asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for an invalidity pension to issue to a person (details supplied) in Dublin who is on disability benefit of £31 per week and cannot make ends meet.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
734.
The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals and payment has been made to 4 June 1983. Invalidity pension is payable in place of disability benefit to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. The person concerned is being considered for the award of an invalidity pension and in this connection arrangements are being made to have her examined by a medical referee on 9 June 1983. Her entitlement to the pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of that examination.
735.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay unemployment assistance at the full rate to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned was assessed with means £7.65 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his brother's holding. He is accordingly being paid unemployment assistance at £17.80 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him, £25.45 less £7.65. If he is dissatisfied with the assessment of means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal and to have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
736.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason some disability payments have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will take action to bring the matter up to date.
The person concerned has been paid all disability and pay-related benefit due to 17 May 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received. The claimant reported non-receipt of a cheque paying benefit due for period 23 March 1983 to 5 April 1983 which was issued on 8 April 1983. A form of indemnity was sent to him and on return of the completed form consideration will be given to the issue of a replacement cheque.
737.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the application for unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Offaly which was made six weeks ago.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £9.55 being the appropriate maximum weekly rate in his case of £25.45 less means £15.90 derived from the value of board and lodging in his parent's home. His application for a review of his weekly means has been referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries into his means. When these inquiries are completed his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the social welfare officer's report. In the meantime weekly payments of £9.55 will continue to be made as they become due.
738.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was disallowed to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
It has not been possible from the information supplied to trace a benefit claim for the person concerned. If the RSI number or the social insurance number of the claimant can be quoted this will enable the claim to be identified and the information sought by the Deputy to be supplied.
739.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a deserted wife's allowance was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will ensure that it is paid forthwith.
The renewed claim of the person concerned for deserted wife's allowance/benefit was recently refused when the deciding officer held that one of the elements of desertion, viz. that the husband left of his own volition, was not satisfied in her case. She was notified on 31 December, 1981 of the refusal of her original claim, for the same reason, and of her right to appeal against the decision, if dissatisfied, but did not do so. She was similarly informed of the decision on her renewed claim, on 22 April 1983, but has not to date exercised her right of appeal. In the circumstances, however, the Deputy's question has been accepted as an appeal on the claimant's behalf and a form on which to set out the facts and contentions on which she wishes to base her appeal has been sent to her.
740.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned was disallowed by the local pension committee in 1978 on the grounds that her means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding exceeded the statutory limit. There is no record of a further claim having been received from her since then. If she considers that she would now qualify for pension it is open to her to re-apply. She may obtain a claim form at her local post office.
741.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 14 March 1983 and all unemployment benefit with pay-related benefit due to him has been paid as weekly payments become due.
He is currently in receipt of a combined weekly payment of £39.38 representing flat-rate unemployment benefit £31.65 and pay-related benefit £7.73.
742.
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 was disallowed payment of disability benefit from 21 March 1983 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He was examined on 10 May 1983 by a different medical referee who also considered him to be capable of work.
His case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of the appeal. He will be notified of the time and place of the hearing as soon as the arrangements have been made.
743.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have payment of sick benefit expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 2 May 1983 to 9 May 1983, date of the latest medical evidence received. Payment of benefit was not, however, authorised as according to the records of the Department he has less than the required minimum of 26 contributions, paid or credited, in 1981-82, the contribution year governing his claim. He has been requested to supply details of his insurable employment in that year and on receipt of a reply his claim will receive further consideration.
744.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as she is available for and is genuinely seeking work.
Following an investigation of her case the unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that as she was not making efforts to find work she was not available for work within the meaning of the Social Welfare Acts.
She has appealed against the disallowance and an oral hearing of her case has been arranged to take place this week. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
745.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay an old age pension at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
Representations received recently from the Deputy on behalf of the pensioner concerned have been accepted as an application for an increase in her existing rate of pension. The case has been sent to the social welfare officer for investigation, and on completion of inquiries, it will be referred to the local pension committee for decision. If the pensioner is not satisfied with the committee's decision, she will have the right of appeal against it.
746.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
A cheque paying all disability benefit due from 27 April 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 7 May 1983, date of latest medical certificate received, was issued on 24 May 1983.
747.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as he is married with one child and has been signing for a number of weeks.
All increases of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance due in respect of the wife and child of the person concerned from 14 October 1982 to date have now been paid.
Further weekly payments of unemployment assistance at £42.85 representing the maximum rate payable to him as a married man with one qualified child £50.50 less £7.65 means derived from the value of board and lodging on his father's holding, are being made as they become due.
However his entitlement to an increase in unemployment benefit in respect of his wife from 11 December 1981 to 13 October 1982 is still under consideration. When present inquiries are completed his entitlement to an increase for that period will be determined.
748.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, as he is married with seven children and has been sending in certificates for four weeks.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit but only submitted an intermediate medical certificate indicating that he was incapable of work on 6 May 1983. A further intermediate certificate dated 13 May 1983 has since been received in the Department and payment has accordingly been made from 10 May 1983, fourth day of incapacity to 13 May 1983. Payment has been made at the single rate only pending receipt of a completed claim form in respect of his dependants.
He has been requested to clarify he was ill before 6 May 1983 and, if he was, to submit medical evidence covering the period.
749.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be taken in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who applied for a non-contributory old age pension.
The couple concerned have written to the social welfare officer withdrawing their old age pension claims for the present. It is open to them to re-apply for pension whenever they wish.
750.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been partially investigated and will be referred to the local pension committee for decision when inquiries have been completed. The social welfare officer is experiencing difficulty in verifying details of the claimant's bank account.
If a pension is payable it will be paid provisionally pending the pension committee's decision.
751.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork for the period June 1982 to August 1982.
The person concerned was asked to furnish a form P.60 or an employer's statement of her employment during the contribution period 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981 but only did so in February 1983. Her claim was authorised for payment at the weekly flat rate £31.65 and pay-related benefit £24.56 and returned to her local office for payment.
The claim however was misfiled at the local office thus causing further delay in dealing with her claim. The matter was recently rectified and arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of benefit due this week.
752.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was reduced to £19.80 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Following a review of his case and an investigation by a social welfare officer the means of the person concerned were increased to £30.70 weekly derived from the profit of his holding. Accordingly the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him was reduced from £47.90 to £19.80 weekly which is the maximum rate £50.50 less £30.70.
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. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
753.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit at the full rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as he is married man with two children and has no other income.
The person concerned was engaged in self-employment and does not satisfy the contribution condition for unemployment benefit. He claimed unemployment assistance from 11 January 1983 and was assessed with means £34.90 weekly derived from self employment as a painter. He was paid unemployment assistance at £23.05 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £57.95 less £34.90 until 30 April 1983 when he ceased to sign as unemployed.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him. His case was referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries about his means. When these inquiries are completed his case will be submitted to an appeals officer and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of his decision.
754.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned was assessed with means £28.85 weekly derived from self-employment as a gravedigger. His unemployment assistance claim was disallowed on the grounds that the means assessed against him 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 determined in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.