they become due.
385.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as he has been unemployed for some time and is waiting for a decision.
The person concerned was assessed with means at £9.60 weekly, derived from self-employment, and he was paid weekly unemployment assistance £48.35 being the maximum rate £57.95 less means £9.60 since the commencement of his claim on 15 September 1982.
His case was reviewed and following inquiries his means were re-assessed as nil with effect from 15 September 1982. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him was increased to £57.95 and all arrears due to him by way of adjustment of his rate were paid on 13 January 1983. Weekly payments at £57.95 continue to be made to him as they become due.
386.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned qualified for payment of disability benefit from 3 January 1983, the commencement of the current benefit year, and payment at the appropriate rate for a widow in receipt of a maximum widow's contributory pension has been made to 13 January 1983, date of latest medical certificate received. Further payments will issue as medical evidence of incapacity is received while she remains incapable of work.
387.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have disability benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as he has submitted four certificates to his Department.
The person concerned has been paid all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to him from 27 January 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 14 February 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received.
388.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a children's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
No trace can be found in the records of the Department of the claim for children's allowance which the person concerned states she made in June 1982.
Arrangements have been made for a social welfare officer to call on her to have an application form completed. When this has been done the claim will be decided and allowances due will be issued promptly.
389.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will be transferred from a disability to a invalidity pension.
The Social Welfare (Invalidity Pension) Regulations provide that the claimant must be regarded as permanently incapable of work in order to qualify for invalidity pension.
To determine his entitlement to invalidity pension it is proposed to have the person concerned examined by a medical referee of the Department on 3 March 1983. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report.
390.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Inquiries to determine the entitlement of the person concerned to pay-related benefit were recently completed and payment at the weekly rate of £42.70 has been authorised. All arrears of pay-related benefit due will be paid to him this week. Combined weekly payments of £124.65 unemployment and pay-related benefit will continue as they become due.
391.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the periodical delay in weekly disability payments to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath as weekly certificates are being forwarded; and if all payments are now up to date.
The person concerned is paid disability benefit as medical certificates are received in my Department and all benefit due to him to 15 February 1983, date of latest medical certificate received, has been paid.
The claimant was, in error, paid disability benefit at the rate of £31.65, the maximum weekly rate for a single man over 18 years. The claimant is under 18 years and, therefore, the correct weekly rate payable in his case is £27.80. In consequence of the reduction in his disability benefit rate he is entitled to pay-related benefit of £1.20 from 10 May 1982 to 26 January 1983 and £1 per week from 27 January 1983.
The net amount of benefit overpaid to the claimant is £113.21 and £3 per week is being withheld from his current benefit entitlement towards recoupment of the overpayment.
392.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a disability pension book will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned has been awarded an invalidity pension from 16 December 1982. A pension book for payment from 3 March 1983 has been sent 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.
393.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the appeal in respect of unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who appealed approximately four weeks ago at Fermoy employment office.
The case of the person concerned has been forwarded to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries about his means. When these are completed it will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of that officer's decision.
In the meantime, weekly payments of unemployment assistance continue to be made to him at the rate of £2.45 being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less £23 means.
394.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the application of a person (details supplied) in County Cork against the decision allowing him only half the rate of unemployment assistance.
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.
395.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who claimed in the past six weeks but who has to date received no payment; and the decision in this case.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 4 January 1983. He had previously claimed and was awarded retirement pension from 25 November 1982. However, because unemployment benefit with which pay-related benefit is also payable was more favourable to him he opted for the receipt of unemployment benefit. Unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £52.15 from 22 November 1982 and pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £26.32 from 6 December 1982 have been authorised.
All arrears of unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit due to date less retirement pension he received were issued by post to the person concerned last week. Weekly payments of £78.38 will continue to be made as they become due.
396.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when social welfare benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in respect of the period 20 July to 15 August 1982.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 19 May 1982 to 22 July 1982. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He subsequently submitted a final certificate from his doctor which stated that he was fit to resume work on 31 July 1982.
Subsequently an appeals officer decided that the claimant was incapable of work and entitled to payment for the period from 23 July 1982 to 30 July 1982. Payment of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due for this period was issued on 18 February 1983.
397.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of unemployment assistance at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned has been supplied with a form to have his means re-assessed. When he returns the completed form his case will be referred to a social welfare officer for investigation and his case will be reviewed in the light of his report.
In the meantime payment of unemployment assistance at the rate of £37.95 being the maximum rate payable to him £57.95 less £20 means, continues to be made at weekly intervals.
398.
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 claimed unemployment assistance on 25 January 1983 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. When all the inquiries are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.
