asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will increase the amount of unemployment benefit being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway who is experiencing extreme hardship at present.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
729.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £9.95 being the appropriate maximum rate in his case of £57.95 less weekly means of £48 derived from his farm. He applied for a review of his means on 21 March 1983 and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for re-investigation of his means. When the inquiries into his means are completed his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the social welfare officer's report.
730.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has no means.
The person concerned last signed for unemployment assistance on 20 October 1979 and has not been in touch with his local office since that date. If the person concerned is presently unemployed it would be necessary for him to attend his local office and to register as unemployed to enable his entitlement to unemployment assistance to be determined.
731.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to grant free telephone rental to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who is in receipt of an invalidity pension.
An application form which issued to the person concerned on 19 April 1983 in response to representations from the Deputy has not been received in the Department to date. On receipt of the completed form a decision will be given and he will be notified of the outcome.
732.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as the application had been made for some time and an appeal lodged.
It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as the assessment of her means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding and capital, exceeds the statutory limit. The capital includes £7,000, the disposal of which was not accepted for old age pension purposes.
733.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have the old age pension paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Following the recent receipt of an up-to-date report by a social welfare officer on the financial circumstances of the person concerned, which indicated no change in her means since the previous assessment, her claim for an increase in her rate of pension has been disallowed.
The Deputy's representations have been accepted as an appeal against this decision and the necessary form on which to set out all the facts and contentions on which she relies in support of the appeal has been forwarded to the widow.
On receipt of the form in the Department, duly completed, her case will be submitted to an appeals officer for his decision and she will be notified of the outcome.
734.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will indicate the grounds on which unemployment assistance has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as he has been claiming for the past three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following a reinvestigation of his case by a social welfare officer the means of the person concerned were assessed at £29.25 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in his parents' home and from self-employment. The means assessed against him exceed the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him £26.25 and accordingly his claim was disallowed from 4 May 1983.
He has appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have his case determined by an appeals officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
735.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
: Arrears of disability benefit were issued to the person concerned on 2 May 1983. Payment had been suspended following her non-attendance for examination by a medical referee. Subsequently owing to an administrative error, payment was not restored promptly after she attended for a rescheduled examination and the medical referee had considered her to be incapable of work.
736.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 19 January 1983 on the grounds that his means derived from self-employment in the building business exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance but an appeals officer, whose decision is final, in the absence of fresh facts or evidence, upheld the disallowance on 11 March 1983.
737.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the outcome of an appeal in respect of an application for disability benefit for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned is in receipt of disablement benefit under the occupational injuries benefit scheme since November 1976 in respect of disablement resulting from an occupational accident on 10 May 1976. Following a medical examination his assessed disablement was reduced from 40 per cent to 30 per cent provisionally from 31 December 1982.
An oral hearing of his appeal against the reduction was held on 3 May 1983. The appeals officer has arranged for a further medical examination of the claimant by an independent specialist. The appeal will be considered further in the light of the specialist's report and a decision will be made as soon as possible.
Disablement benefit is continuing to be paid at the rate appropriate to 30 per cent together with disability benefit £14.22 a week. The person concerned is also receiving disability benefit at the rate of £75 a week.
738.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned was last insurably employed in the United Kingdom. Under the EEC Regulations on Social Security her claim for sickness benefit is, therefore, the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Accordingly, her claim and initial medical evidence were transferred to the UK authorities on 18 November 1982. Subsequent medical certificates were transmitted by the claimant direct to the DHSS.
The Department have been in contact with the DHSS in the matter and have been advised that all benefit payable up to 12 May 1983, the date of the latest medical evidence received, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to the claimant by the Western Health Board, will be issued immediately.
739.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the appropriate pay-related benefit payable to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; the basic rate and pay-related benefit to which he is entitled; and if payment will be expedited.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat rate unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the total weekly amount of flat rate unemployment benefit, pay-related benefit and income tax rebate may not exceed 85 per cent of an applicant's average net weekly earnings.
The person concerned is presently in receipt of flat rate unemployment benefit at £68.05 which is the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with two qualified children. The 85 per cent limit applicable to him is £61.26 weekly and as the amount of flat rate unemployment benefit which he is in receipt of exceeds this sum, pay-related benefit is not payable to him.
