asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of small farmers who had their unemployment assistance either discontinued or reduced in each of the following exchanges in Kerry since 1st February, 1983: (1) Killarney, (2) Kenmare, (3) Caherciveen, (4) Killorglin, (5) Dingle, (6) Tralee, (7) Listowel, and (8) Castleisland.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
592.
Details of the number of smallholders whose unemployment assistance payments were discontinued or reduced between May 1983, when maintenance of these statistics commenced, and April 1984 in respect of the local offices named are as follows:
|
Local Office |
Number of cases where payment of unemployment assistance was discontinued |
Number of cases where rate of unemployment assistance was reduced |
|
Killarney |
51 |
27 |
|
Kenmare |
27 |
16 |
|
Caherciveen |
37 |
85 |
|
Killorglin |
38 |
39 |
|
Dingle |
64 |
24 |
|
Tralee |
174 |
58 |
|
Listowel |
157 |
59 |
In the case of Castleisland, where there is no local office, payment of unemployment assistance was discontinued in three cases and reduced in 13 cases.
593.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick as he has been signing for the last ten weeks and has received nothing to date.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance cannot be determined until inquiries about his means are completed. It is hoped that inquiries will shortly be completed and a decision will be given in the light of the report. He is at present in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
594.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick as the officer called on 13 March, 1984 and he has heard nothing since.
The application of the person concerned for an increase in his existing rate of old age pension has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of pension at the higher weekly rate of £14.60 plus £7.40 adult dependant allowance from 23 December 1983 has been recommended by the social welfare officer. This is the rate of pension to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means, consisting of half the weekly value of holding and capital.
The appropriate pension book implementing the increase has issued on a provisional basis pending the committee's decision and the arrears of pension due will issue separately.
595.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick as he has been awaiting payment for two years.
The person concerned has been awarded an invalidity pension from 8 March 1984. The pension book payable from 31 May 1984 has been issued to the designated post office of payment. Arrears in respect of the period from 8 March 1984 to 30 May 1984, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by payable order.
596.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be given on an application for unemployment benefit made by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person have at least 26 contributions, paid or credited, in the governing contribution year. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 16 January 1984 and had a record of 20 paid contributions in the governing contribution year 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983. Inquiries were undertaken to ascertain if credited contributions were due in respect of any period during the contribution year but as none were due he did not satisfy the contribution condition for unemployment benefit and he was advised accordingly. He claimed unemployment assistance on 12 April 1984, and his claim has been referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries into his means. When these inquiries are completed his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the means assessed against him.
597.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must be fully available for work. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 2 February 1984. Her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work. She appealed against this decision and attended a hearing of her appeal on 3 May 1984. The appeals officer also decided that she was not available for work and disallowed her unemployment benefit claim. She continues to sign as unemployment and inquiries are being made to ascertain whether she now fulfils the conditions of being available for work. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit from 4 May 1984 will be determined in the light of the outcome of the investigations.
598.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the conditions that a person must be fully available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned made a claim to unemployment benefit on 5 January 1984. Her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work and she was notified accordingly. She recently appealed against the disallowance of her unemployment benefit claim and arrangements are being made to have her case heard by an appeals officer at the earliest opportunity. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of his decision.
599.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the disallowance of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 19 March 1984 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and in connection with his appeal arrangements were made to have him examined by a different medical referee on 24 May 1984. His entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
600.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when four weeks disability benefit due to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will be paid.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 29 February 1984 and has been paid to 1 May 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received. Pay-related benefit for the period from 29 February 1984 to 1 May 1984 was issued on 11 May 1984. The delay in issuing payment of this benefit was caused by an administrative error. Further payment of benefit will issue on receipt of medical certificates in the Department which should be submitted at weekly intervals while he remains incapable of work.
601.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 20 June 1983 to 2 January 1984 and again from 20 February 1984 to 9 May 1984, date of the latest medical evidence received. She is not entitled to pay-related benefit as her earnings in 1981-82, the tax year relevant to both claims, are unsufficient. Her earnings in that year averaged £19.10 per week and only earnings in excess of £36 per week were reckonable for pay-related benefit purposes on the dates disability benefit was claimed.