399.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has been signing for seven weeks and who has received no benefit to date.
Inquiries to establish the entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit were recently completed and his claim has been authorised at the weekly rate of £52.15. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due to him this week.
400.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the payment of disability benefit will be resumed to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 30 July 1980 to 1 January 1983. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He has appealed against the disallowance and, in connection with his appeal, arrangements have been made to have him examined by a different medical referee on 8 March 1983. His entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
401.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons those persons who are registered at the employment exchanges and living in County Dublin are not entitled to free fuel vouchers, in view of the fact that those persons who are living in the city area of Dublin and who are so registered are entitled to such vouchers.
There are two free fuel schemes. There is the urban fuel scheme which operates in 17 cities and towns including Dublin city and there is the national fuel scheme which operates throughout the State. Each scheme lasts for a period of 30 weeks from October to April each year and the value of the allowance is £4 per week in each case.
Under the urban scheme certain categories of persons resident in the urban areas concerned are automatically entitled to free fuel allowance. In the case of the national scheme, however, there is a test of need before those entitled to apply can be granted the allowance.
In the Dublin urban area persons receiving unemployment assistance who have dependants automatically qualify for the free fuel allowance. Also persons in similar circumstances who formerly resided in the Dublin urban area but who were re-housed by the corporation in the County Dublin area maintain their entitlement to free fuel. Under the national fuel scheme, however, unemployment assistance recipients would not qualify for free fuel. Under this scheme entitlement is confined to persons receiving long-term social payments, such as pensions, or health board payments, who are living alone or with dependants or with incapacitated persons.
402.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a claim for unemployment assistance urgently investigated with a view to having assistance granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned has not to date claimed unemployment assistance. When he does so his case will be referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means after which his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.
403.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have all arrears of disability benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as she has been submitting certificates for the past three years.
The person concerned was paid arrears of disability benefit due to her from 4 January 1982 to 18 June 1982 on 7 July 1982 when, following inquiries, her insurance record for the 1980-81 contribution year, which governed her claim, was established. Payment has since continued to be made as medical certificates were received and all disability benefit due to 26 February 1983 has been paid.
404.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability and pay-related benefits will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned has been paid disability benefit from 28 January 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 14 February 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received. He is not entitled to pay-related benefit as the amount of disability benefit payable in his case exceeds his average reckonable weekly earnings in the 1980-81 tax year which governs entitlement to pay-related benefit.
405.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if all social welfare entitlements which are due to a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be paid.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 7 July 1982 but his claim was disallowed as he did not have the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the contribution year from 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981. However, with effect from the beginning of a new benefit year on 3 January 1983 he is qualified for unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £30.50 on the basis of 44 contributions in the contribution year 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982 and this amount is currently in payment. His entitlement to pay-related benefit in addition to unemployment benefit has been determined and pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £8.38 has been authorised. All arrears due will be paid to him this week.
The person concerned also completed an application for unemployment assistance on and inquiries to establish his entitlement for the period from 7 July 1982 up to 1 January 1983 are being made. A decision will be given without delay when the inquiries have been completed.
406.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned applied for a qualification certificate which is a prerequisite for the receipt of unemployment assistance on 12 July 1982. He was assessed with weekly means of £20.70 derived from the benefit of board and lodgings in his parents' home. Unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £4.75, being the appropriate maximum rate, in his case, of £25.45 less means £20.70 was authorised with effect from 12 July 1982 and all arrears due were issued on 6 October 1982.
The person concerned appealed against the amount of the assessment and an appeals officer reduced the weekly means to £18.00 with a further reduction to £16.00 from 29 September 1982.
Unemployment assistance is at present being paid to the person concerned at the weekly rate of £9.45, being the appropriate maximum rate in his case of £25.45 less means £16.00. The balance of arrears due was issued to him on 10 February 1983.
He has applied for a further re-assessment of his means and this is being investigated at present. When the inquiries are completed his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed.
407.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the appeal for unemployment assistance which was made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was receiving unemployment assistance until 16 November 1982 at the weekly rate of £33.00, being the appropriate maximum rate in his case of £63.75 less means of £30.75 derived from land and capital.
Following a review of the means of the person concerned his qualification certificate was revoked with effect from 17 November 1982 on the grounds that his means derived from land and capital exceeded the statutory income limit.
The person concerned made a further application for unemployment assistance on 17 January 1983. An investigation into his means is at present being made by a social welfare officer whose report when received will be submitted to a deciding officer for an early decision.
