asked the Minister for Social Welfare the location from which payments of social welfare benefit will be made when the new temporary signing centre is opened on the Eastern Health Board site at Main Street, Tallaght, County Dublin.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
687.
When a new temporary signing centre is opened in Tallaght, County Dublin, payment of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance will continue to be made at local post offices as heretofore.
688.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment assistance at £6.45, being the maximum rate payable to him £17.80 weekly less means £11.35. Means in his case were derived from the notional value of his holding.
His case has been referred to a social welfare officer for a factual investigation of his means. When the inquiries are completed, his means will be assessed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
689.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 as she has been working for 19 years and has been out of work sick without income for three weeks; and if he will ensure that it is now paid.
The claim for disability benefit from the person concerned in respect of an incapacity commencing on 25 May 1983 was not received in the Department until 14 June 1983. Payment for the period from 28 May 1983, the fourth day of incapacity, to 10 June 1983, the date of the latest medical evidence received, was issued on 21 June 1983.
691.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the rate of old age pension being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The person concerned is in receipt of old age contributory pension at the weekly rate of £39.70. This is the rate appropriate to her yearly average of 45 qualifying contributions over the average test period which, in her case, is from 7 July 1954 to 5 April 1982. She had a total of 1,287 contributions in this period. She would need a yearly average of at least 48 qualifying contributions to qualify for pension at the maximum rate. She is also in receipt of a living alone allowance of £2.70 per week.
692.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned was paid invalidity pension from 6 December 1979 to 13 April 1983. Further payment was disallowed following his examination on 6 April 1983 by a medical referee who was of the opinion that he was capable of work. He has appealed against the decision to disallow payment and in this connection arrangements are being made to have him examined by a different medical referee on 28 June 1983. His entitlement to the pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of that examination.
693.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned qualified for unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £73.85 in respect of his claim which commenced on 31 May 1983 and all arrears due were paid on 10 June 1983. Further payments will be made as weekly payments become due.
694.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension at the maximum rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
It has been decided by the local pension committee that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the rate of £50.05 a week including an allowance for his wife and child. The social welfare officer has appealed against this decision and the matter is being referred to an appeals officer for determination. The claimant will be notified of the outcome.
Pension at the rate of £41.05 a week is in payment pending the appeals officer's decision. This is the rate appropriate to the assessment of the claimant's means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding.
695.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 14 March 1983 and his claim was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. Following the completion of inquiries he was assessed with nil means and his claim was allowed at the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 weekly.
All arrears due, less the amount of supplementary, welfare allowance which had been advanced to him pending a decision on his unemployment assistance claim and had to be refunded to his local Health Board, were paid on 5 May 1983. Weekly payments at £25.45 continue to be made as they become due.
696.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the payment of unemployment benefit was stopped in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if it will be restored.
The person concerned received the maximum entitlement in her case of 312 days unemployment benefit on 29 January 1980. Payment of unemployment benefit recommenced from 3 January 1983 on the basis that she had satisfied the condition of having at least 13 requalifying contributions at the appropriate rate. However, it was discovered that the employment in respect of which she obtained these contributions was insurable at Class J rate which does not provide entitlement to unemployment benefit. Payment of unemployment benefit in her case was accordingly suspended from 23 February 1983.
A form for the purpose of obtaining a formal decision on the insurability of her employment in respect of which the contributions were paid has been sent to her for completion. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of that decision.
697.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be placed before another medical referee in order to obtain a disability benefit appeal claim.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 28 October 1982 and was paid to 4 December 1982. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He appealed against the decision to disallow his claim to benefit and in this connection he was examined by a different medical referee who also considered him to be capable of work. His case was then referred to an appeals officer who upheld the decision to disallow payment of disability benefit from 6 December 1982 to 8 December 1982 (the date of the latest medical certificate before him). He was notified to this effect on 9 May 1983.
In the meantime, however, the claimant has submitted medical evidence of incapacity for work subsequent to 8 December 1982 and arrangements have been made for a further examination by a medical referee on 6 July 1983. His claim for benefit subsequent to 8 December 1982 will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
698.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons in receipt of (a) children's allowance and (b) the different types of disability benefit; the number in receipt of pensions; and the number of people depending on social welfare.
The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the following tables.
(a) Number of persons in receipt of children's allowance: Families, 443, 794; Children, 1, 190, 109.
