asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a social assistance allowance for a single woman has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary as she has no income or means; and when it will be paid.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
833.
The person concerned applied for a single woman's allowance and her case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation about her means. Inquiries are still being made but it is expected that they will be completed shortly. Her means will then be assessed and her entitlement to a single woman's allowance will be determined accordingly.
834.
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 Tipperary, as she has no other income; and if her pension will be restored to the original rate.
Following a routine re-investigation of the means of the person concerned, a question for reduction of her pension is being raised and will be referred to the local pension committee for decision when her current pension book is received in the Department. Pension at the rate of £16.45 plus £2.70 living alone allowance will be paid pending the committee's decision. This is the rate appropriate to the latest assessment of her means consisting of the weekly value of capital and income from the letting of land. If she is dissatisfied with the committee's decision, she will have a right of appeal against it.
835.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and when it will be paid.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit in respect of the period from March 1976 to September 1981. On 28 February 1983 he claimed injury benefit in respect of an incapacity which he stated was due to an accident at work on 6 March 1976. This was the first intimation to this effect received by the Department.
Under the Social Welfare Acts injury benefit is payable only in respect of periods of incapacity within the period of 26 weeks from the date of the accident. A claim for injury benefit is required to be made within three weeks of the commencement of incapacity. The claim accordingly was late and was disallowed.
His entitlement to disability benefit instead was examined but as he had insufficient contributions paid or credited on his behalf in the contribution year governing his latest claim, he was not qualified for payment of benefit.
He was requested on 7 March 1983 to furnish details of any additional employment contributions that he may have had in the contribution year from 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982 but no reply has been received to date.
836.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has been signing for the past 20 weeks and who has suffered heavy losses over the past two years.
The application of the person concerned for unemployment assistance on 24 February 1983 has been referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries into his means. These inquiries have been protracted and are not yet completed. When they are completed his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the social welfare officer's report.
837.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if arrears of unemployment assistance from the date of the application for an increase will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and, if so, when.
The person concerned was paid unemployment assistance from the date of application on 14 February 1983, at the weekly rate of £50.60, on the basis of his existing qualification certificate of weekly means of £7.25 derived from the value of land notionally assessed and from fishing viz. the maximum rate in his case of £57.85 less means £7.25. Following the assessment of his means on a factual basis he was assessed with weekly means of £11.15 derived from the land and from fishing. This entitled him to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £58.40, being the maximum of £69.55 in his case less means £11.15, with effect from 14 February 1983.
All arrears due to him from that date were paid on 21 June 1983. He will continue to receive weekly payments of £58.40 as they become due.
838.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as he has been signing since 28 January 1983.
Following the completion of inquiries the person concerned was assessed with means of £5.75 weekly derived from the value of his land. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £19.70 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less £5.75.
Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due to him this week and further weekly payments will follow as they become due.