asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the correct rate of social welfare benefit is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if this amount includes pay-related benefit.
Written Answers . - Social Welfare Benefits .
852.
: The person concerned is presently in receipt of flat-rate unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £45.20 which is the rate appropriate to a married man after 156 days of receipt of unemployment benefit with less than 280 paid contributions during the last seven years.
This rate does not include pay-related benefit as prolonged inquiries to determine his eligibility for pay-related benefit were only recently completed. He is entitled to pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £8.18 increased to £15.13 from 1 January 1983. All arrears of pay-related benefit were paid to him last week.
Further combined payments of flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit amounting to £60.33 weekly will be made to him as they become due.
853.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was allowed at the maximum rate of £31.65 and all arrears due were paid on 24 March 1983. He is also entitled to pay-related benefit from 1 March 1983 and all arrears due were paid last week. Further combined payments of £62.96 representing flat rate unemployment benefit £31.65 and pay-related benefit £31.31 will be made as they become due.
854.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick as she has been already waiting eight months for a decision.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 4 January 1983. However, she is not entitled to unemployment benefit because the contributions payable in respect of her employment during the relevant contribution period 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982 were at the class J rate which provides cover for occupational injuries benefit only. The decision in that regard was conveyed to her on 23 March 1983.
855.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick as he has already been waiting over 11 weeks.
: The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned has been allowed at the maximum weekly rate payable to him £26.25 and weekly payments commenced last week. He was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance prior to his unemployment assistance claim being allowed and when the amount due for recoupment to the health board is known he will be paid the balance of any arrears of unemployment assistance due to him.
856.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned was awarded deserted wife's allowance for herself and three children with effect from 18 November 1982. A book with orders payable from 17 March 1983 was forwarded on 14 March 1983 to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. A payable order for arrears due from 18 November 1982 to 16 March 1983, less deduction of the amount of supplementary welfare allowance which she received in the same period, has been sent direct to her.
857.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned was the holder of a qualification certificate with means assessed at £26.90. He lodged a claim for unemployment assistance on 8 February 1983 and pending a re-investigation of his means his claim was allowed at the rate of £23.60 being the maximum rate payable to him £50.50 less means £26.90. Arrangements have been made for a re-investigation of his means by a social welfare officer after which the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed.
858.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an increase in contributory pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned is in receipt of old age contributory pension at a personal pro-rata rate calculated on the basis of his combined Irish and British insurance records. The increase due on his attaining age 80 is also calculated on a pro-rata basis and amounts to £1.95. This amount is included in his new pension book containing orders for payment from 1 April 1983, which was issued to the designated post office for collection by him. The arrears due for the period prior to 1 April 1983 were sent directly to him by means of a separate payable order.
His wife is in receipt of an old age contributory pension at the maximum personal rate based on her own insurance record.
859.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of an unmarried mother's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: A payable order for arrears of unmarried mother's allowance due to the person concerned for the period 30 September 1982 to 5 January 1983, less deductions in respect of supplementary welfare allowance paid to her during that time, was sent to her on 28 March 1983.
860.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an application for a contributory widow's pension which was made in November 1982 for a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
: The person concerned has been awarded a widow's contributory pension, at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow under 66 years of age with no qualified children, with effect from 24 December 1982. A pension order book with orders payable from 25 March 1983 was issued to the designated post office on 24 March 1983 for collection by her and she was notified accordingly.
Arrears of pension from 24 December 1982 to 24 March 1983, adjusted in respect of disability benefit which she received in the same period, have been paid direct to her by payable order. Her husband who died on 11 November 1982 was in receipt of old age non-contributory pension which included an increase in respect of his wife. This payment was continued for six weeks after his death up to 23 December 1982.
The claim form received in this case on 15 December 1982 was for a widow's non-contributory pension. It was only following a visit to the claimant by the local officer of the Department and further inquiries that her entitlement to a contributory pension was established.
861.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will as a matter of urgency pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford as he has had no income since December 1982.
: The claim of the person concerned to unemployment assistance was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from self-employment, exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance of his claim but the assessment of his means was upheld by an appeals officer. The decision of the appeals officer is final in the absence of fresh facts or evidence.
862.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will resume the payment of unemployment assistance at the full rate to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned is presently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £38.75 being the maximum rate payable to him £57.95 less means £19.20. Means in his case were derived from pig rearing.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these are completed his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of his decision.
863.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will as a matter of urgency pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has no means and is receiving no help from her husband.
: The person concerned recently lodged a claim for unemployment assistance. Her case has been referred to a social welfare officer for urgent inquiries and when these are completed her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of his report. In the meantime she is receiving supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of her unemployment assistance application.
864.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will as a matter of urgency pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has been unemployed since August 1982 and who has received no benefit.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 12 November 1982. However, there is no record at the Department of contributions in respect of him in either of the contribution periods from 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981 or from 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982 and his claim was accordingly disallowed. The possibility that contributions due to be paid in respect of him were not paid is being investigated by a social welfare officer and his entitlement will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of these inquiries.
He is not entitled to unemployment assistance as the means assessed against him, £30 weekly derived from board and lodging in his brother's home exceed the maximum rate payable to him. He has appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arrangements have been made to have his case determined by an appeals officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of his decision.
865.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will as a matter of urgency pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has not received any benefit since 7 February 1983.
: The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 8 February 1983 and all benefit payable to the date of the latest medical certificate received has been issued to him.
866.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The claim of the person concerned has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of pension at maximum rate plus adult dependant allowance has been recommended from 15 November 1982, the date from which his holding was transferred. The appropriate pension book and all arrears due have been issued on a provisional basis pending the decision of the pension committee.
867.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a children's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
: The person concerned claimed children's allowance on 4 March 1983 in respect of her fourth child who was born on 26 August 1982. An earlier claim stated to have been made by the claimant in September 1982 was not received in my Department.
Following investigations it was decided to award allowance to the person concerned with effect from 1 September 1982. This is the earliest date from which allowance can commence to accrue in respect of a child born in August 1982. An allowance book payable from March 1983 at £11.25 per month was issued direct to the claimant's home address on 23 March 1983. A payable order in respect of arrears of £67.50 due for the period September 1982 to February 1983 was issued on 25 March 1983. The claimant is now in receipt of a monthly allowance of £45 in respect of her four qualified children.
868.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of unemployment benefit at the rate of £1.95 per week from 29 September 1982 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
: The person concerned is entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £6.95 being the maximum rate payable to him £43.95 less means £37 with effect from 29 September 1982. Means are derived from the benefit to him of his wife's earnings. All arrears due were paid to him on 30 March 1983. Further weekly payments at £6.95 will continue to be made as they become due.
869.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the further reduction in the rate of widow's pension being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; when the situation will be clarified with regard to her husband's social security contributions in England; and the financial bearing this will have on her allowances here.
: The rate of widow's non-contributory pension being paid to the person concerned was reduced by £2 per week from 14 January 1983, following a re-investigation of her means derived from earnings and a holding of land. Her current pension of £23.80 a week is that appropriate to a widow under 66 years of age who has no qualified children and who has weekly means which exceed £14 but do not exceed £16.
During an examination of her possible title to a widow's contributory pension in 1967 under the Irish-United Kingdom reciprocal agreement on pensions in operation at that time it was stated by the Department of Health and Social Security in Britain that whilst an insurance number had been allotted by them to her late husband no contributions were paid by him in that country. This information was conveyed to the claimant again on 25 March last.
