asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry from £79 per week to £50 per week; the present position regarding his appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
535.
Following a re-investigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were reassessed at £36.15 weekly derived from self-employment. He appealed against the assessment and an appeals officer also assessed his means at £36.15.
He applied to have his means reinvestigated and the case is in transit to a deciding officer in headquarters for an assessment of his means on the basis of the report of the social welfare officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome.
In the meantime he is in receipt of unemployment assistance at £50.85 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £87 less means £36.15.
536.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position regarding the reinstatement of disability benefit payments to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 January 1983 and was paid to 16 January 1984. Payment ceased at that date as according to the records of the Department he had less than the required minimum of 156 paid contributions to his credit since his entry into insurable employment to entitle him to further payment.
He indicated that he had worked in Britain and it was necessary, therefore, to make inquiries concerning his British employment record to establish his further entitlement to benefit.
The inquiries have established that the claimant has the necessary paid contributions to entitle him to continuous payment of benefit while he remains incapable of work.
Payment has been restored from 17 January 1984 and all benefit payable to 4 May 1984 the date of the latest medical certificate received has now been issued.
537.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 8 May 1984 the date of the latest medical certificate received.
He subsequently applied for supplementary welfare allowance from 9 May 1984 and is in receipt of weekly payments from the South Western Health Board to 26 May 1984. If the claimaint submits medical certification of incapacity for work subsequent to 8 May 1984 his claim for benefit will be reviewed.
538.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person has not less than 26 qualifying contributions paid or credited in the relevant governing contribution year. The person concerned did not satisfy the contribution condition during the contribution period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983 which governed his entitlement to unemployment benefit from 30 April 1984 and his claim was accordingly disallowed. He was notified of the disallowance on 9 May 1984. He ceased to sign the unemployed register from 9 May 1984.
539.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 30 April 1984 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
She appealed against the disallowance but she has not submitted medical evidence subsequent to 30 April 1984 in support of her appeal. If further medical evidence is received arrangements will be made to have her examined by a different medical referee and her entitlement to benefit will be reviewed in the light of the further medical referee examination.
540.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was paid pay-related benefit at £2.05 weekly with flat-rate unemployment benefit pending the completion of investigations to establish the total amount of her reckonable earnings during the income tax period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983.
Inquiries were recently completed and in the light of additional information about her earnings the weekly rate of pay-related benefit payable to her was increased to £13.31. Adjusting arrears due to her were paid last week.
She is at present in receipt of a combined weekly payment of £43.91 representing flat-rate unemployment benefit £30.60 and pay-related benefit £13.31
541.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when two weeks unmarried mother's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork which is due on an old book which she mislaid.
A payable order for arrears of unmarried mother's allowance for the period from 1 March 1984 to 14 March 1984 has been sent to the person concerned.
542.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if prescribed relative's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
No claim for a prescribed relative allowance can be traced from the person concerned.
One of the qualifying conditions for this allowance however is that the claimant must be in receipt of full time care and attention provided by a relative living with the claimant. From the information given by the Deputy it appears that she is living alone and this condition is not therefore satisfied. She may perhaps be entitled to a living alone allowance from the Department.
A Social welfare officer has been asked to call on her and see what her circumstances are. When the officer's report is received the case will be examined and she will be notified of the outcome.
543.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath as he has submitted 12 medical certificates to his Department.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 16 February 1984 to 16 May 1984 the date of the latest medical evidence received. He is not qualified for payment as according to the records of the Department there are no contributions paid on his behalf since his entry into insurable employment. He was requested on 24 February 1984 to forward details of his employment record but he failed to do so. A further request for this information was issued on 24 May 1984 and on receipt of a reply his entitlement to benefit will be reviewed.
544.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath as he is in receipt of unemployment benefit.
The entitlement of the person concerned to pay-related benefit with flat-rate unemployment benefit is governed by his reckonable earnings during the income tax period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983. He has been asked to furnish details of his earnings during this period but to date he has not done so. Inquiries in the matter are still being made and when these are completed his entitlement to pay-related benefit will be determined.
545.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision on an appeal for unemployment assistance will be made for a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from the profit from his holding exceeded the statutory limit which in his case is £4,053.40. He recently completed an appeal form at his local office. His case has been referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries arising from contentions of the applicant made in support of his appeal. When these inquiries are completed his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
546.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Meath as he is signing for unemployment benefit at Trim employment exchange.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 11 November 1983 and her entitlement to pay-related benefit was subject to her having reckonable weekly earning in excess of £36.00 during the period 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982. Her weekly earnings during the relevant period amounted to £31 and accordingly she was not entitled to pay-related benefit with flat-rate unemployment benefit.
547.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath as he has been signing at Trim employment exchange since September 1983.
Following an investigation which included several visits by a social welfare officer the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish full details of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. If he is now willing to disclose his means it is open to him to inform his local office where arrangements will be made to have his means investigated.