asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has not been paid pay-related benefit even though he has been out of work due to illness since 20 April 1984, and has forwarded the necessary doctor's certificates to his Department.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
554.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 20 April 1984 and has been paid to 7 May 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received. Pay-related benefit is not payable for the first three weeks of illness. If he was incapable of work subsequent to 7 May 1984 and submits medical evidence to this effect he may qualify for pay-related benefit from 11 May 1984, the 19th day of incapacity.
555.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite a decision regarding free telephone rental for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
There is no trace in the Department of receipt of an application for a free telephone rental allowance from the person concerned. An application form was, accordingly, issued to her on 31 May 1984. On receipt of the completed application in the Department her entitlement to the allowance will be examined and she will be notified of the outcome.
556.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £15.90 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £73.60 less means £57.70. His means are derived from the profit from his holding.
He recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and an appeals officer reduced the amount of means to £42.30 weekly effective from 3 August 1983. Accordingly he is now entitled to £31.30 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £73.60 less means £42.30. All arrears due to him will be paid this week and weekly payments of £31.30 weekly will continue to be made as they become due.
From contentions made by him in support of his appeal it is noted that he claims to have five qualified children. However he is only claiming an increase in the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him in respect of three children but he is being written to and furnished with an application form to enable him to claim an increase for all his qualified children.
557.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has had her disability benefit reduced.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 10 March 1984 and payment was issued from 14 March 1984, the fourth day of incapacity, to 25 May 1984, after which date she was certified fit to resume work. She was overpaid £34.80 for the period 21 March 1984 to 27 March 1984 and the overpayment was recovered by deductions from her disability benefit. However, because of an administrative error £5.80 over and above the amount of the overpayment was deducted. A cheque for this amount was issued to her on 24 May 1984.
558.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 9 May 1984 on the grounds that his means derived from the profit from his holding, and from benefit from his wife's earnings exceeded the rate payable to him. He recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arrangements are being made to refer his case to an appeals officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
559.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be sanctioned for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
One of the conditions for receipt of deserted wife's allowance/benefit is that the husband must have wilfully refused or neglected to contribute to the support of his wife and children. The person concerned claimed a deserted wife's payment in August 1982 but her claim was disallowed because she was receiving maintenance payments from her husband. No further claim has been made by her since.
The Deputy's question has, however, been taken as a renewed claim on her behalf and a claim form has been sent to her for completion. On receipt of the form her case will be referred to a local officer of the Department for reinvestigation. When inquiries are completed a decision will be given and she will be notified of the outcome. In the meantime it is understood that she is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance from the Western Health Board.
560.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford was not allowed a free telephone rental allowance.
In order to qualify for a free telephone rental allowance an applicant must be living entirely alone or only with children under 15 years of age or other persons over that age who are so permanently incapacitated as to be unable to summon aid in an emergency.
An application from the person concerned was disallowed in November 1983 as he failed to produce additional medical evidence requested in respect of his wife in support of his claim. If this evidence is now furnished, his claim will be reviewed and he will be notified of the outcome.
561.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position regarding the application of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly for an old age pension.
A repeat claim to old age pension from the person concerned has been referred to the social welfare officer for investigation. When inquiries have been completed it 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.
562.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the progress that has been made in the application of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for a non-contributory old age pension.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 11 May 1984 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension on the grounds that his means consisting of the weekly value of a holding and capital exceed the statutory limit for payment of pension.
563.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason occupational injuries benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who has been paid disability benefit but who was informed that he is also entitled to additional occupational injury benefit for dates in October 1983 for which medical certificates were supplied.
The person concerned submitted a completed claim form for disability benefit on 2 November 1983 in respect of an accident at work on 20 October 1983. Pending the completion of investigations concerning the accident, disability benefit was allowed on an interim basis from 5 November 1983, the fourth day of incapacity, to 19 November 1983, the final date of his claim. Medical evidence of incapacity was received only in respect of the period from 2 November to 19 November 1983.
Following investigations, it transpired that the person concerned actually returned to work on 14 November 1983 and injury benefit was allowed from 5 November to 12 November 1983. Since the period was less than 12 working days injury benefit was not payable in respect of the first three days from 2 November to 4 November 1983. The injury benefit over and above the disability benefit already paid in respect of the period from 5 November to 12 November was withheld towards recovery of disability benefit overpaid for the period from 14 November to 19 November during which he was back in employment.