408.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned has qualified for unemployment assistance with effect from 8 September 1982 at the weekly rate of 30 pence being the maximum appropriate rate in his case of £57.95 less weekly means £57.65 derived from land and self-employment as a machinery contractor.
All arrears due to date will be issued to him this week.
409.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned has been paid all disability benefit due to him to 19 February 1983 less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced.
410.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned is a land holder and he has less than 78 contributions paid during the last three contribution years. Inquiries are accordingly necessary to determine the net value of his holding before his entitlement to unemployment benefit can be determined. His case has been referred to a social welfare officer for urgent investigations.
He was invited to claim unemployment assistance pending a decision on his unemployment benefit claim but to date he has not done so.
411.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance or unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit.
He claimed unemployment assistance on 7 February 1983 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.
412.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow is not being paid unemployment assistance.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned cannot be determined until inquiries which are at present being made by a social welfare officer about his means have been completed. When this has been done his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be decided.
413.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned was paid the arrears of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to him on 21 February 1983.
414.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 7 January 1983. Flat-rate unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £31.65 was authorised and all payments due to date have been made.
Following the recent completion of inquiries necessary to determine the amount payable, payment of pay-related benefit to the person concerned at the weekly rate of £42.19 has now been authorised. All arrears due will be issued to him this week. Weekly payments of £73.84 (£31.65 unemployment benefit plus £42.19 pay-related benefit) will continue to be made as they become due.
415.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 28 December 1982, but is not entitled to payment as he has not the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1980-81, the contribution year governing his claim from 28 December 1982 or in the 1981-82 contribution year which governs his claim from 3 January 1983. According to the records of the Department he had only 20 contributions paid and credited in 1980-81 and none in 1981-82.
416.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was paid the four days arrears of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due on his claim for the period from 12 January 1983 to 15 January 1983, after which date he resumed employment, on 18 February 1983.
417.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an application for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Cork was rejected on the grounds that the applicant was unavailable for work as she had submitted evidence indicating that she had applied for jobs.
The claim of the person concerned to unemployment benefit was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for full-time employment. She appealed against the decision and an oral hearing of her case was held at which she gave evidence on her own behalf. The appeals officer however on 3 February 1983 upheld the decision disallowing her claim. His decision is final unless new facts or new evidence are brought forward.
418.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who applied four weeks ago in view of the fact that he was on disability benefit prior to that.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 10 January 1983. Delay in determining the amount of benefit payable arose owing to the loss of the claim file in the post. Payment of unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £28.30 has been authorised and all arrears due to date will be paid this week. Weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
419.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay the two weeks children's allowances which are due to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
Children's allowances are paid monthly. According to the records of the Department the person concerned received children's allowance in respect of the child in question up to and including the month of January 1983 when she reached the age of 18 years. Children's allowances are not payable beyond that age. All children's allowances due have accordingly been paid.
420.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension, at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow over 66 years with no qualified children, with effect from 13 August 1982.
A pension book with orders payable from 24 December 1982 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. The arrears of pension due for the period from 13 August 1982 to 23 December 1982 will be sent direct to her by payable order shortly.
421.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the outstanding final payment of social welfare benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The final payment of disability benefit due on her claim was issued to the person concerned on 11 February 1983. Arrears of pay-related benefit due were issued on 18 February 1983.
422.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was disallowed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and how his means were calculated.
Following a re-investigation of the means of the person concerned, his entitlement to a qualification certificate which is a pre-requisite for the receipt of unemployment assistance, has been revoked on the grounds that his means derived from his holding, from self-employment and from capital exceed the statutory limit in his case of £3,983.20 per annum. He has appealed against the means assessed and his case has been referred to the social welfare officer for review before being sent to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of that officer's decision.
423.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned was disallowed payment of disability benefit from 25 January 1983 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He was notified accordingly and advised of his right of appeal. So far he has not submitted an appeal or forwarded medical evidence indicating incapacity for work subsequent to the date of disallowance.
424.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of maternity benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned claimed maternity benefit under the Maternity Protection of Employees Act, 1981, in respect of her confinement expected on 27 September 1982. Under this Act an eligible woman is entitled to a continuous period of 14 weeks maternity leave. This period may, at the employee's discretion commence up to ten weeks, but not later than four weeks, before the end of the expected week of confinement.
In the case of the person concerned, the maximum period within which payment could be made to her was the 14 week period from 6 September 1982 to 11 December 1982. As, however, both herself and her employer stated on her claim form that she intended to commence her leave from work on 27 September 1982, payment could only be made from that date to 11 December 1982.
