asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in having a reply sent to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who has applied for a free telephone rental as details were sent to his Department some time ago.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
576.
An application for a free telephone rental allowance from the person concerned was received in the Department on 3 February 1984. He was notified on 16 March 1984 that as his wife is not a permanently incapacitated person he does not qualify for this allowance.
577.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widows pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's contributory pension at the weekly rate of £51.50 with effect from 17 February 1984 the Friday following her husband's death. This is the maximum rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years with one qualified child. It will be increased to £55.10 per week from 6 July 1984. A pension order book payable from 9 March 1984 has been sent to the designated post office for collection by the claimant and she has been notified accordingly. Arrears of pension from 17 February 1984 to 8 March 1984 will be paid direct to her by payable order within the next few days.
578.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal was refused payment of unemployment assistance following the appeals officer's decision, without him having been notified that the appeal was being heard and being given the opportunity to attend.
Following a re-investigation of his case 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. He appealed against the disallowance of his claim and was afforded another opportunity of disclosing all information to a social welfare officer. However he did not do so and the appeals officer decided summarily that he failed to disclose his means fully.
579.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 14 April 1984. Payment ceased after that date as according to the Department's records she had not the necessary 156 paid contributions since her entry into insurable employment to entitle her to payment in excess of 52 weeks.
Subsequent inquiries established that the claimant had the necessary contributions to entitle her to continuous payment of benefit while she remains incapable of work. All arrears of benefit payable to 14 May 1984 the date of the latest medical certificate received has been issued.
580.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be given in respect of an appeal against a reduction in the unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Following a review of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were reassessed at £10.15 weekly derived from capital and from profit from land. He is accordingly in receipt of £19.25 weekly being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him £29.40 less means of £10.15. He appealed against the assessment of his means and in the light of contentions made by him in support of his appeal his case has been referred again to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries are completed the case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination after which his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officers decision.
581.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the pension that has been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The investigation of the old age pension claim of the person concerned has not yet been completed. It will be completed shortly and will be referred to the local pension committee for decision. If payment of pension is recommended by the social welfare officer it will be put into payment on a provisional basis pending the committee's decision.
582.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the "Scope" section of his Department will make a decision in relation to the proper type of PRSI contributions payable by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The scope section of the Department has made a decision on the class of PRSI contribution payable on behalf of the person concerned for the contribution year 1982-83 and has held that her employment is insurable at class A1 for 36 weeks and at class J1 for the remaining weeks worked. She has been notified of the decision.
The decision means that the person concerned is entitled to unemployment benefit for the days between 2 January 1984 and 19 May 1984 on which she registered as unemployed. Arrangements are being made for payment of the benefit due to her.
The review to determine the correct contribution class in respect of the 1980-81 and 1981-82 contribution years has not yet been completed. The person concerned will be informed of the decision in relation to these years as soon as it is made.
583.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the outstanding funds on a deserted wife's claim will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
A payable order has now been sent to the person concerned in respect of the arrears of deserted wife's allowance less the amount of the dependants' portions of her husband's unemployment assistance already paid to her.
584.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason only £6.60 per week is being paid to persons (details supplied) in County Meath although they are not presently the owners of any land.
The old age pension claims of the persons concerned have been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decisions. Pensions at the weekly rate of £6.60 each have been recommended by the social welfare officer. This is the rate of pension to which they are each entitled having regard to the assessment of their means consisting of half the weekly value of capital and benefit from a holding the transfer of which has not been accepted for pension purposes.
If the persons concerned are dissatisfied with the committee's decisions they will have the right of appeal against them. The appropriate pension books and the arrears due have been issued.
585.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 as he was taken off unemployment benefit on the first week of May 1984 and had made an application for unemployment assistance in February 1984.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance following the exhaustion of his title to unemployment benefit on 25 April 1984 when he completed 390 days. Following investigation of his case by a social welfare officer he was assessed with means of £3.75 weekly, derived from capital.
He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £78.05 per week, being the maximum rate payable to him £81.80 less means £3.75 and payment will commence this week. The balance of any arrears due will be paid as soon as the amount of supplementary welfare allowance, which was paid to him pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance claim, is known.
586.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a disablement pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disablement benefit on 27 April 1984 in respect of injuries resulting from an accident at work on 11 July 1983.
Arrangements have been made for his medical examination on 6 June in order to assess the extent of disablement resulting from his injuries. A decision will then be given on the claim to disablement benefit. He is in receipt of disability benefit including increases in respect of dependants. Payment has been made to the date of the latest medical certificate received.
587.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a non-contributory old age pension has not been allowed for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It was decided by the local pension committee on 27 February 1984 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as her means were not fully disclosed. If the person concerned is now prepared to disclose details of her means she should notify the Department to that effect and her case will be re-investigated.
588.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be transferred to an invalidity pension as he is on disability benefit for a number of years.