602.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit, due for the past six weeks, will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Availability for work is a condition of entitlement to unemployment benefit and to fulfil this condition an applicant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 12 March 1984. His entitlement to benefit could not be determined until inquiries to establish that he was available for work had been completed. These investigations were recently completed and his claim has now been allowed at the maximum weekly rate of £34.80. All arrears due were paid last week and further weekly payments will continue as they become due. His entitlement to pay-related benefit with his flat-rate unemployment benefit will be determined as soon as inquiries to establish the amount of his reckonable earnings during the relevant income tax period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983 have been completed.
603.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Galway against a decision of the Department to remove his social welfare assistance.
Following re-investigation of his means by a social welfare officer, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit. He obtained an appeal application form at his local office but to date he has not returned it. When he does so his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
604.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an appeal against a decision by his Department to refuse an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The local pension committee decided on 14 April 1984 that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the weekly rate of £30 plus £15 adult dependant allowance plus £21.20 dependent child allowance from 26 January 1984. The social welfare officer has appealed against this decision on the grounds that the claimant's means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding, exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension. The appeal has been submitted to an appeals officer for decision and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome in due course.
605.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Two of the conditions for the receipt of a deserted wife's payment are that a husband must have left his wife of his own volition and that she must make reasonable efforts within the means available to her to prevail on him to contribute to the support and maintenance of herself and her children.
The deciding officer held that these conditions were not satisfied in the case of the person concerned and disallowed her claim. She was notified accordingly on 13 December 1983. On 12 January 1984 the claimant's solicitor indicated by telephone that she wished to appeal against the decision and an appeal form to enable her to do so was sent direct to her. There is no trace to date of the receipt of the completed form and a fresh form has now been sent to her solicitor. When returned completed the claimant's case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and in the event of an oral hearing she will be informed of the date and location of the hearing.
606.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned whose husband died on 6 November 1983 has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at the weekly rate of £31.85 with effect from 23 December 1983, increased to £32.60 a week from 21 January 1984, her 66th birthday. Her late husband had at the time of his death been in receipt of an old age non-contributory pension, which included increases in respect of his wife and a prescribed relative and payment was continued for six weeks afterwards.
The rates of pension awarded are those applicable to a widow under 66 years and over 66 years, respectively, with no qualified children and whose weekly means exceed £10 but do not exceed £12. Her means derived from a two-thirds share in a holding were assessed at £11.53 per week.
A pension order book payable from 9 March 1984 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by the claimant and she has been notified accordingly. Arrears of pension from 23 December 1983 to 8 March 1984 will be paid direct to her by payable order within the next few days.
The person concerned has indicated that she may qualify for a prescribed relative allowance. A form on which to claim the allowance has been sent to her for completion. When it is returned duly completed a decision will be given on the claim and she will be notified of the outcome.
607.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an application for a non-contributory widow's pension will be granted for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary and the amount of money that will be paid.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at the rate of £9.85 per week with effect from 16 March 1984, the Friday following the date of her application. This is the rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years of age with no qualified children and whose weekly means exceed £32.00 but do not exceed £34.00. Her means derived from a British pension were assessed at £33.06 per week. The rate of pension will be increased from £9.85 to £12.50 per week from 6 July 1984.
A pension order book payable from 16 March 1984 and renewal book payable from 6 April 1984 have been issued to the designated post office for collection by the claimant and she has been notified accordingly.
608.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that a free telephone rental will be granted to persons (details supplied) in Dublin 8.
The free telephone rental allowance scheme is confined to recipients of one of a number of specified payments who are living alone or only with children under 15 years of age or other persons who are so permanently incapacitated as to be unable to summon aid in an emergency.
An application for free telephone rental allowance from the persons concerned was received on 26 April 1984 and as both of them are in receipt of a qualifying payment they have been requested to furnish medical evidence to the effect that one or other of them is permanently incapacitated. On receipt of the required medical evidence a decision will be given in the case and they will be notified of the outcome.