The number of Irish contributions paid and credited in respect of him from the date of his first entry into insurance in January 1945 to the end of the year before his death in 1966 totalled 408. This record provides a yearly average of only 19 contributions when spread over the 21-year period from 1945 to 1965 inclusive. The minimum average required to qualify for the lowest rate contributory pension is 24. The decision given to the widow in this case in 1967 that she was not entitled to a contributory pension therefore still applies.
870.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the decrease in the rate of small farmers dole being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will review the case in the light of the social circumstances of the case.
: Following a re-investigation of his case the means of the person concerned were factually assessed at £57.65 weekly with effect from 9 March 1983. Means in his case were derived from the value of his holding. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the rate of £11.90 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £69.55 less means £57.65.
He has appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these are completed his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination and his rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of his decision.
871.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 2 August 1980 to 8 May 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 his appeal was upheld by the appeals officer.
Arrears of disability benefit from 10 May 1982, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the South Eastern Health Board while his claim was under appeal, were issued to the claimant on 5 November 1982 and payments have since been issued to him on a regular weekly basis.
872.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will receive a children's allowance for her daughter.
: An allowance book containing orders at £17.50 per month payable from January 1983 was issued direct to the person concerned on 16 March 1983. A payable order for £70.00 in respect of arrears due for the period September 1982 to December 1982 issued on 16 February 1983. Payment of all children's allowance in respect of the child in question has, accordingly, been made.
873.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a children's allowance book has not been supplied to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: The person concerned submitted an application on 2 March 1983 for a continuation allowance in respect of her son who reached 16 years in November 1982. The appropriate allowance book at £11.25 per month payable from January 1983 was issued on 8 March 1983 and a payable order covering arrears due for the month of December 1982 was issued on 16 March 1983.
874.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of disability benefit which is due to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 22 August 1977 to 22 May 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, in connection with his appeal, he was examined on 30 June 1982 by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
The case was then referred to an appeals officer who upheld the decision to disallow payment of disability benefit from 24 May 1982.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 6 July 1982 and has been receiving that benefit in the meantime.
875.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Laois did not receive unemployment assistance for the period June to September, 1982; and if he will now arrange for payment.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 9 June 1982 to 6 September 1982 and inquiries were made to ascertain the reason why she left her employment and the steps she was taking to find alternative employment.
However her claim was mislaid at the local office dealing with her case and the matter was only recently rectified. Her claim has been allowed at the rate of £30.50 weekly and as she is a postal applicant an order for encashment at her local post office is being issued to her this week paying all arrears of benefit due.
876.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Laois who has been signing since August, 1982.
: The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit as the class of contributions paid in respect of his employment during the period 10 February 1982 to 11 August 1982 do not provide cover for unemployment benefit.
He applied for a qualification certificate on 10 December 1982 and following an investigation by a social welfare officer he was assessed with means of £21.05 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his father's holding.
He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £4.40 being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £21.05. All arrears due were paid to him on 24 March 1983 and weekly payments continue to be made to him as they become due.
877.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
: Following the completion of inquiries by a social welfare officer all arrears of unemployment assistance due to the person concerned were paid on 7 April 1983.
Further weekly payments at £25.45 are being made as they become due.
878.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: The appeal of the person concerned following disallowance of payment of disability benefit was successful. Owing to an administrative error, however, payment of benefit was not restored. Payment has now been restored and all arrears of benefit have been issued.
879.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: The person concerned is entitled to flat-rate unemployment benefit at £31.65 weekly and pay-related benefit at £29.41 weekly and all arrears due were paid on 31 March 1983.
Combined payments at £61.06 will continue to be made to him as weekly payments become due.
880.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was allowed at the maximum rate payable to him £59.65 and all arrears due were paid on 25 March, 1983.
Further weekly payments are being made as they become due.
881.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position of an appeal for invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7, who is 58 years old and who cares for her daughter who is under psychiatric care.
: The person concerned had been in receipt of disability benefit.
She was examined by a medical referee on 15 February 1983. The medical referee expressed the opinion that she was capable of work and payment of disability benefit was disallowed from 28 February 1983. She appealed against this decision and was examined on 8 April 1983 by a different medical referee who also considered her to be capable of work. She was notified of this result and an appeal form, on which to set out the grounds for her appeal if she wished her case to be referred to an appeals officer for determination, was issued to her. The return of this form is awaited.
882.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: The entitlement of a recipient of flat-rate unemployment benefit to pay-related benefit is subject to the condition that the sum of flat-rate unemployment benefit, pay-related benefit and income-tax refund may not exceed 85 per cent of a claimant's average net weekly earnings.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 7 October 1981 to 6 October 1982 and during this period she was paid flat-rate unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £22.25 increasing to £27.80 from 5 April 1982.
The 85 per cent limit applicable to her claim amounted to £19.19 weekly and as the weekly flat-rate benefit paid to her exceeded this sum pay-related benefit was not payable in her case.
883.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is eligible for disability benefit.
: The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 29 September 1980 and payments are being issued to him at regular weekly intervals.
Following a recent examination by a medical referee it has been decided that he may be regarded as permanently incapable of work and so eligible for invalidity pension. A form on which to claim that pension has, therefore, been issued to the claimant and on return of the form, duly completed, a pension book will be issued to him.
884.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to dental benefit.
: A claim for dental benefit was received from the person concerned on 10 January 1983. In order to qualify for this benefit a person must satisfy certain statutory contribution conditions, one of which requires him to have not less than 26 employment contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. According to the records of my Department at that time the claimant had only 18 Class A1 contributions paid in the 1981-82 governing contribution year, i.e. from 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982, and his claim was accordingly rejected. A notification to this effect was issued to both the claimant and the dentist on 3 February 1983.
A second claim was received in my Department on 14 March 1983 and as a further 25 Class A1 contributions had been recorded in respect of the claimant's employment during the 1981-82 year the statutory contribution conditions were then satisfied and the claim was approved. Both the claimant and the dentist were notified on 24 March 1983.
Investigations are taking place in order to complete the insurance record of the person concerned in accordance with the details supplied by the Deputy.
885.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will forward an application form for invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, as he will not be able to work again.
: Invalidity pension has been awarded to the person concerned from 13 January 1983. A pension book payable from 28 April 1983 is being issued and arrears in respect of the period from 13 January 1983 to 27 April 1983, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by means of a payable order.
886.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: All disability benefit and pay-related benefit payable to the person concerned has now been issued.
887.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not received disability benefit which he applied for in January, 1983.
: The person concerned has been paid disability benefit, less amounts advanced to him by way of supplementary welfare allowance, from 4 January 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 12 March 1983, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. He is not entitled to pay-related benefit as the weekly disability benefit payable to him exceeds his average reckonable weekly earnings in the 1980-81 tax year on which his entitlement to that benefit depends.
The delay in the issue of payment arose as the claimant did not, according to the records of the Department, have sufficient contributions paid under the RSI number quoted by him in order to qualify for benefit. It was subsequently ascertained that he had sufficient contributions paid and credited under another RSI number.
888.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare as he applied in December, 1982 and is severely handicapped as the result of an industrial accident.
: The person concerned was paid occupational injury benefit for a maximum period of 26 weeks from 16 September 1981 to 16 March 1982.
From 17 March 1982 his claim was treated as one to disability benefit and he was paid to 30 December 1982. Payment was discontinued after that date due to an administrative error. However, payment was subsequently restored from 31 December 1982 and he was paid benefit up to 15 March 1983. Payment of disability benefit ceased after that date as he had been paid that benefit for a total of 52 weeks and he had not the required minimum of 156 contributions paid since his entry into insurable employment to entitle him to further payment.
