asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
380.
Before a decision can be made on the claim of the person concerned to a widow's contributory pension a copy of her late husband's United Kingdom insurance record must be obtained from the British authorities. This record has been requested and it is expected that it will be supplied shortly.
When the record is received a decision will be given on the claim and the claimant will be notified. The Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, have been asked to let her know if she qualifies for a British widow's pension.
In the event of the claimant not qualifying for a widow's contributory pension from this Department, entitlement to a non-contributory widow's pension will be urgently investigated if she so wishes.
381.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance at an increased rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance at £4.20 weekly, being the maximum rate payable to her, £28.90 less means £24.70, derived from board and lodging in her father's home. She appealed against the assessment of her means and the case has been referred to a social welfare officer for further investigations in the light of contentions made by her in support of her appeal.
When these inquiries are completed, her case will be submitted to an appeals officer and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to her will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
382.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a death grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
A claim for death grant was received from the person concerned on 30 January 1984 and payment was issued on 20 February 1984.
383.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow from 12 to 27 September 1983.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 26 September 1983 and was paid to 3 October 1983 after which date he was certified fit to resume work.
He has been requested to submit medical certification if he was ill and incapable of work prior to 26 September 1983. On receipt of this information his claim for arrears of benefit will be reviewed.
384.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance payments will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow.
The original unemployment assistance application of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance and an appeals officer also disallowed the case.
He reapplied in October 1983 for a review. Protracted inquiries were necessary and the social welfare officer has now completed his report and the case is in transit to headquarters for assessment of his means.
His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in accordance with the amount of means assessed against him.
385.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be increased for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment assistance at £44.90 per week being the appropriate maximum rate £58.30 less means of £13.40 derived from self-employment selling strawberries. He applied to have his means reinvestigated stating that self-employment had ceased. His case was referred to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation of his means and following completion of inquiries he was assessed with nil means from 4 October 1983. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week.
Further payments at £58.30 will be made as weekly payments become due.
386.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a maternity allowance and grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was entitled to payment under the general maternity scheme for the 12-week period 27 December 1982 to 26 March 1983. She had, however, been paid disability benefit up to 21 February 1983 in this period. Maternity and disability benefits cannot be paid concurrently and she was therefore only due full weekly payment from 22 February 1983 onwards together with an adjustment for the period of overlap. All benefit due on her claim on this basis was issued.
On account of the fact that the baby was born late, she was entitled to an extra week's benefit. This, together with two maternity grants, was also paid. A full list of all payments made in connection with her claim is being forwarded to the person concerned.
387.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a non-contributory old age pension will be granted immediately to persons (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The investigation of the old age pension claims of the persons concerned will be completed shortly and will be referred to the local pension committee for decision. If payment of pensions are recommended by the social welfare officer, they will be put into payment on a provisional basis pending the committee's decisions.
388.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an invalidity pension will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and when it will be paid.
The person concerned has been awarded an invalidity pension from 2 February 1984. The pension book payable from 8 March 1984 has been issued to the designated post office of payment.
Arrears in respect of the period from 2 February 1984 to 7 March 1984, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by payable order.
389.
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 Offaly as he has no other income.
The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £24.50 per week being the appropriate maximum rate £28.00 less means £3.50 per week previously assessed against him. These means are derived from the value of board and lodging in his father's home.
If he contends that his circumstances have changed since the last assessment of his means it is open to him to apply for a review of the assessment of his means. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
390.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons for the delay in paying unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly as he applied last December at Birr employment exchange.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 19 December 1983 but following inquiries his claim was disallowed on the grounds that he had less than 26 paid contributions since entry into insurance. He claimed unemployment assistance and he was assessed with means at £20.30 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his father's holding and from capital. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £7.70 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £28.00 less £20.30 and all arrears due were paid to him last week.
Further weekly payments will be made to him as they become due.
391.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension has been refused to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly as he has no income.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 20 December 1983 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as he does not fulfil the statutory condition as to means. His means, consisting of the weekly value of a holding, the transfer of which is not acceptable for old age pension purposes, and the value of capital exceeds the statutory limit of £42.00 per week.