564.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will issue on an appeal for the maximum rate of unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £41 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £76.55 less £35.55 means. His means are derived from the profit from his holding and from self-employment.
He recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against him. A deciding officer revised the earlier decision and reduced the means assessed against him to £26 weekly. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £50.55 weekly effective from 12 October 1983.
All arrears due to him will be paid next week and payments of £50.55 weekly will continue to be made as they become due. If he is dissatisfied with the revised rate of means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal and to have the case determined by an appeals officer.
565.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 19 October 1983 on the grounds that by failing to furnish particulars of his means he failed to show that his means do not exceed the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance and the case was returned to the social welfare officer to allow the applicant a further opportunity to disclose his means. Inquiries are still being made but when these are completed his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of his decision.
566.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application from a person (details supplied) in County Galway for small holders unemployment assistance.
Following investigations 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 and capital exceeded the statutory limit.
He appealed and following extensive inquiries the case has recently been referred to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
567.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an appeal against his Department's decision in connection with the small holders unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned appealed against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim and in the light of contentions made by him in support of his appeal his case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these were completed his case was submitted to an appeals officer for determination.
The appeals officer requires further information about certain details of his income and the case was again referred to a social welfare officer. Inquiries are still being made but when they are completed the case will be re-submitted to the appeals officer and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
568.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an appeal against his Department's decision in connection with the small holders unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
An appeals officer assessed the means of the person concerned at £21 weekly derived from profit from his land. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £8.40 weekly being the maximum rate £29.40 less means £21. All arrears due were paid on 28 March 1984 and further weekly payments are being made as they become due.
569.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an appeal against his Department's decision to reduce the old age pension of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 8 March 1984 that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the weekly rate of £28.60 plus £14.40 adult dependant allowance plus £8.20 dependant child allowance from 14 October 1983. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means consisting of half the weekly value of a holding.
570.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is subject to the condition that a person must be fully available for work. The person concerned made a claim to unemployment assistance on 5 October 1982. Following the completion of inquiries his claim was disallowed on the grounds that he was not available for work. He was notified of the disallowance on 26 January 1983 and has not signed as unemployed since that date.
571.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim to unemployment assistance which refers to the person named in the details supplied. Further inquiries in the matter will be made if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the person concerned to be identified.
572.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an appeal against his Department's decision with regard to the unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 28 November 1983 and following investigation of his case by a social welfare officer he was assessed with £21.15 means weekly derived from board and lodging on his father's holding. He was accordingly entitled to payment of unemployment assistance at £6.85 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £28 less £21.15 means. He was advised of his right to appeal against the assessment but did not do so and ceased to sign as unemployed on 17 February 1984.
573.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an appeal against his Department's decision in relation to an application for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 8 August 1983 and following investigation of his case by a social welfare officer he was assessed with means of £25.60 weekly. His means are derived from the value of board and lodging on his father-in-law's holding. He was accordingly entitled to payment of unemployment assistance at £44.55 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £70.15 less means £25.60.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed and an appeals officer reduced the assessment of his means to £15 weekly with effect from 8 August 1983. He has been paid all arrears due to him as a result of this decision and weekly payments of £55.15 continue to be made as they become due.
574.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for an increased rate of unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that the means assessed against him £48.05 weekly exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him. His means were derived from the profit from land. He was advised of his right to appeal but did not do so. He last signed as unemployed on 27 December 1983.
575.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an appeal against his Department's decision with regard to the discontinuance of the unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
On 22 May 1984 an appeals officer decided that the means of the person concerned exceeded the statutory limit applicable to him £2,587 per annum and accordingly his unemployment assistance claim was disallowed. He was notified of the decision of the appeals officer last week.
576.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware of the hardship being endured by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who is forced to exist on £47 per week, out of which he must pay housing commitments of £17 per week; and if he will arrange to have his disability pension paid in full regularly.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 February 1984 and has been paid to 25 May 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received. Before payment on his claim commenced he was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance and the final £5 deduction to complete the refund of this to the Eastern Health Board was made from the payment made to him on 25 May 1984. From 26 May 1984 the rate of disability benefit applicable to him is £52.30 per week. This is the maximum rate for a widower with two dependent children.