He claimed disablement benefit on 5 January 1983 in respect of the same accident. Following an examination by a medical referee of the Department the claim was allowed and disablement benefit was awarded from 8 October 1982, at the weekly rate of £23.70, the rate appropriate to an assessment of 50 per cent disablement.
As the claimant is not qualified for disability benefit after 15 March 1983, he has instead been awarded an unemployability supplement of £31.65 a week and this is being paid in addition to disablement benefit.
889.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when outstanding disability benefit payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
: The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 February 1982 and was paid a total of 52 weeks benefit to 14 February 1983 based on his insurance record in the 1980-81 contribution year. From 15 February 1983, his entitlement to disability benefit depended on his 1981-82 insurance record and payment was interrupted while inquiries were being made to establish his entitlement to benefit from that date.
When it was ascertained that he was qualified for continued payment of disability benefit on his 1981-82 insurance record, the outstanding benefit payable was issued to him on 25 March 1983. Further payments of benefit are continuing to issue as medical evidence is received.
890.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow has not been paid disability benefit from 26 July to 16 November 1982.
: The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 5 March 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 24 July 1982. Payment was disallowed from that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and, in connection with his appeal, he was examined on 2 September 1982 by a different medical referee who also considered him to be capable of work.
The decision to disallow payment of disability benefit, following a hearing of the appeal, was upheld by an appeals officer.
The claimant was subsequently certified by his doctor as fit to resume work on 17 November 1982.
891.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo for the period 1 December 1982 to 14 December 1982.
: The person concerned was paid disability benefit for the period from 1 December 1982 to 14 December 1982. However, payment was not made at the time for the period from 15 December 1982 to 1 January 1983 because there were not sufficient contributions to her credit in the 1980-81 contribution year under the RSI number, her number as a single person, quoted by her to entitle her to further benefit.
From 3 January 1983, payment of benefit was governed by the 1981-82 contribution year and since she had an adequate contribution record in that year, payment of benefit was resumed.
It has now been confirmed that she had sufficient further contributions in 1980-81 under the RSI number allocated to her as a married woman and the arrears of disability benefit and pay-related benefit for the period from 15 December 1982 to 1 January 1983 have accordingly been issued.
892.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not been paid unemployment benefit; and when payment will be made.
: The person concerned did not satisfy the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit from the commencement of his claim on 3 December 1982 to 1 January 1983. He was however allowed unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £13.45 being the maximum rate payable to him, £25.45 less means £12.00 and all assistance due has been paid.
A new benefit year commenced on 3 January 1983 and following the completion of inquiries it was established that he satisfied the contribution conditions for reduced rate unemployment benefit at £28.30 from that date.
All arrears of unemployment benefit due were paid on 31 March 1983 and further weekly payments are being made as they become due.
893.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an investigation will be carried out in relation to a misunderstanding regarding the payment to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if any outstanding payments will be paid.
894.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork, who is on monthly certificates, has not been paid disability benefit; and if payment will be expedited.
: It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 893 and 894 together.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit and pay-related benefit in respect of the period from 20 January 1982 to 30 October 1982. He subsequently notified my Department that he had resumed work on 28 September 1982. As a result he was overpaid benefit amounting to £329.74. He returned three cheques, total value £202.85, thereby reducing the overpayment to £126.89.
The claimant, in a letter to my Department, has acknowledged that he received all the cheques issued to him and he has agreed to repay the balance outstanding by weekly deductions from his current benefit payments.
He made a further claim to disability benefit from 14 January 1983 and all benefit due from 18 January 1983, fourth day of incapacity, has been paid to date, less deductions of £3 per week in recovery of the outstanding overpayment.
895.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the reason for this delay; and when payment will be made.
: The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment assistance on the grounds that his means derived from self employment as a painter exceed the statutory limit.
It is however open to him to appeal against the disallowance and to have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
896.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free travel permit and a non-contributory old age pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for the delay in this case.
: The person concerned originally applied for a contributory old age pension in February 1983. She indicated on her application form that she wished to have her entitlement to non-contributory pension examined if the contributory pension claim was unsuccessful. As that claim was disallowed the case was referred to the social welfare officer to investigate the non-contributory pension position. His inquiries are continuing and when they have been completed the case will be referred to the local pension committee for decision. If a pension is recommended it will be put into payment on a provisional basis pending the committee's decision.
A temporary free travel pass, valid for three months was issued to the claimant on 5 April 1983. A permanent pass will issue when a decision on her pension claim has been given.
897.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for the delay in payment.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 15 March 1983 and inquiries were necessary to establish his contribution record. These inquiries were recently completed and his claim was allowed at the reduced rate of £73.85 weekly.
All arrears due were paid on 15 April 1983 and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
898.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when payment will be made.
: The person concerned who claimed widow's pension on 8 February 1983 was awarded a widow's contributory pension, at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow over 66 years of age with no qualified children, with effect from 11 March 1983.
A pension book with orders payable from that date was issued to the designated post office on 18 March 1983 for collection by her and she was notified accordingly.
Her husband who died on 24 January 1983 had been in receipt of disability benefit which included an increase in respect of his wife and this payment continued to be made to her for six weeks after his death.
A living alone allowance, also effective from 11 March 1983, has recently been awarded to the widow in this case and an order book for payment of this allowance was sent to the designated post office on 11 April 1983.
899.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the reason for this delay; and when payment will be made.
: Before the entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could be determined it was necessary to have her case investigated by a social welfare officer and her means assessed.
She was subsequently assessed with means of £12.00 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in her mother's home. She was accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the rate of £13.45 weekly being the maximum rate £25.45 less means £12.00.
Due to misfiling the transmission of her case between the employment exchange who authorised payment and the branch employment office at which she was signing was delayed.
The matter was subsequently rectified and all arrears due were paid on 7 April 1983.
Further weekly payments continue to be made as they become due.
900.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when payment, including arrears, will be made.
: The person concerned claimed disability benefit in respect of incapacity for work from 17 February 1983. Payment of benefit was not due until a second medical certificate was received from him. Accordingly, the first payment of benefit issued on 2 March 1983 following receipt of the second certificate dated 26 February 1983. Subsequent payments have continued to issue as they fall due.
The claim was authorised initially at the rate appropriate to a single man but on receipt of the relevant claim form this was increased to the rate appropriate to a married man with a wife and five dependent children.
All benefit payable from 21 February 1983, the fourth day of incapacity, to the date of the latest medical evidence received has been issued. Pay-related benefit has also been paid to him from 3 March 1983, the thirteenth day of incapacity.
901.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay maternity benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: The person concerned claimed maternity benefit in respect of a confinement expected on 12 March 1983. All benefit payable from 31 January 1983 to date, less unemployment benefit paid up to 15 February 1983, has been paid. Payment is continuing at weekly intervals up to the end of the entitlement period on 23 April 1983.
No pay-related benefit is payable because there are no earnings recorded in respect of the person concerned in the 1981-82 income tax year.
902.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay arrears of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: Following the completion of inquiries about her availability for work the unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was allowed at the maximum rate payable to a married woman, £27.80 weekly.
All arrears due were paid on 31 March 1983.
903.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 3 December 1981 to 10 April 1982. She was paid maternity benefit from 12 April 1982 to 3 July 1982, after which date payment of disability benefit was again made from 5 July 1982 to 23 February 1983. She was thus paid a total of 52 weeks disability benefit. Payment then ceased as she had less than the required minimum 156 paid contributions to her credit since her entry into insurance to entitle her to further payment.
