asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason occupational injury benefit at the full rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
618.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit on 6 March 1983 in respect of an incapacity resulting from an accident at work on 3 March 1983.
Pending the completion of investigations arising from the accident he was paid disability benefit on an interim basis from 8 March 1983, the fourth day of incapacity. He was also paid pay-related benefit from 18 March 1983, the thirteenth day of incapacity. Following completion of investigations, injury benefit was awarded from the date of the accident at the rate of £71.55 a week increased to £79.95 from 17 March 1983 in respect of an additional child dependant.
Injury benefit over and above the disability benefit already paid has been paid in respect of the period to 25 March 1983 after which he was certified fit to resume work.
619.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was paid maternity allowance from 14 February 1983 to 7 May 1983. She then claimed disability benefit and payment has been issued for the period from 9 May 1983 to 4 June, 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
She is not entitled to pay-related benefit as the amount of disability benefit payable exceeds her average reckonable weekly earnings in the 1981-82 tax year which governs entitlement to pay-related benefit.
620.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give a detailed explanation concerning the claim for disability benefit for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6; and when the payment differential will be made.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 4 October 1973 to 21 January 1981 when he qualified for a contributory old age pension.
Where a person has less than 156 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment payment of disability benefit is limited to 52 weeks. According to the records of the Department during the period of the claim he had a total of 148 contributions paid since his entry into insurable employment and his entitlement to disability benefit was exhausted on 28 September 1974 after a period of 52 weeks. In the meantime he continued to submit medical evidence of incapacity for work until reaching pension age. Further contributions in respect of employment during 1954 were however submitted by the claimant in February 1982. This had the effect of giving him a continuing title to disability benefit up to 20 January 1981.
The claimant had been in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance and disabled persons maintenance allowance from the Eastern Health Board during the period from 30 September 1974 to 20 January, 1981.
A cheque for the arrears of benefit payable on his claim less amount advanced by the Eastern Health Board was issued to the claimant on 27 April 1983. All benefit due under the claim has accordingly been paid to the person concerned. The delay in making the payment was due to the late surrender by him in February 1982 of his 1954 insurance card.
621.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will re-examine an application for unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will accept Deputy Fahey's request as an appeal against this decision.
Following a reinvestigation of the means of the person concerned, a deciding officer assessed him with means in excess of the statutory limit of £2,691 in his case with effect from 25 May 1983. Accordingly, he was not entitled to unemployment assistance from that date.
The representations made by the Deputy on his behalf are being accepted as notice of intention to appeal and arrangements are being made to have an appeal form, on which to set out the grounds of his appeal, sent to the person concerned.
622.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The ESB have advised that a free electricity allowance has been applied to the account of the person concerned from the April-May 1983 billing period onwards.
623.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a death grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if she will be transferred to an invalidity pension.
A grant of £100 is payable following the death of the sister of the person concerned. However, the deceased had been in receipt of an invalidity pension before her death, which occurred on 10 February 1983. It then transpired that three pension orders dated 10 February 1983, 17 February 1983 and 24 February 1983 had been cashed.
Payment of the death grant was delayed while the inquiries into the cashing of the three orders were in progress. The payment is, however, now being made. A form on which to claim invalidity pension was forwarded to the person concerned on 2 May 1983. It has not been returned and a further form has now been forwarded to her. On its return, duly completed, her entitlement to invalidity pension will be considered.
624.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be reviewed by way of an appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The application of the person concerned on 2 March 1983 for unemployment assistance was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from his farm exceeded the statutory limit in his case of £3,380. He appealed against the amount of the means assessed against him on 4 June 1983 and his case has been referred to the social welfare officer for further inquiries before being submitted to the appeals officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
625.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare as she applied three months ago.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 21 February 1983. Her claim was disallowed initially because, according to the records of the Department, she had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1981-82, the contribution year governing her claim. Only four paid contributions were recorded in respect of her at that stage. She was informed of this on 10 March 1983. No response was received.
It has now been established that the person concerned was entitled to 23 credited contributions in 1981-82 and a cheque for £207.54 representing payment of disability benefit for the period from 24 February 1983, the fourth day of incapacity, to 6 June 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received, was issued on 14 June 1983.
626.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The person concerned completed his full entitlement of 390 days unemployment benefit on 17 May 1983 and has been in receipt of unemployment assistance from 18 May 1983 at the rate of £3.05 a week. This is the rate of unemployment assistance payable to a married man without child dependants whose means, derived from an occupational pension and capital, are assessed at £42.15 a week. He appealed against the amount of means assessed in his case but an appeals officer confirmed the amount assessed.