740.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying a children's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
No trace can be found in the records of the Department of a claim for children's allowance having been received from the person concerned in respect of her child born on 20 October 1982. An application form has accordingly been issued to her for completion. When the form is returned to the Department with the necessary documentation the claim will be decided and any allowance due will be issued promptly.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of a monthly allowance of £45 in respect of her four other children.
741.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the correct rate of disability benefit is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the position regarding pay-related benefit in this case.
Payment of a disability benefit at £27.80 a week, the maximum rate payable to a married woman, has been issued weekly to the person concerned in respect of the period from 21 March 1983, the fourth day of incapacity, to 11 May 1983, the date of the latest medical evidence received.
Pay-related benefit has been paid in respect of the period from 31 March 1983, the 13th day of incapacity, to 11 May 1983. She is currently in receipt of pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £11.35 which is the correct rate payable on her earnings of £3,869 in the 1981-82 income tax year. There was a delay initially in issuing payment of disability benefit as the person concerned claimed injury benefit. When it was established that she was not entitled to injury benefit payment of disability benefit was issued.
742.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not entitled to disability benefit as he is in receipt of unemployment assistance and considers that due to his different employments over the past few years he should be entitled to more.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 31 January 1982 to 17 April 1982. 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 1980-81, the contribution year governing his claim.
Following inquiries it was subsequently established that the claimant had sufficient contributions in 1980-81 to qualify him for benefit at the maximum appropriate rate. A cheque for the amount of benefit payable from 4 February 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 17 April 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, was issued on 20 May 1983.
743.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position in respect of an application by a person (details supplied) for maternity benefit as she worked from July 1980 to April 1983.
The person concerned claimed maternity benefit in respect of her confinement expected on 28 May 1983. According to the records of the Department, she is insured at the Class J 1 contribution rate as a person who works less than 18 hours per week. These reduced rate contributions provide cover for occupational injury and health purposes only. They do not provide cover for maternity benefit. Her claim has accordingly been refused.
744.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will accept the evidence (details supplied) that a person in Dublin 7 applied for a contributory old age pension in September 1982; if he is aware that the application was mislaid because of an error in the name on the birth certificate submitted with the application; and if he will have the pension back-dated to June 1982, when this person reached 66 years of age.
The person concerned has already been awarded contributory old age pension with effect from 17 September 1982. However, in view of the evidence supplied by the Deputy the application for the pension is being regarded as having been submitted at the due time and, accordingly, the date of the award has been revised to 25 June 1982. The amount of the pension payable for the period from 25 June 1982 to 16 September 1982 is being issued by means of a payable order.
745.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The entitlement of the person concerned to pay-related benefit with flat rate unemployment benefit cannot be determined until details of his earnings between 6 April 1982 to 9 February 1983, date of commencement of his unemployment benefit claim, are made available. He has been asked to furnish a form P.45 or to supply a statement of earnings from his employer but to date he has not replied. When he does so his entitlement to pay-related benefit will be determined.
746.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway as he has been out of work since February last.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 16 February 1983 and has been paid from 19 February 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 13 May 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received. There was a delay in making the initial payment as the claimant failed to submit medical certificates from the commencement date of his illness.
747.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway as she has been signing for over ten weeks.
Following the completion of investigations the unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed on two counts:
(i) her claim was disallowed from 4 March 1983 for six weeks on the grounds that she left her employment voluntarily without good cause,
(ii) she was not considered to be making genuine efforts to obtain work and her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work from 7 March 1983.
It is open to her to appeal against the disallowances and to have the issues determined by an appeals officer. Forms for this purpose may be obtained at her local office.
748.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway as he has been signing for the past ten weeks.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until inquiries about his means had been completed. The investigations were recently completed and he was assessed with means at £8.85 weekly derived from land and from capital. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £71.15 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £80 less £8.85. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due to him this week and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
749.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit was reduced earlier this year in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
The person concerned does not fulfil the condition of having at least 280 paid contributions in the previous seven contribution years. Accordingly his weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit was reduced from the maximum rate payable to him £68.05 weekly to £59.20 after 13 February 1983 on which date he obtained 156 days of unemployment benefit at the maximum rate.