She cannot requalify for further payment of disability benefit until she resumes employment and has at least 13 contribution weeks of insurable employment after the date of last payment of benefit.
904.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is being paid the correct rate of unemployment assistance.
: The person concerned is in receipt of £30.65 a week which is the correct rate of unemployment assistance in his case, being the maximum rate £44.40 appropriate to a married man with three qualified children whose means from his holding PLV £14.25 are notionally assessed at £13.75.
If he considers that it would be to his advantage to have his means factually assessed it is open to him to do so by applying in writing to his local office and arrangements will be made. However, in the event of factual assessment not being to his advantage it would not be possible for him to revert again to his position under the notional assessment system.
905.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will continue to be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 8 March 1983 on the grounds that by failing to furnish particulars of his means he failed to show that his means do not exceed the statutory limit. The social welfare officer made every effort to interview the applicant and made ten void calls in his effort to do so. The applicant was not, however, prepared to make himself available for interview.
He has appealed against the disallowance and arrangements have been made to have his case referred to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
906.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
930.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
: It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 906 and 930 together as the persons concerned are a married couple.
Their old age pensions have been reduced following a routine re-investigation of their entitlement which revealed an increase in their means, consisting mainly of British retirement pensions.
907.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension was reduced by £2.00 about two years ago in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
: The pension of the person concerned was reduced from £26.25 (maximum rate) to £25.05 from 28 August 1981 following a routine re-investigation which revealed that the assessment of her means, consisting of half the weekly value of her husband's occupational pension, had increased. She is currently in receipt of a pension at the reduced rate of £32.45 a week, which is the rate to which she is entitled having regard to the assessment of her means.
908.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow was not being paid a non-contributory old age pension at the full rate.
: The person concerned, who has not attained old age pension age, was awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at the rate of £13.80 per week. This is the rate appropriate to a widow under 66 years of age with no qualified children whose weekly means, based on estimated income from a farm in her possession, have been assessed as falling between £24 and £26 per week.
She has appealed against the decision awarding her reduced rate of pension and her case has been sent to an appeals officer for determination. She will be notified of the outcome as soon as the appeals officer's decision is given.
909.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow as he has been signing since August 1982.
: The person concerned failed to disclose fully his means when his case was investigated by a social welfare officer. He subsequently indicated that he was willing to co-operate with the investigating officer and after the completion of extensive inquiries he was recently assessed with means of £8.75 from 6 August 1982, £3.75 from 29 September 1982 reducing to nil from 23 December 1982.
All arrears of unemployment assistance, less advances of supplementary welfare allowance due for recoupment to the local health authority were paid on 14 April 1983.
Further weekly payments at the maximum rate payable to him £63.75 will be made as payments become due.
910.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
: The person concerned was furnished with a form on 11 January 1983 to enable him to apply for a qualification certificate before he exhausted his title to unemployment benefit on 30 March 1983.
He returned the form to his local office on 21 March 1983 and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. When the inquiries are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance from 31 March 1983 will be determined.
911.
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 was allowed at the weekly rate of £11.90 being the maximum rate payable to him £69.55 less means of £57.65, derived from land.
All arrears due were paid on 7 April 1983 and further weekly payments are being made as they become due.
912.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a children's allowance for one child has not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
: The person concerned submitted an application for continuation of children's allowance on 20 January 1983 in respect of her son who reached 16 years of age in December 1982.
Children's allowance at the rate of £11.25 per month was awarded in respect of this child with effect from 1 January 1983 and an allowance book payable from that date was issued to the claimant on 16 March 1983.
The claimant is now in receipt of a monthly allowance of £45.00 in respect of her four qualified children.
913.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension at the maximum rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
: The person concerned is in receipt of pension at the reduced rate of £26.45 per week. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means, consisting of half the weekly value of capital, including an intestacy share in the capital value of a holding.
914.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
: There is no trace of an application for old age pension having been received from the person concerned. If he has reached pension age, he is advised to complete a claim form, which may be obtained at any post office, and forward it to the Department.
915.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance at the maximum rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as his only means at present is £5.35 per week unemployment assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
: The person concerned is assessed with means £70 derived from self-employment. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £5.35 being the maximum rate payable to him £75.35 less means £70.00.
However, his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries about his means. When these are completed the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the report of the social welfare officer.
916.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to restore unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
1024.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
: It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 916 and 1024 together.
Following an investigation of his means by a social welfare officer the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 16 March 1983 on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit.
He has appealed against the disallowance and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries. When these are completed his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
917.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a claim for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be approved; and when payments will be commenced.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit and as she fulfilled the contribution conditions her claim was allowed at the maximum rate payable to her, £31.65 weekly. All arrears due were paid on 31 March 1983 and further weekly payments are being made as they become due.
918.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a claim for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be approved; and when payments will commence.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit and as she satisfied the contribution conditions her claim was allowed at the maximum rate payable to her, £31.65 weekly. All arrears due to her were paid on 31 March 1983 and further weekly payments are being made as they become due.
919.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
: The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment assistance as his claim was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against the decision but an appeals officer upheld the disallowance of his case on 24 May 1982. He ceased to sign as unemployed in June 1982.
920.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
: All arrears of unemployment benefit due to the person concerned were paid on 25 March 1983. Further weekly payments at the maximum rate payable to him £31.65 are being made as they become due.
921.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
: The person concerned was paid flat-rate unemployment benefit at £29.30 weekly from the commencement of her claim on 19 October 1982. Following a recent review it was established that she was entitled to the maximum flat-rate unemployment benefit of £31.65 weekly and an adjusting payment of all arrears due was paid to her on 5 April 1983. Further weekly payments of £32.26 representing flat-rate unemployment benefit £31.65 and £0.61 pay-related benefit are being made as they become due.
922.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is not in receipt of unemployment assistance.
: The person concerned is engaged in systematic short-time employment and was not qualified for unemployment benefit when she claimed on 3 December 1982 as she had insufficient weeks of insurable employment since her entry into insurance. Following an investigation of her case she was assessed with means of £14.40 derived from the value of board and lodging at her parents' home and accordingly she was entitled to unemployment assistance on days on which she was unemployed at the daily rate of £1.85.
She subsequently acquired 26 weeks of insurable employment by reason of her systematic short-time working and she qualified for unemployment benefit at the daily rate of £5.28 from 17 January 1983.
All arrears of unemployment assistance and unemployment benefit issued to her on 7 April 1983.
923.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit which was being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare has been discontinued.
: The person concerned was disallowed payment of disability benefit from 31 January 1983 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. Following an appeal against the disallowance he was examined by a different medical referee on 6 April 1983. On this occasion the medical referee was of the opinion that he was incapable of work. Payment of disability benefit has been restored to the claimant on the basis of the second medical opinion and all the arrears payable from 31 January 1983 have been issued to him.
924.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in regard to an application for unemployment benefit which was made three months ago by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The person concerned has no history of insurable employment in this country and he was a self-employed person when resident in the United Kingdom. He is accordingly not qualified for unemployment benefit.
He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £13.45 being the maximum weekly rate payable to him £25.45 less means £12.00. He has appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arrangements are being made to have his case determined by an appeals officer. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
925.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in relation to an application for a single woman's allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The application for single woman's allowance of the person concerned was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of her means and inquiries are still being made in the matter. It is expected that inquiries will be completed shortly after which her entitlement to a single woman's allowance will be determined.
926.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6, who made a late notification of her incapacity for work because she was not used to making a notification as she does not normally claim benefit from the State; and in the circumstances if he will ensure that the benefit will be issued.