(b) Number of persons in receipt of different types of Disability Benefit.
|
Type of Benefit |
No. of Recipients |
Adult Dependants* |
Child Dependants |
|
Disability Benefit |
69,793 |
25,369 |
53,691 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
20,395 |
9,173 |
12,651 |
|
Injury Benefit |
660 |
399 |
919 |
|
Maternity Allowance |
3,970 |
— |
— |
|
Disablement Benefit |
5,351 |
82 |
167 |
|
Disabled Persons Maintenance Allowance |
22,776 |
1,075 |
548 |
Number of people in receipt of pension and other long term payments.
|
Pension |
No. of Recipients |
Adult Dependants* |
Child Dependants |
|
Widows (Con) Pension |
73,632 |
388 |
20,573 |
|
Widows (Non-Con) Pension |
13,250 |
71 |
6,429 |
|
Orphans (Con) Pension |
913 |
— |
— |
|
Orphans (Non-Con) Pension |
140 |
— |
— |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
3,416 |
1 |
6,271 |
|
Deserted Wives' Allowance |
3,282 |
— |
4,748 |
|
Retirement Pension |
31,637 |
13,275 |
2,172 |
|
Old Age (Con) Pension |
70,028 |
20,762 |
3,310 |
|
Old Age (Non-Con) Pension |
129,495 |
12,153 |
3,833 |
|
Unmarried Mothers' Allowance |
7,592 |
— |
9,251 |
|
Prisoners' Wives' Allowance |
167 |
— |
455 |
|
Single Women's Allowance |
2,982 |
— |
— |
* This includes prescribed relatives where appropriate.
The total number of people depending on social welfare was 1,215,353 on 31 December 1982. This does not include children's allowance.
All of the figures relate to 31 December 1982 with the exception of those for disabled persons maintenance allowance (paid by the Department of Health) which relate to 31 December 1981.
699.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an inspection will be arranged for a person (details supplied) in County Cork who has applied for optical benefit.
A claim to optical benefit received from the person concerned was approved on 14 June 1983 and a letter of authorisation for presentation to his optician was issued to him on that date. The optician has confirmed that the required treatment, which included sight test and the supply of glasses, has now been completed.
700.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an increase in unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Following a review of his case the means of the person concerned were reduced to £0.45 weekly, derived from his wife's earnings, with effect from 31 January 1983 and nil from 8 April 1983 when his wife's employment terminated. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £57.50 from 31 January 1983 and £57.95 from 8 April 1983. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week and further payments at the maximum rate payable to him £57.95 will be made as weekly payments become due.
701.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow as she has been signing for over six weeks.
Before the entitlement to unemployment assistance of the person concerned could be determined it was necessary to have her case investigated by a social welfare officer and her means assessed. The inquiries were recently completed and she was assessed with nil means and she is entitled to the maximum rate payable to her £25.45 weekly. All arrears due were paid on 14 June 1983 and further payments will be made as weekly payments become due.
702.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for unemployment benefit will be dealt with for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
An oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned has been arranged to take place on Tuesday 28 June 1983 and she has been notified accordingly. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
703.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry to £27.95 per week under the factual means test system in view of the fact that he is married with three children and his farm accounts showed a loss over the past year.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance of £28.00 a week being the maximum rate in his case £40.25 less weekly means of £12.25 derived from the income from his farm calculated on a notional basis related to his PLV. He appealed against the amount of means assessed in his case and an appeals officer confirmed the amount assessed on the notional basis up to 9 December 1982 and assessed him with means of £30.00 a week from 10 December 1982 calculated on a factual basis. This entitled him to unemployment assistance of £27.95 from that date, a reduction of 5p a week.
Factual assessment in the case of farmers is carried out on an income/ expenditure basis for unemployment assistance purposes, taking into account all farm income and also all expenditure incurred in running the farm. On the income side, all income derived from the farm is taken into account including the sale of stock, crops and other farm products such as milk.
Account is also taken of farm produce consumed by the family and of other means such as grants, capital or any off-farm income. On the expenditure side all expenses incurred in earning the income are taken into account, such as the cost of feeding stuffs, seeds, fertilisers, veterinary expenses, hire of machinery etc., and also any interest charges actually paid on loans obtained in connection with the running of the farm. The difference between income and expenditure is taken as the annual farm means for unemployment assistance purposes.
