asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be increased in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow as he is only receiving £25.00 per week and is married with one child.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
757.
Following a reinvestigation of his means the person concerned was assessed with means at £1.35 weekly derived from self-employment with effect from 27 April 1983.
He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the rate of £49.15 weekly being the maximum rate £50.50 less £1.35 and all arrears due will be paid this week. Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
758.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit was withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will restore benefit to her.
The person concerned last claimed unemployment benefit on 31 May 1982 and following an investigation of her case her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her appeal on 6 August 1982. The appeals officer upheld the disallowance and the applicant has not signed as unemployed since 4 August 1982.
If she now considers that she satisfies the conditions for receipt of benefit it is open to her to apply again at her local office. Her claim would be reinvestigated and her entitlement to unemployment benefit would be determined in the light of the outcome of inquiries.
759.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when deserted wife's benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin as the delay is causing extreme hardship.
The person concerned has been awarded deserted wife's benefit with effect from 17 March 1983.
An order book payable from 9 June 1983 has been sent to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly.
A payable order in respect of arrears from 17 March to 8 June 1983 will be issued to her shortly.
760.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an unmarried mother's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan.
The person concerned was awarded unmarried mother's allowance, with effect from 30 December 1982, on 16 March 1983, and an allowance order book payable from 24 March 1983 was issued to her.
A payable order for arrears of the allowance, for the period from 30 December 1982 to 23 March 1983, was sent to her on 13 June 1983.
761.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was disallowed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The person concerned was disallowed payment of disability benefit from 14 February 1983 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He submitted a final medical certificate to the effect that he was fit to resume work on 28 February 1983.
The claimant is in receipt of unemployment benefit from 14 February 1983.
762.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway as he has been working and paying PRSI contributions for three-and-a-half years.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 2 November 1982 but as she was only available for part-time employment her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work. She appealed against the disallowance and her case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. Following an oral hearing of her case on 14 January 1983 at which she attended the appeals officer upheld the disallowance.
She continued to sign as unemployed and her case was reviewed. Inquiries revealed that due to a change in her circumstances she had become available for full-time employment and consequently her claim was allowed from 15 January 1983 at the rate of £15.83 weekly, the maximum rate of unemployment benefit payable to a widow in receipt of a widow's contributory pension.
All arrears of unemployment benefit were paid to her last week and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
763.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the two cheques which were not received by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6 will be paid; and if an officer of his Department has, as yet, called to see him.
The person concerned complained of the non-receipt of two disability benefit cheques which were issued to him on 11 December 1981 and 11 January 1983. The two cheques were subsequently returned to the Department, cashed, and bearing an endorsement in the claimant's name.
An inspector of the Department met the claimant on 10 June 1983 to afford him an opportunity to examine the endorsement on the cheques in question. He admitted receiving the cheque which was issued on 11 January 1983 but denied having received the other cheque.
A replacement cheque in lieu of the one he did not receive was issued to him on 10 June 1983.
764.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying a single woman's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The application for a single woman's allowance was disallowed on the grounds that her means derived from capital and the value of her holding exceeded the statutory limit.
She appealed against the disallowance and an appeals officer determined her means at £17.00 weekly with effect from 8 February 1983. She is accordingly entitled to single woman's allowance at £13.50 weekly.
An allowance order book is being issued to her at her local post office payable from 16 June 1983. There are no arrears of single woman's allowance due to her as she was in receipt of advances of supplementary welfare allowance pending the determination of her claim.
765.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the payment of unemployment assistance is being delayed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when payment will be made.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from self-employment as a plasterer exceeded the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries in the light of the applicant's contentions that his means from self-employment were over-assessed. When the inquiries are completed his case will be submitted to an appeals officer and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of his decision.
766.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit on the basis of his Irish contribution record.
He has been insurably employed in the United Kingdom but under the EEC Regulations his United Kingdom record cannot be invoked for the purpose of qualifying him for unemployment benefit until he has had insurable employment in this country since his return.
The person concerned stated that he was employed from 3 January 1983 to 7 January 1983 following his return from Great Britain but following the completion of an investigation a deciding officer decided that this employment was not insurable. The applicant has appealed against the decision and arrangements are being made to have his case determined by an appeals officer.
His entitlement to invoke his British contribution record for the purpose of his unemployment benefit claim will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
767.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Limerick is awaiting documentary evidence from his Department on disability and pay-related payments which have been made to him for the past four months; and if he will provide the documentation as it is necessary for a county council housing loan.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 13 May 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 23 August 1982. He was also paid pay-related benefit from 24 May 1982, thirteenth day of incapacity, to 23 August 1982. He was certified as fit to resume work on 24 August 1982.
On receipt of the Dáil question a statement of the total benefit paid for the period 13 May 1982 to 23 August 1982 was issued on 8 June 1983.
There is no trace of a request for this statement having been received from the claimant.
768.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit in respect of incapacity for work from 30 April 1983 and has been paid from 4 May 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 30 May 1983, date of the latest medical evidence received. In addition, he is in receipt of pay-related benefit from 21 May 1983, nineteenth day of incapacity.
769.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in taking a decision on an application made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway for the maximum amount of old age pension.
The local pension committee, to whom a question for reduction of the old age pension of the person concerned was submitted, have not met for some time. The matter has therefore, been withdrawn from the committee and is being referred to an appeals officer for determination.
Pension at the rate of £16.45 a week is in payment pending the decision of the appeals officer. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the latest assessment of his means, consisting of half the weekly value of the couples British retirement pension and profit from the letting of flats.
Representations from the Deputy in regard to the assessment of means in this case prompted further inquiries. The pensioner was requested to furnish evidence as to how the rents from the letting of flats were disposed of but to date this evidence has not been submitted.
770.
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 on 14 June 1983.
771.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the return of an old age pension book to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The rate of pension payable to the person concerned fell to be adjusted to £30.45 a week from 21 January 1983, following an increase in his means. The appropriate pension book was issued to him on 28 January 1983 and payment of all pension due to date has been made in his case.
It is understood that the pension is being cashed on his behalf by the matron of the home in which he resides.
772.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of 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 entitled to an old age pension of £32.45 a week from 1 March 1983, when her husband ceased employment. Pension is not payable prior to that date as the assessment of her means, consisting of half the value of her husband's earnings and a holding, exceeds the statutory limit.
A pension book and arrears due are in the course of issue.
773.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has received a request from the Western Health Board to sanction £15 per week rent allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and, if so, when a decision will be made on the matter.
An application for sanction to pay a rent supplement of £15 per week under the supplementary welfare allowances scheme to the person concerned was received from the Western Health Board on 26 May 1983. This application was approved and the board was advised accordingly on 31 May 1983.