: A claim for disability benefit for the period from 20 December 1982 to 1 January 1983 was received from the person concerned on 11 January 1983. The claim was not admitted for payment as notification of incapacity was not received within seven days from commencement as prescribed by regulations.
On review of the case, however, the explanation submitted for the late notification of illness has been accepted and disability benefit has been paid for the period from 23 December 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 1 January 1983, after which date she was certified fit to resume work.
927.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is not receiving an increased allowance of unemployment assistance.
: The person concerned is assessed with means of £15.35 derived from self-employment as a handyman and from the value of board and lodging on his brother's holding. He is in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £10.00 being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £15.35.
It is open to him to apply to have his means re-investigated and a form for this purpose may be obtained from his local office. His case would then be investigated by a social welfare officer and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him would be reviewed in the light of the report.
928.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow as he has been signing since September 1982.
: The person concerned signed as unemployed on 10 May 1982 for one day only and did not apply again for unemployment assistance until 6 December 1982.
His case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation but when interviewed he conveyed that he was not prepared to disclose his bank account. He was advised at his local office that details of such accounts are necessary for the purpose of assessing his means.
His case has been again referred to a social welfare officer to pursue inquiries and when they are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
929.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will be transferred from weekly to monthly disability benefit.
: Arrangements have been made to have the person concerned examined by a medical referee on 21 April 1983. His suitability for transfer to the monthly certification system will be considered in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
931.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
: An appeals officer has decided that the person concerned is entitled to a pension at the weekly rate of £2.45 from 10 December 1982. A pension book at the £2.45 rate payable from 7 January 1983 was issued to her on 20 January 1983 and a payable order in respect of arrears due from 10 December 1982 issued shortly afterwards. Payment of all pension due in this case has, therefore, been made.
932.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare his decision on the appeal for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1.
: The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment as she was making insufficient efforts to find work. She appealed against the disallowance and arrangements have been made to have her case determined by an appeals officer. The appeals hearing will take place within the next few days.
933.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay a refund and continue the payment of a children's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned claimed children's allowance on 7 April 1983 in respect of her fourth child who was born on 12 May 1981. An earlier claim stated to have been made by the claimant in May 1981 was not received in my Department.
Claims were received in respect of three qualified children and the claimant was in receipt of the appropriate allowance of £33.75 in respect of them. She was, however, paid in error for four children in her renewal book from July 1981 to June 1982 but payment for three was resumed in her 1982 renewal book.
Allowance has now been awarded to the claimant in respect of the child in question with effect from June 1981. An allowance book at the rate of £11.25 per month payable from February 1983 was issued direct to the person concerned on 15 April 1983. A payable order for £92.50 in respect of arrears due for June 1981 and the period July 1982 to January 1983 is in the course of issue.
Claimant is now in receipt of allowance of £45 per month in respect of her four qualified children.
934.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of PRSI contributions collected in 1981 and 1982; and where the money was or is being spent.
: The total income from contributions collected under the PRSI system for the years 1981 and 1982 and the apportionment of that income between the different elements involved (to the nearest £million) is shown in the following table:
|
1982 |
||
|
1981 |
(Provisional) |
|
|
Social Insurance Contribution |
476 |
655 |
|
Occupational Injuries Contribution |
15 |
15 |
|
Health Contribution |
48 |
59 |
|
Redundancy Contribution |
10 |
3 |
|
Youth Employment Levy |
— |
38 |
|
Employer's Employment Surcharge |
4 |
— |
|
Employer's Employment Contribution |
4 |
2 |
|
Total |
557 |
772 |
The income from social insurance and occupational injuries contributions supplemented by income from investments and in the case of the Social Insurance Fund by a grant from the Exchequer, meets the costs of the various payments under the social insurance and occupational injuries schemes administered by my Department. The income from health contributions goes to the Department of Health towards the costs of the health services. The income from redundancy contributions goes to the Redundancy Fund of the Department of Labour. The youth employment levy which was introduced in 1982 is used to defray the expenditure of the Youth Employment Agency and other expenditure in relation to the training and employment of young people and is also administered by the Department of Labour. The employer's employment surcharge in operation for the contribution year 1980-81 and represented the contribution of employers to the Employment Guarantee Fund administered by the Department of Finance the purpose of which was to defray expenditure on projects to create or maintain employment. The employer's employment contribution was in operation for the contribution year 1981-82 and was paid over to the Employer's Employment Contribution Scheme Fund administered jointly by the Confederation of Irish Industry and the Federated Union of Employers for the maintenance of employment in the textile, clothing, footwear and leather industries.
935.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is not in receipt of unemployment benefit.
: The person concerned is at present in receipt of flat rate unemployment benefit at the maximum rate payable to a married woman £27.80. She is not entitled to pay-related benefit with payments of flat rate unemployment benefit as she has insufficient reckonable earnings during the governing income tax period 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982.
936.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is not in receipt of unemployment assistance.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit but inquiries had to be made to establish his contribution record during the contribution period 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981 before his entitlement to benefit could be determined. His claim was allowed at the reduced rate of £28.30 and all arrears due to him were paid on 8 February 1983. Further weekly payments continue to be made to him as they become due.
937.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will introduce legislation to permit a person (details supplied) whose spouse has free travel passes to avail herself of free travel even when the spouse is not accompanying her; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
: Under the existing scheme free travel is available to married couples travelling together provided one member of the couple qualifies for free travel. Extension of the scheme to give individual entitlement to a spouse who was not qualified for free travel in his or her own right would be a radical departure from the conditions of age or permanent incapacity on which the existing scheme is based. It would no longer be possible to confine the scheme to the groups for whom it was intended and there would also be significant cost implications. Expenditure on the scheme in 1983 is estimated at £19.5 million and I have no funds available to meet the additional cost of any extensions to the scheme.
938.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay arrears of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: Only one medical certificate, an intermediate certificate dated 3 January 1983, has been received from the person concerned in support of his claim for disability benefit. Before any payment can be made a continuing period of incapacity for work must be established and, in this connection, the claimant has been requested to submit detailed medical evidence covering the duration of his incapacity for work. When this is received any benefit payable to him will be issued.
939.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the payment of a widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
: The person concerned was awarded a widow's non-contributory pension, at a reduced rate appropriate to a widow under 66 years of age with no qualified children, with effect from 26 November 1982, on the basis of her means assessed on the value of a farm and a small amount of capital. A pension order book with orders payable from that date was issued to the designated post office on 31 December 1982 for collection by her and she was notified accordingly.
Following receipt of notification from the Deputy that claimant wished to appeal against the reduced rate awarded to her, forms on which to set out the grounds for her dissatisfaction with the decision were sent to her but have not yet been returned. When the completed forms are received the case will be sent to an appeals officer for determination and claimant will be notified of the outcome.
940.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will approve an old age pension at the full rate for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
941.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will approve an old age pension at the full rate for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
: It it proposed to take Questions Nos. 940 and 941 together. The persons concerned are a married couple. They have been receiving old age pension for a number of years and at present each of them is being paid at the reduced rate of £26.45 per week. This is the rate to which they are entitled, having regard to the assessment of their means, consisting of half the weekly value of capital and income from farming. It is open to them to apply for an increase in pension if there has been a decline in their circumstances.
942.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of a children's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
: A payable order for £33.75 in respect of arrears of allowance due in this case was issued direct to the person concerned on 12 April 1983. She is now in receipt of a monthly allowance of £22.50 in respect of her two qualified children.
