asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 14 as he applied on 9 September 1983; and if he will take immediate action to ensure that all payments and arrears are made to him.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
240.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 September 1983. He was not qualified for benefit at the commencement of his claim as according to the Department's records he had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1981-82, the contribution year governing his claim. He was requested to submit a statement from his employer concerning his employment record in 1981-82 and this information was received in the Department on 26 October 1983.
A cheque for the amount of disability benefit from 7 September 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 21 October 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received, was issued to the claimant on 4 November 1983.
A further cheque in respect of pay-related benefit from 24 September 1983, 19th day of incapacity to 21 October 1983 was issued on 8 November 1983.
241.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was disallowed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance on the basis of a notional assessment of his means and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation on a factual basis. He refused to co-operate with the investigating officer and he was not prepared to furnish details of creamery returns. His unemployment assistance claim was, accordingly, disallowed on the grounds that by failing to disclose details of his means he failed to show that his means do not exceed the statutory limit.
He recently appealed against the disallowance and intimated that he was prepared to co-operate in the investigation of his means and that he would disclose all sources of his income. His case has been referred back to a social welfare officer for further inquiries and when they are completed the matter will be referred to an appeals officer for determination.
242.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a pension book was not issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
A replacement pension book at the maximum rate, payable from 7 October 1983, issued to the person concerned on 3 November 1983 following notification that he had not received his renewal book which was issued to the nominated post office in September 1983.
243.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny was not paid unemployment benefit from 23 July to 6 August 1983 even though his Department informed Deputy Aylward that it would be paid to her provided she signed at the local exchange prior to her departure.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit from this Department up to 22 July 1983 and on 23 July 1983 she left this country and went to England which, she informed the Department, was for the purpose of having a holiday. It is a condition for receipt of unemployment benefit that the claimant must be available for and genuinely seeking work. As the person concerned was on holiday in England, she did not satisfy this condition and payment of benefit was disallowed for the period involved.
If she is dissatisfied with the decision it is open to her to appeal and to have the matter determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at her local office.
244.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit payments are being paid irregularly to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and when payment will be regularised.
The person concerned has been paid disability benefit since 14 April 1983, and all benefit due to him to 31 October 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received has been issued. Benefit is paid as medical certificates are received in the Department and an examination of payments made since 1 October shows that there was no undue delay in the issue of cheques.
245.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan for an increase in his old age pension.
It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is entitled to old age pension at the weekly rate of £6.45 plus £2.70 living alone allowance from 10 March 1983 increased to £10.60 plus £3.00 per week from 1 July 1983.
These are the rates appropriate to the assessment of the person's means, consisting mainly of the value of capital.
246.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 who applied for a widow's pension in 1980 when her husband died, was refused it on the grounds that she obtained an English divorce which apparently was recognised by his Department in order not to pay her widow's pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's contributory pension at the maximum rate, £40.60 per week at present, appropriate to a widow under 66 years with no qualified children, with effect from 5 December, 1980. The award has been made following a recent review of all the circumstances of the case.
A pension order book with orders payable from 4 November 1983 has been sent to the local post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. Arrears of pension from 5 December 1980 to 3 November 1983, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to her by the Eastern Health Board will be paid direct to her shortly by means of a payable order.
247.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a free telephone rental will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford as she has applied for a telephone and is waiting for it to be installed.
An application from the husband of the person referred to in the Deputy's question for free telephone rental allowance has been approved and a notification to this effect was issued to him on 10 August 1983.
The Department of Posts and Telegraphs have been advised of the decision and will arrange to apply the allowance from the date on which telephone service is provided.
248.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford as he is married with nine children.
The regulations provide that the claimant, apart from satisfying the contribution conditions, must be regarded as permanently incapable of work in order to qualify for invalidity pension.
The person concerned was examined by a medical referee on 15 September 1983 who expressed the opinion that he was not permanently incapable of work and asked to have him referred again for a further examination in four months time.
His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of this examination.
In the meantime he continues to receive disability benefit at the rate of £122.20 appropriate to a married man who has nine qualified children.
249.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 September 1983. There was a delay in making the initial payment due to an administrative error.
All benefit due to 2 November 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received, less amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the South Eastern Health Board, was issued on 8 November 1983.
The claimant has been quoting two different RSI numbers in respect of his claim. He has since been requested to quote his correct RSI number in all further communications with the Department.
250.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will have a duplicate widow's and orphan's pension book issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
It has been established from the post office where the person concerned is paid her pension that she left her widow's pension book behind her in the post office on Friday, 28 October 1983. It was returned to her when she visited the post office on Friday last, 4 November 1983.
251.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay a children's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
According to the records of the Department the person concerned received children's allowance in respect of the child in question up to and including the month of October 1983 when the child reached the age of 18 years. Children's allowance is not payable after that age. The person concerned is in receipt of £11.25 a month children's allowance in respect of a younger child.
The person concerned is a recipient of invalidity pension including increases in respect of his wife and one dependent child. No increase of invalidity pension is payable in respect of a child who has reached 18 years of age.
252.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefit.
A claim for unemployment assistance was accepted from her and her case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of her means. When the inquiries are completed her means will be assessed and her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.