627.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the continuing delay in granting unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £7.50 being the appropriate maximum rate of £50.50 in his case less means £43 derived from self-employment as a plasterer and the benefit of his wife's earnings. He appealed against the amount of means assessed and following further inquiries an appeals officer reduced his means assessment to £38. He is therefore entitled to unemployment assistance of £12.50 a week being the maximum of £50.50 less means £38. Arrangements have been made to pay this week all arrears due to him from 16 December 1982.
628.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a non-contributory old age pension at the full rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
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 estimated letting value of a holding, his wife's occupational pension and capital exceeds the statutory limit of £38 weekly.
However, as the upper means limit for receipt of old age pension will be extended with effect from 1 July 1983 the Deputy's recent representations have been accepted as a repeat claim to pension on the person's behalf. The claim has been referred to the social welfare officer for investigation and referral to the local pension committee for decision.
If a pension is payable it will be put into payment on a provisional basis pending the pension committee's decision.
629.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The unemployment assistance application of the person concerned was authorised at the weekly rate of £34.05 on the basis of an old qualification certificate with means of £10.25 derived from the income from his farm notionally assessed, pending the investigation of his means on a factual basis by a social welfare officer. Payment covering the period up to 17 May 1983 was made to him on that date after deducting the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to him during the period which was due to be refunded to the Western Health Board.
On completion of the social welfare officer's inquiries, his means have now been factually assessed at £38 a week derived from self-employment as a builder and from his land. This entitles him to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £37.35 and arrangements are being made to pay all arrears due to him in the coming week. His present entitlement is calculated by reference to the (higher) standard rates of unemployment assistance which apply in the case of factual assessment.
630.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit on an intermediate medical certificate dated 10 May 1983 and has been paid all benefit due to 25 May 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received.
There was no undue delay in issuing payments in this case. He will also be paid pay-related benefit from the 19th day of incapacity. The claimant was requested on 27 May 1983 to submit medical evidence from the commencement date of illness but he has failed to do so to date. A further reminder was issued to him on 14 June 1983. When the information is received any benefit due to him will be paid.
631.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have unemployment assistance paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £17.75 being the appropriate maximum weekly rate in his case of £25.45 less means £7.70 derived from the value of board and lodgings in his mother's home. As he is now residing elsewhere his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for re-investigation of his means. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the social welfare officer's report. In the meantime weekly payments of £17.75 will continue to be made as they become due.
632.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment benefit immediately to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned had been disallowed for receipt of unemployment benefit on the grounds that he had failed to avail of a reasonable opportunity of obtaining employment. However, he appealed and an appeals officer found in favour of the person concerned and all arrears of unemployment benefit due to him in respect of the period of the disallowance were issued to him by post on 27 May 1983. Further weekly payments of £75.99 including £16.34 pay-related benefit continue to be made as they become due.
633.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay an old age pension at the full rate to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The application of the person concerned for an increase in pension has been referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of pension at the maximum rate of £34.45 plus adult dependant allowance of £17.30 a week from 18 April 1983 has been recommended by the social welfare officer.
Arrangements are being made to put the increased pension into payment on a provisional basis, pending the pension committee's decision.
634.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for an old age pension at the full rate to be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
An appeals officer has decided that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the rate of £10.45 a week plus £5.30 adult dependant allowance. This is the rate appropriate to the assessment of his means, consisting mainly of half the weekly value of his wife's share of a holding.
635.
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 has been paid all disability benefit due to 23 May 1983, date of the latest medical evidence received. He is not entitled to payment of pay-related benefit as he had no reckonable earnings in 1978-79, the tax year relevant to his claim.
636.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay a contributory widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's contributory pension, at the weekly rate of £36.25 with effect from Friday, 10 June 1983. This is the maximum rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years with no qualified child.
Her husband had been in receipt of disability benefit which included an increase in respect of her and payment of this benefit continued to be made to the widow for six weeks after his death on 27 April 1983.
A pension order book with orders payable from 10 June 1983 was sent to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly.
637.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a living alone allowance will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Payment of a living alone allowance will be restored as soon as confirmation is received from the social welfare officer who will shortly be visiting the pensioner that the conditions for receipt of the allowance are satisfied in this case.
638.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 25 July 1980 to 19 February 1983. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
The claimant has continued to submit medical certificates of incapacity and arrangements have been made to have her examined again on 6 July 1983. Her claim for disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the second medical referee's report.