943.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance or benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The person concerned was originally refused a qualification certificate when he refused to make details of his bank account available and his claim for unemployment assistance was refused. He applied again on 5 October 1982 but due to an oversight his case was delayed in being referred to a social welfare officer for a reinvestigation of his means. Inquiries are presently being made in the matter and if he is now prepared to reveal full details of his income, his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance determined accordingly.
944.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension appropriate to his means will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the rate of £16.45 a week plus £8.30 adult dependant allowance with effect from 20 October 1982. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding and capital.
He was originally paid at the rate of £14.45 plus £7.30 adult dependant allowance. His pension book in this amount has been recalled for adjustment in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
945.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension appropriate to her means will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
: The person concerned has been awarded widow's non-contributory pension, at the maximum personal rate payable to a widow over 66 years, with effect from 28 January 1983, i.e. the Friday following the date of the deed of transfer by which she transferred the holding in trust to the use of her son. She has been requested to return the reduced rate pension book in her possession and as soon as this is done a book at maximum rate will be issued to the designated post office for collection by her.
The arrears due to the claimant from 28 January 1983 to the date from which the first order in the new book is payable will be sent direct to her by payable order.
The claimant indicated that she was not satisfied with the reduced rate of pension, paid to her for the period from 23 July 1982 to 27 January 1983, and her case has been forwarded to an appeals officer for determination. She will be notified of his decision as soon as it is given.
946.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the payment of disability benefit will be resumed to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
: The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 18 January 1982 to 15 January 1983. Payment ceased at that date as, according to the records of my Department, he had fewer than 156 contributions paid on his behalf since his entry into insurance and he was therefore entitled to benefit for only 52 weeks. The claimant indicated that he was previously employed in Great Britain and inquiries were made from the British authorities to ascertain his British insurance record. On completion of these inquiries, it was established that he has sufficient contributions paid to qualify him for further payment. Accordingly, arrears of disability benefit payable to 16 April 1983, less the amount advanced to the claimant by way of supplementary welfare allowance, have been issued and further payments will continue to issue weekly while he remains incapable of work.
947.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of a death grant to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: A claim for a grant on the death of her mother was received from the person concerned on 18 March 1983. The maximum grant of £100 is payable.
According to the particulars furnished on the claim form the deceased died intestate and letters of administration are not being taken out. The brother of the person concerned, therefore, has equal title with her to the grant and his consent is necessary before the grant may be paid to her. The person has been requested to forward her brother's consent to the Department. On receipt of this consent a cheque for £100 will be issued to her without delay.
948.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that he was not genuinely seeking work. He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made for an oral hearing of his case by an appeals officer at the earliest opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
949.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that he was not genuinely seeking work. He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made for an oral hearing of his case at the earliest opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
950.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for an old age pension book to be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: Following a reinvestigation of the old age pension entitlement of the person concerned a question for reduction of his pension from the married rate of £48.75 a week to £45.75 a week has been referred to the local pension committee for decision. His pension order book was recalled for adjustment pending the pension committee's decision.
A pension order book at the rate of £45.75 was issued to him on 4 March 1983 and a renewal book payable from 1 April 1983 was issued to the nominated post office in mid-March. It has been confirmed that the pensioner is cashing his pension.
951.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of an old age contributory pension for the last week of December 1982 to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: Following receipt of notification that the person concerned had lost his old age contributory pension book a replacement book containing orders for payment from 7 January 1983 was issued to him.
The Department of Posts and Telegraphs have now confirmed that the payment due for 31 December 1982 is still outstanding. The amount of the pension due, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to him by the local health board for the week in question, has been issued to him by means of a payable order.
952.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: All disability benefit and pay-related benefit payable to the person concerned to the date of the latest medical certificate have been issued.
953.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay disability and dental benefits to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 4 January 1983. He was not qualified for benefit at the commencement of his claim as according to the records of the Department he had fewer than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1981-82, the contribution year governing his claim. He has since submitted an employer's statement giving details of his employment record in 1981-82 and on the basis of this information he is qualified for benefit.
A cheque for the amount of benefit from 7 January 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 21 February 1983, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, was issued on 11 April 1983.
He is not entitled to pay-related benefit as the weekly rate of disability benefit payable to him exceeds his average reckonable weekly earnings in 1981-82, the relevant income tax year governing his entitlement to pay-related benefit.
The person concerned also claimed dental benefit on 18 January 1983. As he did not at that stage have the necessary contributions paid or credited in the 1981-82 governing contribution year, his claim could not be approved. However, on receipt of the additional information, the contribution conditions were satisfied and the claim was authorised. Both the claimant and his dentist have been notified.
954.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Pension at the rate of £30.45 a week, plus £2.70 living alone allowance, from 8 February 1983 have been recommended by the social welfare officer. The assessment of the claimant's means, consisting of the weekly value of a holding, entitles him to pension at this rate. The appropriate pension books and arrears have been issued on a provisional basis pending the pension committee's decision.
955.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as the assessment of his means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding, exceeds the statutory limit of £38.
956.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying arrears of an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when all outstanding arrears will be paid.
: There are no arrears of old age pension due to the person concerned. When she attained age 80 years in 1973 her late husband was in receipt of an old age contributory pension which included an adult dependant's allowance in respect of her. This allowance was paid at the appropriate rate for a person aged 66 or over. An additional increase is not payable when the adult dependant attains age 80 years. She was awarded a widow's contributory pension following the death of her husband in September 1979 and she has been paid at the full rate appropriate to a widow aged over 80 years.
957.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason arrears of disability benefit for two years have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and when payment will be made.
: The person concerned was paid 52 weeks disability benefit from 16 September 1976 to 14 September 1977. Payment ceased after that date as he had fewer than the required minimum 156 paid contributions to his credit since his entry into insurance to entitle him to further payment. To requalify for further payment of benefit it would have been necessary for him to resume work and have at least 13 weeks of insurable employment after the last payment of benefit.
However, he continued to submit medical evidence of incapacity for work to 8 May 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. Credited contributions were allowed on the medical evidence submitted to 8 May 1982.
The claimant obtained part-time employment from 10 May 1982 and the extent and insurability of this employment is being investigated. His entitlement to disability benefit from the termination of that employment, which is the earliest date from which payment can be resumed, will be considered when inquiries have been completed.
958.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: To be entitled to unemployment assistance an applicant must be the holder of a qualification certificate. The person concerned applied for a qualification certificate while he was in receipt of unemployment benefit and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. Following the completion of extensive inquiries his application for a qualification certificate was refused on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of his income he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. The person concerned was paid unemployment benefit up to 1 January 1983 after which he ceased to sign as unemployed.
959.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit and an orphan's allowance will be paid in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
: A cheque for the one day's disability benefit outstanding was issued to the son of the deceased insured person on 12 April 1982. There are no arrears of orphan's contributory allowance due in this case for the period from 22 to 25 November 1982. The orphan's father died on Monday 22 November 1982 and in accordance with the regulations governing the scheme the allowance only became payable from the following Friday, 26 November 1982.
960.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny had been told that she is not entitled to unemployment benefit, when she still has stamps in respect of 65 days to her credit.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 11 February 1983 but a deciding officer was of opinion that she was not genuinely seeking employment and her claim was disallowed. She appealed against the disallowance and her case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
961.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of a retirement pension to a person (details supplied) in county Galway.
: One of the conditions for receipt of retirement pension requires a claimant to have at least 156 contributions paid in respect of his employment. The department's records show that a total of 88 contributions were paid in respect of the employment of the person concerned in Ireland. Therefore, he does not qualify for a retirement pension under Irish legislation.
