asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a blind pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
468.
Following examination of the person concerned by an ophthalmic inspector it was decided by an appeals officer that she is not entitled to a blind pension on the ground that the statutory condition as to blindness is not fulfilled in her case.
469.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will indicate in respect of the latest date for which figures are available the number of people in receipt of (a) retirement pensions; (b) old age (contributory) pensions; (c) old age non-contributory pensions; (d) widow's contributory pensions; (e) widow's non-contributory pensions; (f) deserted wife's benefits; (g) invalidity pensions; (h) disability benefit; (i) unemployment benefit; (j) unemployment assistance; (k) maternity allowances; (l) orphan's contributory allowance; (m) unmarried mother's allowance; (n) widow's, deserted wives and prisoner's wives allowances; (o) children's allowances; (p) disabled person's maintenance allowances; (q) supplementary welfare allowance; and (r) single woman's allowance.
the details requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table:
|
Type of Payment |
Number of recipients at latest date for which figures are available (i) |
|
(a) Retirement pension |
31,637 |
|
(b) Old Age (contributory) pension |
70,028 |
|
(c) Old Age (non-contributory) pension |
129,495 |
|
(d) Widow's (contributory) pension |
73,632 |
|
(e) Widow's (non-contributory) pension |
13,250 |
|
(f) Deserted wife's benefit |
3,416 |
|
(g) Invalidity pension |
20,395 |
|
(h) Disability benefit |
69,793 |
|
(i) Unemployment benefit |
91,720 |
|
(j) Unemployment assistance (including smallholders) |
97,259 |
|
(k) Maternity allowance |
3,970 |
|
(l) Orphan's contributery allowance |
913 |
|
(m) Unmarried mother's allowance |
7,592 |
|
(n) Deserted wife's allowance |
3,282 |
|
119 Prisoner's wife's allowance |
167 |
|
(o) Children's allowance |
443,794 (ii) |
|
(p) Disabled person's maintenance allowance |
22,804 |
|
(q) Supplementary welfare allowance |
17,413 |
|
(r) Single Woman's Allowance |
2,982 |
(i) All of the figures relate to 31 December 1982 with the exception of (p) Disabled Persons Maintenance Allowance, the latest figures for which are as at 31 December 1980, and (q) Supplementary Welfare Allowance, the latest figures for which are as at 31 March 1980.
(ii) Childrens allowances are payable to 443,794 recipients in respect of 1,190,109 children.
470.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when children's allowance payments will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
It has now been confirmed that the child in question is attending an AnCO course and accordingly a continuation of allowance has been awarded in his case with effect from July, 1982.
An allowance book at £11.25 payable from February, 1983 has been issued and a payable order for £78.75 in respect of arrears due for the period July 1982 to January 1983 will issue shortly.
The claimant is now in receipt of allowance at the rate of £45.00 per month in respect of her four qualified children.
471.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position in relation to a free telephone rental allowance in the case of a person in County Wexford who is an old age pensioner and who applied some months ago.
There is no record in my Department of receipt of an application for free telephone rental allowance from the person concerned.
Application forms were issued to her for completion in September 1982 and February 1983 following representations on her behalf. On receipt of a completed form a decision will be given and she will be notified of the outcome.
472.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid at the full rate to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as he has returned all the documentation requested.
The person concerned was paid all arrears of disability benefit due, less amount advanced by way of supplementary welfare allowance, on 1 March 1983.
473.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a living alone allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned, who is in receipt of retirement pension, has been awarded a living alone allowance with effect from 23 December 1982. A pension book containing orders valid for payment from that date, is being issued to the designated post office and he is being notified accordingly.
474.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay unemployment benefit, as a matter of urgency, to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is now hospitalised.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 25 January 1983 to 24 February 1983 after which he ceased to sign as unemployed.
Inquiries were necessary to establish his contribution record and these were recently completed. His claim was allowed at the maximum rate payable to him £68.05 and arrangements have been made to issue an order to him for encashment at his local post office paying all arrears due to him this week. He would not be eligible for unemployment benefit while incapacitated. It is however open to him to claim disability benefit during the period of hospitalisation.
475.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay a maternity allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
There is no trace of the receipt of a claim for maternity allowance from the person in question. She would not, however, be entitled to maternity allowance in respect of the particular confinement. Entitlement depends on her insurance record in either the 1979-80 or the 1980-81 contribution years. According to the records of the Department, she has no contributions since the 1967-68 year.
476.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is being paid only £28 per week unemployment assistance.
The person concerned was assessed with means £19.20 weekly derived from land. He was accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the rate of £38.75 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £57.95 less means £19.20.
He last signed as unemployed on 23 January 1983 and has not been in touch with his local office since that date.
477.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the social welfare aid to which a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny may be entitled.
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is the one that is appropriate to the circumstances of the person concerned. She is a married woman and her husband is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance. The amount he is receiving includes an addition in respect of his wife. This is the maximum amount that can be paid in her case.
The person concerned is living with her mother-in-law since the latter's illness in October last. Her mother-in-law is in receipt of contributory widow's pension from my Department as well as a pension from Kilkenny County Council. She also qualifies for free electricity and for a free fuel allowance from the health board.
478.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an increase in unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance at £32.30 weekly which is the maximum rate payable to him £69.55 less means £37.25 derived from the value of board and lodging on his father's holding.
He has appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries. When these are completed his case will be determined by an appeals officer and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
479.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will approve the payment of an old age pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The personal representtives of the late pensioner have been requested to specify the date of death and to return his old pension book so that arrangements can be put in hand to pay whatever pension is uncashed and due. If, as indicated by the Deputy, 17 February 1983 was the date of death, payment would not be due in respect of 18 February since old age pension is paid weekly in advance.
Arrangements for payment of his pension to his widow for six weeks after his death will also be made when the pension book is returned to the Department.