He is not qualified for pay-related benefit with his flat-rate unemployment benefit. Pay-related is subject to the condition that the total weekly payment of flat rate unemployment benefit, pay-related benefit and income tax rebate may not exceed 85 per cent of an applicant's net average weekly earnings. The 85 per cent limit applicable to the person concerned is £55.03 and as the flat-rate unemployment benefit payable to him exceeds this amount, he is not entitled to pay-related benefit.
750.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the arrears of a retirement pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Arrears of her late husband's retirement pension, less the amount of unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance paid to him during the period from 21 January 1982 up to the date of his death, are in the course of being issued to the person concerned. A contributory widow's pension book and arrears of that pension will be issued to her when she returns her present non-contributory widow's pension book.
751.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason children's allowance payments to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford were reduced.
The claimant in this case was in receipt of children's allowance in respect of the child in question up to and including March 1983 on the grounds that the child was serving an apprenticeship. The child's employer certified that the apprenticeship would be completed on 8 March 1983 and accordingly payment in respect of this child was discontinued with effect from 1 April 1983. The claimant is at present in receipt of allowance at the monthly rate of £33.75 which is the correct rate payable in respect of his three qualified children.
752.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will restore unemployment assistance at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The means of the person concerned, were recently re-assessed at £34.60 a week derived from his farm. His weekly rate of unemployment assistance was therefore reduced to £9.35 being the maximum rate of £43.95 in his case less means £34.60. He has appealed against the amount of means assessed and his entitlement will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
753.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
To be entitled to unemployment benefit an applicant must satisfy the contribution conditions and she must also satisfy the requirement that she is genuinely seeking work.
The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution conditions on the basis of her Irish contribution record. In accordance with the provision of EEC regulations, the British authorities have been requested to furnish details of her British contribution record but to-date the details have not been made available. The Department of Health and Social Security have been asked to expedite their action to enable her contribution record to be established.
In the meantime, inquiries were undertaken to ascertain what efforts she was making to find work. Following the completion of these inquiries it was decided that by reason of her failure to make specific efforts to find work she was not available for employment and her unemployment benefit claim was accordingly disallowed. She has appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made for a hearing of her case at the earliest opportunity.
The question as to whether she satisfies the availability condition will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision. A decision as to whether she satisfies the contribution condition can only be made when details of her British insurance record have been received.
754.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork for the first 15 days after he applied for it.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 1 April 1983 and his claim was authorised for payment at the maximum flat-rate unemployment benefit from 5 April 1983, the fourth day of unemployment after three waiting days and all benefit due has been paid.
Pay-related benefit at £6.70 weekly commenced to be payable from 15 April 1983 after 12 waiting days, and all arrears due were paid to him with flat-rate unemployment benefit due on 26 April 1983. Accordingly the person concerned has been paid all flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit to which he is entitled. Further combined payments at £58.85 weekly are being made as they become due.
755.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has received no disability benefit since 19 March 1983.
The person concerned was paid maternity allowance from 27 December 1982 to 19 March 1983. She then claimed disability benefit.
Inquiries regarding her insurance record for 1981-82, the contribution year governing her claim to disability benefit, were necessary to establish if she was entitled to payment of benefit. When these inquiries were completed, payment of disability benefit for the period from 21 March 1983 to 20 April 1983 was issued on 16 May 1983. She is currently paid to 4 May 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received. Further payment of disability benefit will issue on receipt of medical certificates which should be submitted on a weekly basis while she remains incapable of work.
756.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will grant disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 who submitted the claim late because of the distress caused by her illness.
The person concerned submitted a claim for disability benefit on 13 December 1982 in respect of an incapacity for work which commenced on 7 October 1982. The regulations provide that a person who, without good cause, fails to give notice of incapacity within seven days of the commencement of incapacity is disqualified from receiving disability benefit in respect of any period more than seven days before the date on which such notice or medical evidence is received. Consequently she was disqualified from receiving payment of disability benefit from 11 October 1982, the fourth day of incapacity, to 4 December 1982. In view of the additional medical evidence recently received and the information now given by the Deputy it has been decided to admit the claim from the date of commencement of the incapacity. The arrears payable will accordingly be issued within the next couple of days.