577.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for unemployment assistance from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 21 November 1983 and following investigation his means were assessed at £19.20 weekly, derived from the profit from land. He is accordingly in receipt of £8.80 a week being the maximum rate payable to him £28 less £19.20 means. Weekly payments of £8.80 continue to be made as they fall due.
578.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for unemployment assistance from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following a reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were reassessed at £50.25 weekly, derived from capital and from the profit from land.
He is accordingly entitled to payment at £23.35 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £73.60 less £50.25. He was however overpaid unemployment assistance by reason of his failure to furnish details of his capital when previously in receipt of unemployment assistance and the amount overpaid is being deducted at £5 from current weekly payments of unemployment assistance. He is accordingly in receipt of weekly payments at £18.35 weekly.
579.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for unemployment assistance from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following a reinvestigation of his case the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 4 January 1984 on the grounds that the means assessed against him, £38.45 weekly, exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him. His means were derived from the profit from land. He did not appeal against the assessment of his means and ceased to sign as unemployed on 3 January 1984.
580.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for an old age pension from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated by the social welfare officer and forwarded to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of pension has not been recommended as her means, consisting of the weekly value of a CIE pension, exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension. If the person concerned is not satisfied with the committee's decision it will be open to her to appeal against it.
581.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an appeal against his Department's decision in relation to the unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following a reinvestigation of his case the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from the profit from land exceeded the statutory limit.
He appealed against the assessment of his means and in the light of contentions made by him in support of his appeal his case was referred again to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries are completed arrangements will be made to have the case determined by an appeals officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
582.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application from a person (details supplied) in County Galway for a widow's pension.
The claim to widow's non-contributory pension by the person concerned was refused because her means, derived from a holding and capital, were assessed at £153.69 per week, which exceeded the limit of £72 per week applicable to her. She was notified of this decision on 22 March 1984 and of her right to appeal if she was dissatisfied with it.
She appealed against this decision on 28 May 1984 and the appropriate appeal forms have been sent to her for completion. When these forms are returned to the Department her case will be submitted to an appeals officer for consideration and she will be notified of his decision as soon as it is available.
583.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for an increased rate of unemployment assistance from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned applied for a review of the means assessed against him for the purpose of his unemployment assistance claim. His case was referred to a social welfare officer for re-investigation and inquiries are still being made in the matter. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the outcome. In the meantime weekly payments of unemployment assistance at £24.45 being the maximum rate payable to him £70.15 less means £45.70 continue to be made as they become due.
584.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 21 September 1983 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 he was afforded an opportunity to disclose his means before his case was submitted to an appeals officer. The appeals officer decided that he had not established that his means did not exceed the statutory limit of £4,916.60 in his case. He was notified accordingly on 12 April 1984.
585.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath who signed at Trim employment exchange for six weeks.
The person concerned withdrew his application for unemployment assistance. He has ceased to sign as unemployed at his local office since 3 April 1984.
586.
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 for 12 weeks.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit but he did not fulfil the contribution condition of having at least 26 weeks of insurable employment since the date of his entry into insurance. He claimed unemployment assistance but as he has not yet attained the minimum age of 18 years for eligibility for unemployment assistance his claim was disallowed.
587.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be given in respect of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal against the disallowance of his unemployment benefit.
The appeal of the person concerned against the disallowance of his unemployment benefit claim has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. A hearing of the appeal will be arranged to take place at the earliest opportunity and the appellant will be notified of time and place. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
588.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the maximum rate of old age pension is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
It was decided by the local pension committee on 25 April 1984 that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the weekly rate of £28.60 from 25 April 1984, date claimant reached 66 years. This is the rate to which she is entitled having regard to the assessment of her means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding. The appropriate pension book payable from 25 April 1984 issued on 28 March 1984.
589.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway as he has been signing the unemployment register for the past three months.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance following exhaustion of his title to unemployment benefit on 8 February 1984, when he completed 390 days. Following the completion of investigations by a social welfare officer he was assessed with means of £3.45 weekly. He is accordingly entitled to payment of unemployment assistance at £25.95 weekly being the maximum rate payable £29.40 less means £3.45. All arrears due to him were paid last week. Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
590.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when it is proposed to make a social welfare payment to a person (details supplied) in County Galway who was off work because of illness during 1983.
