asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the maximum rate of unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
586.
Unemployment assistance at the maximum rate is only payable to an applicant who is assessed with nil means. The person concerned was assessed with means at £19.20 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his cousins' holding. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and an appeals officer reduced the amount of means assessed against him to £12.00 weekly.
He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £13.45 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less £12.00. All arrears due were paid to him on 9 June 1983 and further payments at £13.45 will be made as weekly payments become due.
587.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
There is no trace of receipt in the Department of an application for a free electricity allowance from the person concerned.
An application form was therefore issued to her on 8 June 1983 and it should be completed and forwarded in the first instance to the ESB. On receipt of the completed application in the Department it will be considered further and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
589.
Mr. Leonard
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at the weekly rate of £40.30 with effect from Friday, 25 February 1983. This is the appropriate rate of pension payable to a person under 66 years who has two qualified children and whose means derived from a farm have been assessed at between £16 and £18 per week.
A pension order book with orders payable from 8 April 1983 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly.
A payable order will be issued to her in the near future for the arrears of pension for the period 25 February 1983 to 7 April 1983 less the amount of her late husband's unemployment assistance paid for six weeks after his death at a rate lower than the pension to which she was entitled.
591.
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 Donegal.
A review of the entitlement of the person concerned revealed that there has been an increase in his means, comprising his own and his wife's British retirement pensions and a question for reduction of his old age pension from £12.75 to £9.75 is being referred to the local pension committee for decision. Pension at the rate of £9.75 is in payment pending the pension committee's decision.