Under EEC Regulations on social security account can be taken of his British insurance record but as he had only 42 contributions paid in respect of employment in Britain the combined total of 130 paid contributions is still not sufficient to enable him to satisfy the required condition under Irish legislation. However, as he is in receipt of a pro-rata rate retirement pension under British legislation the British authorities have been requested to award him the increase due in respect of his two dependent children.
962.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit on 25 February 1983 in respect of an incapacity resulting from an accident at work on 18 February 1983.
Following confirmation by the employer of the occupational accident, injury benefit was allowed from the date of the accident. All injury benefit due to date of the latest medical certificate received has been paid.
963.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding an application for disability benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The person concerned has been in receipt of flat-rate unemployment benefit since 5 November 1982 at the weekly rate of £68.05 and it is presumed that the Deputy intended this parliamentary question to refer to his entitlement to pay-related benefit with his flat-rate unemployment benefit.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit with unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the total amount of weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit, pay-related benefit and income tax rebate shall not exceed 85 per cent on an applicant's average net weekly earnings.
The 85 per cent limit applicable to the person concerned amounts to £46.99 and as the amount of flat-rate unemployment benefit paid to him £68.05, exceeds this sum pay-related benefit is not payable in his case.
964.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason social insurance contributions have not been paid by his employers for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as he applied for unemployment benefit and has not received any payment.
: Inquiries are being made regarding the non-payment of social insurance contributions in respect of the employment of the person concerned between 26 October 1982 to 23 December 1982. It is expected that these will be completed shortly and the entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit will be determined in light of the outcome.
965.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if social welfare benefit at the full rate is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
: The person concerned has been paid disability benefit at the maximum rate appropriate to a married couple with seven dependent children from 11 February 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 5 March 1983, after which date he was certified fit to resume work.
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 income tax year which governs entitlement to pay-related benefit.
966.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: 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 will be made in this matter if the Deputy furnishes additional information to enable the person concerned to be identified.
967.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: In order to qualify for unemployment assistance a person must be the holder of a qualification certificate which is a statement of his means. The person concerned was not prepared to co-operate with the social welfare officer in disclosing his means and his entitlement could not be determined. In order to give him a further opportunity, the file was again referred to the social welfare officer and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the outcome.
968.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for an increase in unemployment benefit to be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
: The person concerned is receiving the maximum rate of £31.65 weekly unemployment benefit which is the rate appropriate to a single man. He also has been receiving pay-related benefit of £4.12 weekly from 4 April 1983 which is the appropriate rate in his case having regard to his reckonable earnings in the 1980-81 tax year.
969.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
: The person concerned claimed disability benefit in respect of the period from 8 July 1982 to 16 October 1982 and was paid at the rate appropriate to a married woman. She made a further claim to disability benefit from 5 January 1983 and payment commenced at the appropriate rate. As a result of a letter from her employer in January 1983 it was ascertained that her original claim should properly have been one for occupational injury benefit. While the position was being established she was inadvertently paid further benefit for that period instead of the then current claim. This resulted in an overpayment of £209.84 after her claim was admitted for injury benefit and allowance made for the difference between the injury and disability benefit rates.
The necessary final adjustment has now been made. The position is that all benefit payable has been issued after making an adjustment for £194.60 of the overpayment previously assessed. The balance of £15.24 outstanding will be recovered by deductions of £3 per week from any further payments that fall due. She has been paid to 29 March 1983, the date of the latest medical evidence received.
970.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: All disability benefit payable to date to the person concerned has been issued.
971.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was allowed and all arrears due to him were paid on 24 March 1983.
Further weekly payments of £6.50 being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £18.95, derived from self-employment and the value of board and lodging on his parent's holding, are being made as they become due.
972.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: An old age pension at the maximum rate including an allowance for his wife and dependent children has been granted to the person concerned on a provisional basis with effect from 6 December 1982 pending the local Pension Committee's decision on his claim. Pension books payable from 4 March 1983 at the married rate of £51.75 and at the rate of £21.90 in respect of dependent children have been issued.
If, in the circumstances mentioned by the Deputy, the person's wife wishes to have the dependent's portion of the pension paid separately to her, this will be considered. The social welfare officer will call to see her shortly in this regard.
Payment of arrears due in respect of the period from 6 December 1982 to 25 February 1983 is being withheld pending receipt of the social welfare officer's report.
973.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: Following the recent completion of the reinvestigation of the means of the person concerned, means were reduced to £19.70 weekly derived from self-employment with effect from 23 December 1982.
He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £5.75 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less £19.70 during the periods 23 December 1982 to 10 January 1983 and from 31 March 1983 to 9 April 1983.
All arrears due were paid to him last week. He ceased to sign as unemployed after 9 April 1983.
974.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £6.20 being the maximum rate in his case of £25.45 less weekly means £19.25 derived from the value of board and lodgings on his brothers holding. However, his claim was disallowed by a deciding officer from 24 November 1982 on the grounds that he was not genuinely seeking work. He has been advised if dissatisfied that he may appeal against this decision and his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination.
975.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an appeal against a decision not to grant unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned is presently in receipt of unemployment assistance at £2.10 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £23.35 derived from the value of board and lodging on his brother's holding.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer required clarification of certain details of the claimant's position in his brother's household and further inquiries were necessary. These were recently completed and the case has been returned to the appeals officer.
The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer which is expected shortly.
976.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance is not being paid at the full rate to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned is assessed with means at £57.70 weekly derived from the value of his land. He is accordingly being paid unemployment assistance at the rate of £11.85 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £69.55 less £57.70.
He has been supplied with a form to enable him to apply for a reinvestigation of his means. When he completes and returns this form his case will be referred to a social welfare officer for investigation following which his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
977.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when he will be paid.
: According to the Department's records the person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 6 September 1982 to 25 September 1982. He was a postal claimant and orders were issued to him for encashment at his local post office paying all unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit to which he was entitled.
He again lodged a claim for unemployment benefit on 5 April 1983 and as he satisfies the contribution conditions payment of unemployment benefit at the maximum rate will be made to him at weekly intervals on receipt of certificates of unemployment signed at his local Garda Station.
A pay voucher for £50 representing the initial four days payable was issued to him on 14 April 1983 cashable at his local post office.
978.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for the delay in payment.
: The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was allowed at the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 and all arrears due were paid on 5 April 1983. Further weekly payments continue to be made as they become due.
Due to an error at the employment exchange which authorised payment a delay of some two weeks occurred in the transmission of this case to the branch employment office where he is presently being paid unemployment assistance.
979.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a person (details supplied) in County Galway is entitled to a retirement pension from the British Government.
: The person concerned is already in receipt of an Irish retirement pension. Details of his Irish insurance record have been sent to the British Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle upon Tyne, whose function it is to determine his entitlement to a British pension. The British authorities will notify the claimant direct of his entitlement from them.
980.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The claim of the person concerned to unemployment assistance was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from self-employment and from land rented exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance but an appeals officer upheld the disallowance in his case. The decision of the appeals officer is final in the absence of fresh facts or evidence.
981.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as the assessment of his means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding and capital, exceeds the statutory limit of £38.
982.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: It was decided by an appeals officer on 4 June 1982 that the person concerned was not entitled to an old age pension as her means exceeded the statutory limit. Her repeat claim for pension received on 28 January 1983 has been investigated by the social welfare officer.
As the applicant is now hospitalised and unable to act on her own behalf an application has been made to the local pension committee to have her husband appointed as agent to act for her. The claim will be referred to the committee for decision as soon as his appointment has been confirmed.
