asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
229.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from self-employment exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and in connection with his appeal his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries. When these are completed his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and his unemployment assistance claim will be reviewed in the light of his decision.
230.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford was refused a free telephone rental allowance.
The person concerned does not satisfy the conditions for the receipt of a free telephone rental allowance. She is under the age of 66 and is receiving a contributory widow's pension. To qualify for the allowance she would need to have reached the age of 66. Neither does she satisfy the condition which requires that the applicant be living alone.
The application for the allowance was received on 19 November 1982 and on 1 December 1982 the applicant was notified of the reasons why she failed to qualify.
231.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid and pay-related benefit approved for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will be approved for pay-related benefit.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of flat-rate unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £68.05 which is the maximum rate payable to a married man with two qualified children.
Entitlement to pay-related with unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the sum of flat-rate unemployment benefit, pay-related benefit and income tax rebate may not exceed 85 per cent of the claimant's average net weekly earnings.
The 85 per cent limit of the person concerned amounts to £61.14. As the amount of flat-rate unemployment benefit payable to him exceeds this sum pay-related benefit is not payable to him.
232.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when maternity benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed under the general maternity benefit scheme in respect of her confinement expected on 26 January 1983 and she was awarded maternity allowance from 20 December 1982. The first payment issued on 4 January 1983 and payments are continuing at regular weekly intervals. She is entitled to pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £2.15 from 3 January 1983, the 13th day of the claim, and all pay-related benefit due to date has been issued.
Pay-related benefit is calculated on a person's reckonable earnings in the last complete income tax year before the beginning of the benefit year in which the claim commences. The maternity benefit claim commenced in the 1982 benefit year and the relevant income tax year was accordingly the 1980-81 year. Under the regulations that year is the relevant year for the full duration of the person's claim.
The claimant's average reckonable weekly earnings in the 1980-81 income tax year were £33.80. The flat rate allowance payable to her is £31.65 per week and her pay-related benefit is £2.15 per week which is the difference between £31.65 and £33.80. The regulations provide that the amount of pay-related benefit may not exceed the amount needed to bring total weekly entitlements up to the reckonable weekly earnings figure.
233.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance at the maximum rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
In order to qualify for unemployment assistance at the maximum rate, a person must be assessed with nil means. Following extensive inquiries by the officer investigating the case, the person concerned was assessed with weekly means of £20.70 as a part-time fisherman. He is therefore being paid unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £37.25 being the maximum rate in his case £57.95 less means £20.70.
It is open to the person concerned to appeal against the amount of means assessed in his case. A form for this purpose can be obtained from his local office.