757.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the continued delay in settling a claim for disability benefit for a man (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disablement benefit under the occupational injuries scheme on 2 March 1983 in respect of disablement resulting from an accident at work on 7 September 1981. Following receipt of confirmation of the accident arrangements have been made for a medical referee examination on 31 May 1983 in order to assess the degree of disablement. The claim will be considered further in the light of the results of the examination and a decision will be made as soon as possible. A delay occurred in requesting confirmation of the occupational accident from the employers as a result of an oversight.
The person concerned is in receipt of disability benefit including increases in respect of his dependants and benefit has been paid in respect of medical evidence received to date.
758.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been drastically reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Following a review of his case and a re-investigation of his means by a social welfare officer the means of the person concerned were assessed at £33 weekly derived from the benefit of his wife's earnings and the beneficial occupation of his father's holding. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him from 16 March 1983 was reduced to £10.95 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £43.95 less £33. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and following the completion of further inquiries by the social welfare officer arrangements are being made to have his means assessed by an appeals officer. The rate of unemployment assistance presently payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
759.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the full amount of the deserted wife's allowance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The rate of deserted wife's allowance in payment to the person concerned is that appropriate to a woman over 66 who has no qualified child and whose means exceed £10 a week but do not exceed £12. Her means are derived from a share in a holding. Following the Deputy's representations on her behalf the case was referred to the local social welfare officer for re-investigation. She was not available for interview when the officer called but an appointment has been made. When the report is received a further decision will be given and she will be notified without delay.
760.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have unemployment assistance at the full rate paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that the means assessed against him £32.98 weekly, derived from the beneficial occupation of his late father's holding, exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him. He recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arrangements are being made to have his case determined by an appeals officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
761.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in having an invalidity pension granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been in receipt of disability benefit since 1981, was called before a medical referee and was informed that he would be called again after some time but, to date he has heard nothing further.
The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals since April 1981 and payment has been made to 28 May 1983. One of the conditions for receipt of invalidity pension is that the claimant must be permanently incapable of work. He was examined by a medical referee of the Department on 25 November 1982 and following that it was decided to have a further examination in about six months time. In this connection arrangements are being made to have him examined by a medical referee on 1 June 1983. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be considered in the light of the report of that examination.
762.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when all disability benefit plus arrears will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 9 March 1981 and payment due on the claim was issued to 2 April 1983. Payment from 4 April 1983 stopped due to an error which has since been rectified and a cheque paying disability benefit for the period 4 April to 28 May 1983, less supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the South-Eastern Health Board, was issued on 20 May 1983. Further payments of benefit will be issued on a regular weekly basis.
763.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in Dublin will be awarded disability or unemployment benefit on a permanent basis as she has not been in receipt of benefit since 1 April 1983.
The person concerned was in continuous receipt of disability benefit from December 1978 to 16 April 1983. Payment of benefit was disallowed from 18 April 1983 following an examination by a medical referee of the Department who expressed the opinion that the claimant was capable of work. She appealed against the decision to disallow her claim and in this connection she will be reexamined by a different medical referee on 31 May 1983. When the result of this examination is received her claim to further benefit will be reviewed. Pending a decision on her claim to disability benefit, she may claim unemployment benefit at the Employment Exchange, Victoria Street, Dublin 8.
764.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a living alone allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in Dublin; and if he will arrange for it to be paid, with any arrears due, without further delay.
The person concerned has been awarded a living alone allowance at the weekly rate of £2.70 with effect from 27 January 1983. A book at that rate with orders payable from 1 April 1983 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. Arrears from 27 January to 31 March amounting to £24.30 have been issued direct to her by means of a payable order.
765.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin is in receipt of a reduced old age pension when it would appear that her social welfare contributions should entitle her to a full pension.