Payment of a pension is not being recommended as the assessment of the claimant's means is still in excess of the statutory limit.
If the agent is dissatisfied with the committee's decision he will have a right of appeal against it.
983.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay a widow's pension at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The reduced rate, £24.60 per week, of widow's non-contributory pension in payment to the person concerned is the highest rate payable to her as a widow under 66 years with one qualified child, on the basis of her means (derived from property and an annuity) which have been assessed as falling between £22 and £24 per week.
Following receipt of a notification from the claimant regarding a recent change in her circumstances, her means are being reinvestigated and when the inquiries are completed a decision as to the rate of pension payable will be given without delay. This may, however, take some time as it is understood that the property in question is in the process of being transferred to one of her sons.
984.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding an application for a widow's pension for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The widow's non-contributory pension which was in payment to the person concerned has been terminated with effect from 14 January 1983. Her means derived from a holding of land have been assessed at over £57 per week, which exceeds the statutory limit of £36 per week for payment of a pension to a widow under 66 years of age with no qualified children.
The claimant has appealed against this decision and her case has been forwarded to an appeals officer for determination. She will be notified of the outcome as soon as his decision has been given.
985.
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 continuous receipt of weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit at the maximum rate payable to him £88.90 since the commencement of his claim in September 1982.
He is not however entitled to pay-related benefit with unemployment benefit as the amount of flat-rate unemployment benefit presently payable to him exceeds the 85 per cent limit of average weekly earnings which in his case amounted to £59.91.
986.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: It was decided by an Appeals Officer on 2 November, 1982 that the person concerned was not entitled to an old age pension as the assessment of her means exceeded the statutory limit. She subsequently intimated that her means had been reduced and her case is currently being investigated by the social welfare officer. When his inquiries are completed the claim will be reviewed with a view to ascertaining whether a revision of the appeals officer's decision may be warranted.
987.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received unemployment assistance since he started signing over two months ago.
: To be eligible for unemployment assistance an applicant must be the holder of a qualification certificate.
The qualification certificate of the person concerned was revoked from 8 December 1982 on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of his earnings from self-employment he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.
He applied for a reinvestigation of his means and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. When all the inquiries are completed his means will again be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
988.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an increase in unemployment assistance and the arrears will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned was assessed with means at £17.25, derived from the benefit of his wife's old age pension. He is accordingly being paid unemployment assistance at the rate of £26.70 being the maximum rate payable to him £43.95 less £17.25.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him but an appeals officer whose decision is final, upheld the assessment of his means at £17.25 weekly.
989.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned has been paid disability benefit from 5 January 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 16 April 1983. Pay-related benefit has also been paid from 15 January 1983, thirteenth day of incapacity. Further payments will issue weekly on receipt of the appropriate medical certificates.
Originally the claimant was paid benefit from 11 January 1983 on the basis of the medical evidence submitted by him. Inquiries have since established that he was incapable of work from 1 January 1983 and arrears of benefit were issued on 12 April 1983.
990.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 17 February 1982 but his claim was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance but an appeals officer upheld the means assessment in his case. He ceased to sign as unemployed after September 1982.
991.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an appeal against a medical referee's decision not to grant disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned was paid disability benefit in respect of the period from 2 June 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 25 June 1982. Payment was disallowed after that date following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He then submitted a certificate from his doctor to the effect that he was capable of work from 1 July 1982 and claimed unemployment benefit.
In September 1982 he submitted a single medical certificate of incapacity for work and appealed against the disallowance of his disability benefit claim. A further examination by a different medical referee was then arranged for 28 October 1982. The claimant did not, however, attend for examination, pleading illness on that date for his non-attendance. Moreover, he did not submit any further medical certificates to confirm a specific period of incapacity after the certification of his fitness to return to work on 1 July 1982. In fact he has since continued to claim and to receive unemployment benefit each week at his local employment exchange thereby declaring himself capable of and available for work. In order to clarify what is at issue at this stage, an inspector of my Department will call upon the person concerned within the next couple of days.
992.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when a decision will be made on the appeal.
: The person concerned was disallowed payment of disability benefit from 10 January 1983 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the decision and, in connection with his appeal, he was examined on 7 April 1983 by a different medical referee who considered that he was incapable of work. Accordingly, payment was restored from 10 January 1983 and benefit has been paid to 23 April 1983, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced.
993.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: All arrears of unemployment assistance due to the person concerned were paid to him on 26 January 1983.
Weekly payments at £15.45 being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him £25.45 less means £10 continue to be made to him as they become due. Means in his case are derived from self employment and from land.
994.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned is entitled to unemployment assistance at the maximum rate payable to him £57.95 and all arrears due to him less advances of supplementary welfare allowance were paid on 8 February 1983.
Weekly payments continue to be made as they become due.
995.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability and pay-related benefits are not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 20 September 1982 but is not entitled to benefit as he has not the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1980-81, the contribution year governing his claim.
From 3 January 1983, the commencement of a new benefit year, his entitlement to benefit may be determined on his insurance record in the 1981-82 contribution year. A total of 13 paid contributions only have been recorded on his behalf for that year. Therefore, he is not qualified for payment of benefit.
Inquiries are however being made by my Department to establish the full extent of his insurable employment in the relevant governing contribution years and as soon as these inquiries are completed his claim for benefit will be reviewed.
996.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the payment of disability and pay-related benefits will be continued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned was disallowed payment of disability benefit for a period of six weeks from 15 March 1983 following his failure to attend for examination by a medical referee. He has since submitted medical evidence that he was unfit to attend for examination on the date specified and the disallowance has been waived.
All disability and pay-related benefit payable to the date of the latest medical certificate received has been issued to the claimant.
997.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if his case will be re-investigated.
: Following a re-investigation by a social welfare officer the means of the person concerned were assessed at £9.60 weekly derived from the value of his land. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him was accordingly reduced from £58.75 to £54.15 being the maximum rate payable to him £63.75 less £9.60.
It is open to him to appeal against the amount of means assessed against him. His case would then be re-investigated and when inquiries are completed it would be referred to an appeals officer for determination. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
998.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the payment of disability benefit was suspended in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will arrange to restore payment.
: The person concerned was disallowed payment of disability benefit from 12 March 1983 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. The claimant was informed of the disallowance on 16 March 1983 and although advised of his right of appeal he did not do so.
The Deputy's representations are, however, being treated as an appeal on the claimant's behalf and in connection with this appeal arrangements have been made to have him examined by a different medical referee on 22 April 1983. His entitlement to further payment of benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report on this examination.
999.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: An applicant for unemployment benefit is not regarded as being available for work unless he is making a genuine effort to find employment.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 1 March 1983 but following the completion of inquiries a deciding officer was of the opinion that he was not genuinely seeking employment and his claim was disallowed, on the grounds that he was not available for work.
1000.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether his Department propose to carry out an immediate review of unemployment assistance qualification certificates issued following a notional means assessment.
: In accordance with the Social Welfare Act, 1983, the means of some 14,000 notionally assessed smallholders must be factually assessed within a period of three years. Steps have been taken to commence factual assessment of these cases immediately on a phased basis in all of the areas concerned.
1001.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment assistance as the means assessed against him exceeded the statutory limit. Means in his case were derived from self-employment as a block layer.
He ceased to sign as unemployed after 18 January 1983.
1002.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons in County Galway in receipt of smallholders assistance based on a notional means assessment.
: The approximate number of smallholders in County Galway receiving unemployment assistance based on the notional assessment of their means is 2,245.