As the person concerned is now receiving unemployment assistance based on factual assessment of his means, he will benefit from the general rates increases which come into effect at the end of June.
704.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason only 10p per week unemployment assistance is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned was assessed with means at £24.75 weekly derived from the value of board and lodgings on his father's holding. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at £0.70 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less £24.75.
If he is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal and to have his means determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
705.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance at the correct rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 16 February 1983 and inquiries were undertaken to ascertain if he had sufficient weeks of insurable employment to qualify for benefit. It was subsequently established that he did not fulfil the contribution conditions and a claim for unemployment assistance was accepted from him. His case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation and when the inquiries are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
706.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
It has been decided by the local pension committee that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as the assessment of his means, consisting of a pension from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, exceeds the statutory limit of £38.00 weekly.
707.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance at the maximum rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The deserted wife's benefit which was in payment to the person concerned has been terminated with effect from 25 November 1982 because the deciding officer held that she and another person were living together as man and wife. She has been notified of this decision and of her right to appeal within 21 days if she is dissatisfied with it.
708.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying a deserted wife's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and when she will be paid her allowance.
The claim of the person concerned for deserted wife's allowance/ benefit was disallowed as the deciding officer held that one of the elements of desertion, that the husband left of his own volition, was not satisfied in her case.
She has appealed against the decision and an appeals officer has arranged an oral hearing of her case for 28 June 1983. She will be notified of his decision as soon as possible.
709.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry from 27 December 1982 to 18 January 1983; and the reason he is only in receipt of £31.00 benefit.
The person concerned submitted a claim for disability benefit on 18 January 1983 in respect of an incapacity for work which commenced on 22 December 1982.
Initially payment was disallowed from 25 December 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 10 January 1983, as he failed to give notice of his incapacity within the prescribed time (within seven days from the day on which he became incapable of work). His claim was authorised from 11 January 1983 (seven days before the date on which notification of incapacity was given) and paid to 18 January 1983, when he was certified fit to resume work. Following a review of his claim, however, it has been decided to waive the disallowance period in this case and admit payment from 25 December 1982. A cheque for the arrears of benefit due was issued to the claimant on 20 June 1983.
He made a further claim for disability benefit on 30 May 1983 and was paid at the maximum rate appropriate to a single person. It was subsequently established that he was entitled to benefit at the rate for a married couple with five dependent children.
An adjustment cheque for the arrears of benefit due to 13 June 1983, after which date he was certified as fit to resume work, was issued on 20 June 1983.
710.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has not received unemployment assistance for the last 17 weeks.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until investigations of his means had been completed. These inquiries were completed recently and his means were assessed at £0.10 weekly, derived from capital. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £25.35 weekly being the maximum rate £25.45 less £0.10 and all arrears due were paid on 7 June 1983. Further weekly payments are being made as they become due.
711.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who applied for unemployment assistance six months ago has received no payment.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed following extensive inquiries on the grounds that by reason of restricting his availability for work to part-time employment he did not satisfy the condition of being available for work. If he is dissatisfied with the decision in his case it is open to him to appeal and to have the matter determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
712.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit payments for six weeks will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as she has been signing for seven weeks.
A person who left her employment voluntarily without just cause is disqualified for receipt of unemployment benefit for a period not exceeding six weeks. Inquiries were necessary to determine whether the person concerned was subject to disqualification on those grounds. These inquiries are expected to be completed shortly and a decision will then be made in regard to her entitlement for the period in question.
Her claim has been authorised at the weekly rate of £26.25, from 3 June 1983, which is the rate appropriate to a person with 33 reckonable contributions in the relevant contribution year from 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982.
713.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The local pension committee decided on 21 June 1983 that the person concerned is entitled to a pension at the maximum rate. The social welfare officer is appealing against this decision as the assessment of the claimant's means, consisting of half the weekly value of her husband's occupational pension, exceeds the statutory limit. She will be notified of the outcome.
714.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
A widow's pension order book payable from 27 May 1983 was sent to the nominated post office on that date and the person concerned was notified accordingly.
The pension is payable at the rate of £46.00 per week. This is the maximum rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years of age who has one qualified child. She had been in receipt of deserted wife's benefit at the same rate up to that date.