The person concerned has been in receipt of old age contributory pension since 13 May 1977 at the rate appropriate to a yearly average of 35 contributions. According to the records of the Department she had a total of 775 contributions paid and credited, in the 22 year period from the beginning of the 1954-55 contribution year when she entered into insurance under the Social Welfare Acts, to 2 July 1976, the end of the last contribution year before she reached pension age. She would need to have a yearly average of at least 48 qualifying contributions in this period to qualify for the pension at the maximum rate.
766.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit and arrears will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The claim of the person concerned to unemployment benefit on 14 December 1982 was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment as she had not made efforts to find work. She appealed against the decision but an appeals officer confirmed the disallowance of her claim. She continued to sign the unemployed register and her case was resubmitted to a deciding officer as to her entitlement to benefit. However, her claim was again disallowed with effect from 24 March 1983 on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the decision on 20 April 1983 and her appeal is listed for hearing by an appeals officer next week. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
767.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is not receiving unemployment benefit.
The entitlement to unemployment benefit of the person concerned could not be determined until inquiries had been made to ascertain that she was available for work. These inquiries were recently completed and all arrears of flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit due were paid on 10 May 1983. Further combined payments at £44.99 weekly representing flat-rate unemployment benefit £27.80 and pay-related benefit £17.19 are being made as they become due.
768.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether unemployment assistance has been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and the reason for the delay.
The means of the person concerned have been assessed at £64.65 a week derived from self-employment giving him entitlement to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £15.35, being the maximum of £80.00 in his case less means £64.65. However, his wife has now applied for separate payment of the dependants' portion of his unemployment assistance. In the circumstances further inquiries are necessary from both parties before the matter can be resolved. As stated in reply to the Deputy on 18 May 1983, detailed inquiries were necessary in this case to determine the income of the person concerned from self-employment. These inquiries were only recently completed.
769.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider increasing unemployment assistance payments to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £12.80 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his parents' holding. Unemployment assistance is accordingly being paid to him at £12.65 which is the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less £12.80. It is open to him to appeal against the amount of means assessed against him and to have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose is obtainable at his local office. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him would be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
770.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an unmarried mother's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The claim of the person concerned was refused in June 1982 because her means derived from earnings exceeded the statutory limit for receipt of the allowance. She did not appeal against that decision. A reapplication received from her on 17 May 1983 has been referred to the local social welfare officer for investigation. As soon as a report is received a decision will be given on her claim and she will be notified of the outcome.
771.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the balance of the disability benefit due to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be paid.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 7 April 1983 to 20 April 1983, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. Payment was made for the period 11 April, fourth day of incapacity, to 18 April 1983. In error payment in respect of the final two days of the claim, 19 and 20 April 1983, was not issued at the proper time. The matter has since been rectified and payment of benefit due was issued on 20 May 1983.
772.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when social welfare benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Following the completion of investigations the employment of the person concerned on days of the week when he was engaged in water bailiff duties has been rated insurable for contributions in A Class providing cover against unemployment. He is accordingly qualified for unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £81.95 on days on which he is unemployed each week and all arrears due to him, less the amounts of unemployment assistance already paid, will be paid this week. Further payments of unemployment benefit will be made as they become due.
773.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The social welfare officer has reviewed the entitlement of the person concerned and has recommended to the local pension committee that her old age pension be increased from £32.45 to £34.45 with effect from 10 November 1982. Her pension will be adjusted shortly and arrears will be paid.
774.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork did not receive pay-related benefit as she has been in receipt of unemployment benefit since October 1982; and when arrears of pay-related benefit will be paid to her.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit with unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the total weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit, pay-related benefit and income tax rebate may not exceed 85 per cent of an applicant's average net weekly earnings. The 85 per cent limit applicable to the person concerned is £24.36 weekly. However, she is currently in receipt of flat-rate unemployment benefit at £27.80 weekly and as the rate payable to her exceeds the 85 per cent limit she is not entitled to pay-related benefit.
775.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is in receipt of a contributory old age pension at the correct rate.
The person concerned claimed contributory old age pension when he reached pension age (then 70 years) on 13 June 1973.