There is no trace of a claim for disability benefit from the person concerned. According to the Department's records he was employed until 15 September 1983 after which he claimed unemployment benefit. He fulfilled the contribution conditions for payment of unemployment benefit at the maximum weekly rate payable to him £34.80 and weekly payments continue to be made to him as they become due.
591.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an application for an old age pension was received from a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and in view of the fact that the social welfare officer called on 26 March 1984 when a decision will be made regarding her pension.
The investigation of the old age pension claim of the person concerned which was received on 6 March 1984 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. The delay in this case is due to the fact that the social welfare officer is awaiting details of a will.
592.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason six weeks of non-contributory old age pension was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
To qualify for payment of pension for six weeks after his late wife's death, the person concerned would need to have been dependent on her. He is a pensioner in his own right, was not a dependant of his wife, and is not, therefore, qualified for this payment. Pension was cashed in full up to the date of his late wife's death and no further pension is, therefore, due in respect of her.
593.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not being paid unemployment assistance at the maximum rate rather than £16.50 which he is receiving at the moment.
The person concerned was paid unemployment assistance at £16.50 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £28 less £11.50 means. His means were derived from self-employment as a sub-contractor with local farmers. Following a recent review of his case his means were reduced to nil, effective from 30 April 1984. Accordingly, he is entitled to £28 weekly from 30 April 1984. He will be paid all the arrears due to him this week from 30 April 1984 to 15 May 1984 after which he ceased to sign as unemployed.
594.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not yet been paid unemployment assistance.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim to unemployment assistance which refers to the person in the details supplied. Further inquiries in the matter will be made if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the person concerned to be identified.
595.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the grounds on which the appeals officer and deciding officer concluded that the husband of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 did not leave of his own volition.
One of the conditions for receipt of a deserted wife's payment is that the husband of the claimant must have left her of his own volition. The claim of the person concerned was refused because both the deciding officer and appeals officer were satisfied that the husband was anxious for his wife to return with him to England where they had been married and lived for some time afterwards but she refused to do so. As a consequence it was held that he had not left her of his own volition.
596.
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 Drogheda employment exchange for six months.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 25 November 1983 at his local office. His case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. The social welfare officer made a number of calls to his home address but he failed to make himself available for interview. He did not continue to sign as unemployed at his local office after 25 November 1983 and no further action could be taken in the matter. He again claimed unemployment assistance on 14 May 1984 and this claim has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. When the investigations are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
597.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when deserted wife's benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath as she applied for it on 8 October 1983.
One of the conditions for the receipt of a deserted wife's payment is that a husband must have left his wife of his own volition. The deciding officer held that this condition was not satisfied by the person concerned and disallowed her claim. She appealed against the decision and the appeal is at present with an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of her case. She will be notified of the date and location of the hearing when the arrangements have been made.
598.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a hearing will be granted to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 who was disallowed unemployment benefit in May 1983, who appealed, but was never granted a hearing at that time and as a result was never officially disallowed.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 26 May 1983 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements were made to have him examined on 2 August 1983 by a different medical referee but he failed to attend. Arrangements were made for a further examination on 24 November 1983 and the medical referee who examined him on that date also considered him to be capable of work. The appeals officer decided on 5 March 1984 that the person concerned was not incapable of work from 26 May 1983 to 15 February 1984 (the date of the latest medical certificate before him at that time) and is not entitled to be paid disability benefit for that period. He was notified accordingly on 8 March 1984.
599.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 28 January 1984, following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the decision to disallow benefit and he was examined on 30 May 1984 by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. An appeal form has been issued to the claimant and he has been advised to return the form setting out the grounds for his appeal if he wishes his case to be referred to an appeals officer for determination.
600.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The entitlement of the person concerned to pay-related benefit with flat-rate unemployment benefit could not be determined until inquiries were completed to ascertain whether she was engaged in systematic short-time employment as she was employed on a limited number of days each week. The inquiries were recently completed and her entitlement to pay-related benefit has been established at the daily rate of £0.85. All arrears due were paid to her last week and further payments at the combined daily rate £5.67, representing flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit due, will be paid in respect of days of unemployment as they become due.