392.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons unemployment assistance at a low rate is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason another member of the same household with exactly the same prevailing conditions is being paid a higher rate of unemployment assistance; if in view of this situation he will now direct his Department to pay the higher rate of unemployment assistance to this person; the date on which this new rate will come into operation; the total amount of arrears to be paid; the total weekly amount of unemployment assistance to be paid to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance at £10.90 weekly when his case was referred to a social welfare officer for a reinvestigation of his means. Inquiries to establish whether he held an intestacy interest in land are still being made but in the meantime he has been provisionally assessed with means at £9.60 weekly derived from earnings from self-employment. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £19.80 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £29.40 less £9.60. All arrears due are being paid this week and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
The rate of unemployment assistance being paid to him will be reviewed as soon as the inquiries which are being made at present have been completed.
393.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not been continued after the payment of his unemployment benefits had terminated; the reasons for this; the amount of weekly assistance that he will receive; the total amount of arrears that he will receive; the date on which he will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance following the exhaustion of his entitlement to unemployment benefit on 6 February 1984. He was paid at £36.25 a week on 14 February 1984 being the appropriate maximum rate in his case £66.90 less means of £30.65 perviously assessed against him. All arrears due, amounting to £48.40, were paid to him on 14 February 1984. Weekly payments of £36.25 will continue to be made as they become due.
394.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been reduced without notice for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the reduction; the reason that notice was not given to this person; if he is aware of the person's situation; and if he will now redirect his Department to restore this assistance to the former figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment assistance since 30 September 1975. He was in receipt of unemployment assistance at £24.40 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £29.40 less means £5.00. His case was referred to a social welfare officer to reinvestigate his means and following the completion of inquiries he was assessed with means at £28.85 weekly derived from the profit from his land with effect from 1 February 1984. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £0.55 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £29.40 less £28.85.
He was notified of the decision in his case at the local office at which he signs as unemployed and he was informed of his right to appeal if he was dissatisfied with the decision in his case. He recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arrangements are being made to refer his case to an appeals officer for determination. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
395.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension has been reduced by £2.00 per week for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and when this will be rectified.
It was decided by the local pension committee on 4 November 1982 that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the weekly rate of £32.45 from 10 October 1982. This rate increased to £36.60 from 1 July 1983. This is the rate of pension to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means, consisting of the weekly value of capital.
If his capital has reduced in the meantime it is open to him to apply to have his pension increased. On receipt of such an application his title will be reinvestigated and he will be notified of the outcome.
396.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an invalidity pension is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary as he has been on disability benefit for over four years; when it will be paid; and the amount that will be paid.
The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals and all benefit due has been paid to date.
A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to him and on its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay.
397.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a disability allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 4 November 1983 but he is not qualified for payment as he had no contributions paid or credited in the contribution year 1981-1982 which governed his claim. Furthermore he has no contributions paid or credited since 1969.
Regulations provide that where a claimant has no contributions paid or credited for two or more consecutive contribution years preceding his claim he cannot qualify for payment of disability benefit or be aware of credited contributions in respect of periods of unemployment or incapacity for work until he has a further 26 weeks of insurable employment for which the appropriate contributions have been paid.
398.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance at £15.50 weekly which is the maximum rate payable to him £29.40 less means £13.90 derived from land.
His case has been referred to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation. His means will be reviewed in the light of the outcome and his rate of unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
399.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on a application for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance cannot be determined until investigations about his means have been completed. It is however, expected that the social welfare officer will complete his inquiries shortly after which his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly. In the meantime he is in receipt of weekly supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance application.
Question No. 400 withdrawn.
401.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 20 January 1984 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as he does not fulfil the statutory condition as to means. His means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding, the transfer of part of which is not acceptable for old age pension purposes, exceeds the statutory limit of £42.00 per week.
402.
Mr. O'Keeffe
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when butter vouchers will be granted to persons (details supplied) in County Cork.
Butter vouchers in respect of the year ending 30 June 1984 were issued in the normal way to the persons concerned in May 1983. They reported the loss of the vouchers on 8 February 1984 but have since advised the Department that they were recovered.
403.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position regarding a non-contributory old age pension application from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It was decided by the local pension committee on 4 February 1984 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as he does not fulfil the statutory condition as to means. His means, consisting of half the weekly value of his British retirement pension and his British social security benefit exceed the statutory limit of £42 per week.
404.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the reduction in the rate of unemployment assistance being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance at £57.90 per week being the maximum rate payable £58.30 less means of £0.40 weekly derived from land. On reinvestigation of his claim in October 1983 by a social welfare officer his means derived from land were increased to £7.65 per week thereby entitling him to unemployment assistance at £50.65 per week being the appropriate maximum rate £58.30 less means of £7.65. He appealed against the assessment of his means but an appeals officer also assessed means at £7.65 weekly against him.
Weekly payments of £50.65 continue to be made as they fall due.