In accordance with the provisions of the Social Welfare Acts, his yearly contribution average fell to be calculated over the 15 year period from 1958, his year of entry into insurance under the Social Welfare Acts, to 31 December 1972, the end of the contribution year before he reached pension age. According to the records of the Department he had a total of 562 contributions in the period giving a yearly average of 37 and he is being paid pension at the rate applicable to this average. He would need a yearly average of 48 to qualify for the maximum rate of contributory old age pension.
He has 52 contributions recorded in respect of 1972. These contributions, although included in the total of 562, were inadvertently omitted from the detailed record sheet supplied to the claimant and now furnished by the Deputy. While he has 23 contributions recorded in respect of his employment in 1973, up to the date he reached pension age, they are not reckonable in calculating the average. The statutory conditions provide for the average to be calculated in respect of the period up to the end of the contribution year before the person reaches pension age.
776.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will reconsider the decision to refuse permission to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 to become a voluntary social welfare contributor.
According to the records of the Department the person concerned ceased insurable employment on 20 August 1980 and made application to become a voluntary contributor on 16 April 1983.
Regulations provide that an application to become a voluntary contributor shall be made by an insured person within 12 months after the end of the contribution year in which he ceases to be compulsorily insured or in which an employment contribution was credited to him. The Minister, having regard to the circumstances of a particular case, may allow a longer period.
The application in question was rejected on the grounds that it should have been made before 5 April 1982. The person concerned has been asked for an explanation as to the reason for the delay in making the application. On receipt of his reply the matter will be reconsidered.
777.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow from 30 December 1982 to 23 March 1983; and the reason he was paid as a single person and not a married person.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 30 December 1982 to 19 March 1983, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. He was paid disability benefit for this period at the rate appropriate to a single man. He claimed an increase of benefit in respect of his wife but due to an administrative error this increase was not paid initially. When the error was subsequently discovered arrears of benefit due to the claimant in respect of his wife were issued on 13 May 1983.
778.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned is presently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £35.40 being the maximum rate payable to him £59.20 less means £23.80 derived from the benefit of his wife's earnings. He advised that his wife was no longer engaged in employment and his case is being investigated by a social welfare officer. It is expected that inquiries will be completed shortly. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the social welfare officer's report.
779.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be reached in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 11 February 1980 and payment has been made to 28 May 1983. The person concerned is being considered for invalidity pension and in this connection arrangements are being made to have him examined by a medical referee on 31 May 1983. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
780.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in relation to an application for arrears of unemployment assistance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, (a) the period in respect of which a refund was paid to the Southern Health Board; (b) the amount paid to them; and (c) if the arrears paid to him covered the whole of the period prior to the date of decision by the appeals officer with effect as from the date on which his unemployment assistance was originally reduced.
(a) The period in respect of which a refund of supplementary welfare allowance was paid to the Southern Health Board on behalf of the person concerned was from 8 April 1982 to 14 August 1982. (b) The amount refunded to the Southern Health Board was £102.55. (c) The arrears of unemployment assistance of £102.55 due to him were in respect of the period from 8 April 1982 to 10 August 1982.
A separate payment of £12.85 representing the full amount of arrears due to him following the appeals officer's reduction of his means from £8.20 to £6.00 with effect from 19 November 1981 was made to him on 6 January 1982.
781.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated cost of providing (a) free electricity and (b) free TV licences to handicapped persons under 66 years of age, who otherwise met the conditions under these schemes.
The free electricity allowance and free television licence schemes apply to handicapped persons under 66 years of age receiving blind or invalidity pensions from the Department or disabled persons maintenance allowance from a health board at an estimated cost in 1983, of £2,121,000 and £319,000 respectively.
Data are not available which would enable an estimate to be given of the cost of applying these schemes to handicaped persons under 66 years of age who are not in receipt of one of the qualifying payments mentioned.
782.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when benefit which is due since 1981 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned did not submit claims to disability benefit in respect of the two periods specified by the Deputy. Following investigations it has been established that this person was employed during the period 25 to 27 March 1981 and consequently he is not entitled to disability benefit. It has also been established that he was absent from work due to illness on 14 and 15 September 1981. Even if he had claimed disability benefit for those two days he would not be entitled to payment as benefit is not normally payable for the first three days of a claim.