601.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was not granted free electricity.
An application for free electricity allowance from the person concerned was disallowed because, on the information available, the living alone condition of the scheme was not satisfied in his case. There was no indication on his application that his son, who resides with him, was receiving full-time education which would make him an excepted person for this purpose. He has now been asked to furnish evidence of school attendance in respect of his son. When this is received his entitlement to free electricity allowance will be reviewed and he will be notified of the outcome.
602.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was not granted free electricity.
An application for a free electricity allowance from the person concerned was disallowed because, on the information available, the living alone condition of the scheme was not satisfied in his case. There was no indication on his application that his daughter, who is resident with him, was receiving full time education which would make her an excepted person for this purpose. He has now been asked to submit evidence of school attendance in respect of his daughter. When this is received his entitlement to a free electricity allowance will be reviewed and he will be notified of the outcome.
603.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork who applied for a death grant did not receive an acknowledgment, and the reason the death certificate for her husband who died on 29 January 1984 has not been returned.
Death grant has been paid to the person concerned and the death certificate has been returned to her. Payment was held up for a time while difficulties in tracing the insurance record of her late husband were being resolved. The insurance number quoted initially was incorrect.
604.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for discrimination in payment of social welfare rates for married and unmarried females.
Differences in the rates of social welfare payments for married women and other categories have been a feature of social insurance since the present unified system was introduced in 1952.
This approach was undoubtedly relevant at that time when it was exceptional for a married woman to take up employment outside the home. Married women would normally have looked to their husbands for maintenance and those who did engage in employment would have done so, generally speaking, in order to augment the family income. The same level of responsibility or need would not have existed for them as in the case of other beneficiaries and it would also have been necessary to ensure that the level of payments to them did not provide an incentive to exploit the system. The married women who were not dependent on their husbands — such as those who were separated and not being maintained by their husbands — received the full rates of payment.
The elimination of the differences referred to is being considered in the context of the provision of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security in accordance with EEC Directive 79/7/EEC. Legislative proposals to deal with this matter will be introduced later this year.
605.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline the position with regard to an appeal against his Department's decision to discontinue payment of smallholders unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
An appeals officer assessed the means of the person concerned at £28 weekly derived from the profit from his land. He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £35.75 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £63.75 less means £28. Arrears due were paid on 22 February 1984 and weekly payments of £35.75 continue to be made as they become due.
606.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an appeal against his Department's decision to reduce the rate of smallholders unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
An appeals officer assessed the means of the person concerned at £59.50 weekly from 27 July 1983 and £58.15 weekly from 5 August 1983 derived from the profit from his land. He was accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £4.25 weekly from 27 July 1983 and £8.73 weekly from 5 August 1983 and weekly payments continue to be made to him. He recently applied for a review of his means and the case has been referred to the social welfare officer. When the completed report is received the assessment of his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
607.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an appeal against his Department's decision in connection with the unemployment benefit of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was an applicant for unemployment assistance from 13 October 1982 to 18 January 1983 after which he ceased to sign as unemployed and his claim was disallowed on the grounds that the means assessed against him, derived from self-employment, exceeded the statutory limit. A late application for appeal was accepted and the case was submitted to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer also assessed him with means in excess of the statutory limit and he was notified accordingly on 12 January 1984.
608.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an appeal against his Department's decision with regard to the non-contributory widow's pension of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The claim of the person concerned to non-contributory widow's pension was refused because her means exceeded the limit of £50 per week for the receipt of such pension by a widow under 66 years of age with one qualified child. Her appeal against the decision was disallowed by the appeals officer who also held that her means exceeded the £50 per week limit. The appeals officer assessed her means, derived from a holding and some capital, at £51.92 a week from 14 May 1983 to 5 October 1983 and at £58.01 per week from 6 October 1983 when her son reached the age of 18. The appeals officer's decision which was conveyed to the claimant on 14 March 1984 can only be reviewed in the event of new facts or fresh evidence in the case.
609.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for an old age pension made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned is in receipt of old age pension at the maximum rate of £38.60 per week from 23 January 1984.