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 on 19 April 1984 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was not permanently incapable of work and asked to have him referred again for a further examination after six months. He is not therefore qualified for the receipt of invalidity pension. His entitlement will be reviewed in the light of the next examination by the medical referee. In the meantime he continues to receive disability benefit at the rate of £74.85 a week, the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with two qualified children.
589.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as she is two and a half years on disability benefit.
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 on 7 May 1984 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was not permanently incapable of work and asked to have her referred again for a further examination after two months. She is not therefore qualified for the receipt of invalidity pension. Her entitlement will be reviewed in the light of the next examination by the medical referee. In the meantime she continues to receive disability benefit.
590.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded an invalidity pension.
The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals and payment has been made 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.
591.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit payments and pay-related benefit payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 23 January 1984 and all payment due to 2 April 1984, after which date she was certified fit to resume work, has been issued. Pay-related benefit for the period from 23 January 1984 to 2 April 1984 was issued on 25 May 1984. The delay in issuing full entitlements at the appropriate time was caused by an administrative error which has now been rectified.
592.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if payments will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford and if she will be awarded payments at an increased rate due to the fact that she does not have sufficient maintenance money to live on.
The person concerned is not in receipt of any benefit or allowance from this Department. Her husband is however in receipt of disability benefit of £97.80 a week which is the maximum rate payable to a married man with five dependant children. In view of the Deputy's question arrangements have been made for an inspector of the Department to call on the couple concerned to clarify the position.
593.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan who is living alone is not receiving the full single woman's allowance.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £10 per week derived from the value of board and lodgings on her brother's holding. She is accordingly entitled to a single woman's allowance at the weekly rate of £23.05 per week. If she is dissatisfied with the decision it is open to her to appeal by writing to the Department giving the grounds of her appeal.
594.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision on an application for a non-contributory pension will be made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan.
The investigation of the old age pension claim of the person concerned will be completed shortly and will then be referred to the local pension committee for decision. If payment of pension is recommended by the social welfare officer it will be put into payment on a provisional basis pending the committee's decision. The delay in this case is due to the fact that the social welfare office is awaiting details of a deed of transfer.
595.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan.
Following the completion of inquiries to establish the reckonable earnings of the person concerned his pay-related benefit claim was authorised at £38.15 weekly and all arrears due were paid last week. Further combined payments at £113 weekly representing flat rate unemployment benefit £74.85 and pay-related benefit £38.15 will be made as they become due.
596.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Meath is receiving only £16.55 unemployment assistance.
Following investigation the means of the person concerned were assessed at £60 weekly, derived from self-employment. He appealed against this decision and an appeals officer also assessed his means at £60 a week. He is accordingly in receipt of £16.55 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £76.55 less £60 means.
He recently applied for a re-investigation of his means and his case is being referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these are completed the assessment of his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
597.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a single woman's allowance of only £7.05 is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary as the assessment of her means to be in excess of £25 per week is inaccurate; and when this matter will be rectified.
The means of the person concerned were assessed at £26.70 per week derived from the letting value of a holding, disabled persons maintenance allowance, capital and a British retirement pension. She is accordingly entitled to a single woman's allowance at £7.05 per week. If she is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against her it is open to her to appeal. She may do so by notifying the Department that she wishes to have her means determined by an appeals officer.
598.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension has been refused to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary as her husband's income is very low; and if this claim will be reconsidered.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated by the social welfare officer and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of pension has not been recommended as the assessment of her means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding and capital, exceed the statutory limit for pension entitlement. If she is dissatisfied with the committee's decision, it will be open to her to appeal against it.
599.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned originally claimed unemployment benefit at the Department's employment exchange in Cork on 2 May 1984. She then requested that her claim be transferred to the local office at Skibbereen. Her claim has now been allowed at the maximum rate of £34.80 per week and as she is now a postal applicant an order issued to her this week for encashment at her local post office paying all arrears due. Further payments will be made as they become due.
600.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was not approved for a free telephone rental from April 1981 until January 1982.
Free telephone rental allowance was granted to the person concerned with effect from January 1982, the month in which her application was received. This is the earliest date from which the allowance could be granted in her case.
601.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position regarding unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned has been assessed with means of £15.35 weekly derived from benefit from his mother's holding. However, inquiries were necessary to establish that he satisfied the condition of being available for work before his entitlement to unemployment assistance could be determined. The inquiries were recently completed and as he is a postal applicant, arrangements have been made to issue an order for encashment at his local post office paying all arrears due this week. Weekly payments at £12.65 being the maximum rate £28 less £15.35 will continue to be made as they become due.
602.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for immediate payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
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 5 March 1984. Inquiries were necessary to establish that she was fully available for work and on completion of these inquiries her claim was allowed. The person is in receipt of £30.60 weekly, being the maximum flat-rate unemployment benefit payable to a married woman and in addition pay-related benefit at £29.26 per week. All arrears due were paid on 24 April 1984 and further combined weekly payments at £59.86 are continuing to be made as they become due.