609.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position regarding an application for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means exceeded the statutory limit and an appeals officer also assessed him with means in excess of the statutory limit. He applied for a review of his means and his case was again referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. It is expected that the inquiries will be completed shortly and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the outcome.
610.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned recently claimed unemployment benefit at her local office. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined as soon as inquiries which are being made at present to ascertain why she left her employment and whether she satisfies the condition of being available for employment, have been completed.
611.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when benefit will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who was absent from work for four weeks in August 1983 and one week in September 1983 having regard to the fact that the applicant is entitled to welfare having been in full employment without interruption since 1980 and consequently having full credit for social welfare contributions.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 July 1983 to 12 August 1983 and from 10 September 1983 to 17 September 1983 but was not entitled to payment as according to the records of the Department he had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions recorded for 1981-82, the year on which his entitlement to payment was based. He was requested on both occasions to supply details of his employment record for 1981-82 but failed to do so. It has since been established that the claimant had sufficient contributions paid for 1981-82 to qualify for payment and all outstanding arrears on both claims has been issued.
612.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the application of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin for a deserted wives' allowance.
The claim of the person concerned to a deserted wife's payment is at present under investigation. The claimant has been interviewed by a local officer of the Department and efforts are being made to interview her husband in order to obtain his version of the circumstances which led to the break-up of the marriage. A decision will then be made on the claim. In the meantime the claimant is in receipt of disability benefit from the Department.
613.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in payment of a contributory old age pension awarded from 9 January 1981 to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned reached age 66 years on 4 January 1981. He claimed a contributory old age pension on 13 February 1984. He has been awarded this pension at the maximum rate, including an allowance in respect of his wife, with effect from 9 January 1981. He has been in receipt of invalidity pension since 1978 and has been asked to return the book for that pension to the Department. A contributory old age pension book containing orders' payable from 18 May 1984 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by him and he has been notified accordingly. The arears of contributory old age pension from 9 January 1981, less the amount of invalidity pension paid to him from that date, will be issued direct to him by payable order.
614.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when occupational benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit in respect of an incapacity which he attributed to an accident at work on 17 February 1984. Pending the completion of investigations resulting from the accident he was allowed disability benefit on an interim basis from 22 February, the fourth day of certified incapacity. Payments were made in respect of the period to 2 March when they were suspended pending investigation of a report alleging that he had resumed work. The investigations made indicated the claimant had not in fact resumed employment as alleged. In the meantime details of the accident were confirmed and injury benefit was awarded from the date of the accident to 26 March after which he was certified fit to resume work. Injury benefit in respect of the period less the disability benefit already paid has been issued.
615.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment assistance since 26 May 1980. In April 1984 his claim was disallowed for six weeks from 14 March 1984 for failure to avail himself of a reasonable opportunity of obtaining suitable employment. He appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of his case on 3 May 1984. The appeals officer requested further information before he could give a decision and special inquiries are being made in this respect. When they are completed the case will be returned to the appeals officer for determination of his title to unemployment assistance from 14 March 1984 to 24 April 1984.
Inquiries to establish that he fulfils the condition of being available for work with effect from 25 April 1984 are also being made and his entitlement to unemployment assistance from that date will be determined in the light of the outcome of the investigation.
616.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an original pension book, due since April 1984, will be sent out to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The pensioner concerned died recently. The personal representatives of the late pensioner have been requested to verify the date of death and to complete a claim form in respect of pension due at that date. When the completed form is received the amount involved will be paid as soon as possible.
617.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Galway against the decision to remove his unemployment benefit.
Following investigation of his means by a social welfare officer the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 28 September 1983 on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit. He recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against him. His case has been referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries arising from contentions made by the applicant in support of his appeal. When these inquiries are completed his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination and the case will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
618.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Galway is in receipt of the maximum rate of disability benefit; and if he will consider an increase in his present benefit because of severe financial hardship.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 30 December 1983 and was qualified for payment from 3 January 1984, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum rate payable to a married man. He was paid pay-related benefit from 20 January 1984, nineteenth day of incapacity. The claimant was overpaid benefit amounting to £531.32 on a previous claim and the overpayment was being recovered at the rate of £10 per week from his current entitlement. These deductions have now been reduced to £5 per week.