All payment due from 27 September 1982 to 11 December 1982 has been made. In view of the information now supplied by the Deputy, a letter has been sent to the claimant for clarification as to the actual date on which she ceased work.
425.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will reconsider the payment of arrears of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 30 September 1982 to 30 October 1982. His claim was not admitted for payment as it was not received within the time limit prescribed by the regulations. Following a review of the case, however, in the light of the explanation given by the claimant for the late submission of medical evidence and having regard to the nature of the incapacity, it has been decided to allow payment. All arrears of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due were issued on 18 February 1983.
426.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if approval will be given for a free electricity allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned, who resides with his wife and son, submitted an application for a free electricity allowance on 14 October 1982. As his son did not come within the excepted categories for satisfying the living alone condition of the scheme, the application was disallowed on 3 November 1982 and the applicant was notified accordingly. However, if both the pensioner and his wife require constant care and attention from their son, a medical certificate to this effect should be submitted. The application will then be considered further and he will be notified of the outcome.
427.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned has insufficient earnings during the relevant income tax period 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981 to qualify for pay-related benefit with his unemployment benefit. Payments of weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit at £31.65 continue to be made to him as they become due.
428.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of social welfare benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned has been paid all disability benefit due to 15 February 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
429.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Offaly has not been paid unemployment benefit at the correct rate.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of the maximum rate of flat-rate unemployment benefit £31.65, to which she is entitled. She is not entitled to pay-related benefit with her unemployment benefit as her weekly rate of flat-rate unemployment benefit exceeds the 85 per cent limit applicable to her average net weekly earnings which in her case amounted to £23.63 weekly.
430.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who has been signing for six weeks.
Inquiries to establish the contribution record of the person concerned were recently completed and all arrears of flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit due were paid to him last week. Further combined weekly payments of £60.29 representing the maximum flat-rate unemployment benefit £31.65 and pay-related benefit £28.64 will be made as they become due.
431.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability and pay-related benefits will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit on 10 December 1982 in respect of an incapacity resulting from an occupational accident on 1 December 1982. Pending the completion of inquiries regarding the nature and circumstances of the accident, he was paid disability benefit on an interim basis from 6 December 1982, fourth day of incapacity. He was also paid pay-related benefit from 16 December, 13th day of incapacity.
Following confirmation of the occupational accident, he was awarded injury benefit at the rate of £43.55 a week from 2 December 1982 when the incapacity commenced to 25 December, the final day of certified incapacity. The amount of pay-related benefit payable was limited to £4.81 a week as, under the regulations, pay related benefit is limited to the amount needed to bring total entitlement up to the amount of the average weekly reckonable earnings in the relevant tax year, £48.36 a week in this case.
Payment of £55.63 in adjustment of benefit due less interim benefit already paid has been issued.
432.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment benefit from the commencement of her claim on 1 September 1982 to 1 January 1983 as she had insufficient contributions during the relevant contribution period 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981.
A new benefit year commenced on 3 January 1983 which is governed by her contribution record during the period 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982. However, her entitlement to unemployment benefit from 3 January 1983 cannot be determined until the validity of contributions paid in respect of her for the year ended 5 April 1982 has been determined.
433.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension of only £16.50 per week is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned is not receiving any pension from my Department at present but adult dependant allowance amounting to £16.30 a week is in payment to her husband in respect of her as an increase in his old age pension. The social welfare officer who investigated the person's own pension claim recommended against payment of a pension as she failed to furnish evidence of her age. The local pension committee, however, has awarded her a pension of £32.45 a week. As she still has not furnished evidence of age the social welfare officer has appealed against the pension committee's decision.
Her case will now be referred to an appeals officer for determination. It is in the interests of the person concerned to produce evidence of her age so that this can be taken into account by the appeals officer.
434.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned was assessed with weekly means of £26.90 derived from the value of board and lodging on her fathers holding. She appealed and the appeals officer reduced the assessment of her means to £16 a week leaving her entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £9.45 being the appropriate maximum rate in her case £25.45 less £16 means. All arrears of unemployment assistance will be paid to her this week and further weekly payments of unemployment assistance will continue as they become due.
435.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the social welfare officer's decision which stated that the employment from 19 to 23 April 1982 of a person (details supplied in County Kilkenny was not insurable.
Following inquiries made regarding the employment for the period from the 19 April to 23 April 1982, a deciding officer of my Department was not satisfied that the person concerned was insurably employed. He accordingly decided that the person concerned was not employed in employment which is insurable under the Social Welfare Acts for that period. The person concerned has appealed against the deciding officer's decision and his appeal has been submitted to an appeals officer for determination.