619.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for a pension from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
A review of the entitlements of the person concerned revealed that there had been an increase in her means, consisting of the weekly value of a holding and capital. A question for revocation of her old age pension with effect from 4 May 1984, the date of the first uncashed order, was therefore referred to the local pension committee for decision. The revocation of her old age pension has been implemented on a provisional basis pending the committee's decision. She has, however, been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension from 4 May 1984 at the weekly rate of £8.60 plus £3.00 living along allowance due to the more favourable position regarding the assessment of capital under the widows scheme. Pension books payable from 5 May 1984 have been issued.
620.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of pension at the weekly rate of £20.60 plus £3.00 living along allowance has been recommended by the social welfare officer with effect from 9 April 1984, date claimant reached 66 years. This is the rate appropriate to the assessment of his means, consisting of the weekly value of a holding and capital. The appropriate pension books payable from 13 April 1984 were issued on 8 May 1984.
621.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when free travel, a free television licence and free electricity will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
There is no record in the Department of an application for any of these benefits from the person concerned and the information supplied by the Deputy is insufficient to enable a decision to be given in the case. Accordingly, application forms for these benefits were issued to the person concerned on 11 May 1984. On receipt of the completed applications in the Department a decision will be given in the case and he will be notified of the outcome.
622.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was not paid from the day that he was laid off work; if he will now pay three weeks arrears to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
According to the Department's records the person concerned was last employed on 22 December 1983. However, he did not claim unemployment benefit until 10 January 1984 and his claim was allowed from that date. He is a postal applicant and he is at present in receipt of flat-rate unemployment benefit as £34.80 and pay-related benefit at £22.28. He has not to-date applied for permission to sign retrospectively as being unemployed between the date of termination of his employment and the date on which he claimed unemployment benefit. If and when he does so consideration will be given to the matter.
623.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of unemployment assistance for the period 19 December 1983 to 13 March 1984 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 19 December 1983 but he did not satisfy the contribution condition and his claim was disallowed. He claimed unemployment assistance and following an investigation of his case he was assessed with means of £25.00 weekly. He was entitled to unemployment assistance at £38.75 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £63.75 less £25.00 and weekly payments commenced to be made to him from 14 March 1984. Due to an oversight at the local office dealing with his claim he was not paid the arrears due to him in respect of the period 19 December 1983 to 13 March 1984. Arrangements have now been made to pay all the arrears due this week.
624.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when children's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned has been awarded a children's allowance in respect of her grand-daughter from January 1984. A children's allowance book at £11.25 per month payable from that date has been issued direct to her home address.
625.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an application for a single woman's allowance made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned applied for a single woman's allowance on 3 May 1984. Her case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of her means and when the inquiries are completed her means will be assessed and her entitlement to a single woman's allowance will be determined accordingly.
626.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the maximum rate of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £12.05, £29.40 being the maximum rate payable less means £17.35. Means are derived from the value of board and lodging in his parents home. He recently appealed against the means assessment claiming his domestic circumstances had changed. Further inquiries were necessary from the social welfare officer. When the inquiries are completed his unemployment assistance claim will be reviewed in the light of the result of the inquiries. In the meantime weekly payments of £12.05 will continue to be made as they become due.
627.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a reduced rate of unemployment benefit is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
The person concerned is a married man with six child dependants. He was assessed with means at £8.00 weekly and the rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case is £84.35 being the maximum rate £92.35 less £8.00. His wife receives separate payment in respect of herself and the child dependants at £57.50 weekly and the balance £26.85 is paid to the applicant. Payments continue to be made as weekly payments become due.
628.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed following the completion of investigations by a social welfare officer on the grounds that his means derived from self-employment and the profit from his share in a holding exceeded the statutory limit applicable to him. Arrangements are being made to notify him of the decision in his case and of is right to appeal and to have his means determined by an appeals officer.