asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny has had disability benefit discontinued on 31 May 1984; and if he will arrange to have his case reinvestigated by an appeals officer as a matter of urgency particularly in view of the fact that he is waiting to go into hospital.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
459.
Payments of disability benefit was disallowed to the person concerned from 31 May 1984, following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He was informed on 6 June 1984 of his right to appeal against the disallowance of benefit if dissatisfied with the decision. The Deputy's representations are being accepted as an appeal on his behalf and in this connection a further examination by a different medical referee is being arranged.
460.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider an appeal from a person (details supplied) in County Galway for an old age pension whose application has been refused due to incorrect information which was accepted by the pension officer.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 4 January 1984 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as his means exceed the statutory limit. The assessment of his means consists of the weekly value of payments to which he is entitled under an agreement in which he relinquishes his interest in the estate of his late wife. The appeals officer indicated on 26 March 1984, in response to a letter from the pensioner, that there were no new facts or evidence which would warrant a revision of his decision.
461.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of children's allowance due will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The claimant is currently in receipt of £11.25 per month which is the correct rate of allowance payable in respect of her daughter. There are no arrears due in respect of this child. Payment for her son was discontinued from July 1983 as the school certificate supplied in support of her claim for allowance only covered his attendance until June 1983. The claimant has been invited to claim continuation of allowance in respect of this child if the conditions for payment of the allowance after age 16 are satisfied in his case. When her application is received a decision will be given and any allowance due will be issued without delay.
462.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of deserted wife's benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for the delay in payment.
A payable order in respect of the arrears of deserted wife's benefit has now been sent to the person concerned. The arrears were held on the assumption that a claim was pending from the Southern Health Board for supplementary welfare allowance paid to her while she awaited a decision on her application for deserted wife's benefit. However, it is now clear that she did not receive any payment from the board. The delay caused by this error is regretted.
463.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Following a reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were reassessed from 25 January 1984 at £24.80 weekly derived from the profit from his holding. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at £4.60 weekly which is the appropriate maximum rate in his case of £29.40 less means £24.80.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
464.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the pension application of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when a decision on her case will be conveyed to her.
465.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the pension application of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when a decision on this case will be conveyed to him.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 464 and 465 together as the persons concerned are a married couple. It was decided by the local pension committee on 6 March 1984 that the persons concerned are not entitled to old age pensions as their means were not fully disclosed. If the persons concerned are now prepared to disclose details of their means, they should notify the Department to that effect and their cases will be reinvestigated.
466.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay an old age pension at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned is in receipt of an old age pension of £37 a week, which includes an adult dependant allowance of £12.40 in respect of his wife. His claim for an increase in his pension has been investigated and payment of an increase has not been recommended as the assessment of his means consisting of half the weekly value of a holding only entitles him to a pension of £37 a week. He will be notified of the decision on his claim for an increase as soon as possible.
467.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability payments are being made irregularly to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will take steps to see to it that these payments are sent out on a weekly basis as they should be.
All disability benefit and pay-related benefit payable to 11 June 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received, has been issued to the person concerned. Payment is normally made on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity in the Department, but due to an administrative error there was a delay in issuing payment for the period 14 May to 21 May 1984. Payment for this period was issued on 29 May 1984.
468.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an increase in the old age pension of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be paid.
The woman concerned who is a widow is in receipt of old age non-contributory pension at the weekly rate of £14.60.
Since the death of her husband on 12 April 1984, however, she is entitled to receive a widow's contributory pension at the rate of £41.40 per week in place of the old age pension. This is the maximum rate payable to a widow who is over 66 and under 80 years. She has been requested to return her old age pension book and when this is received the widow's pension book at the higher rate will be issued to the designated post office for collection by her. Arrears will be sent direct to her by payable order.
The claimant's late husband had an insurance record in Britain and the relevant papers have been forwarded to the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle upon Tyne, in order to have possible title to a widow's pension from the British authorities examined. That Department will notify her of the result.
469.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned made a claim for unemployment benefit on 31 March 1984. Inquiries had to be made to ascertain the period for which she was paid disability benefit and also to establish whether she fulfilled the condition of being available for work from the date of claim. These investigations were recently completed and her unemployment benefit claim was allowed at the weekly flat-rate of £30.60 with effect from 31 March 1984. All arrears due will be paid this week and further weekly payments of £30.60 will be made as they become due.
470.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a travel pass will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
A free travel pass was issued to the person concerned on 15 June 1984.
471.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
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 will be made in the matter if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the person concerned to be identified.
472.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 28 January 1982 to 29 February 1984. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
She appealed against the disallowance and in connection with her appeal, she was examined by a different medical referee who considered that she was incapable of work. Benefit was accordingly restored from 1 March 1984 and all benefit payable from that date has been issued.
473.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following a reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were reassessed from 14 March 1984 at £50 weekly, derived from self-employment. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at £42.35 weekly which is the appropriate maximum rate in his case of £92.35 less means £50.
474.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of living alone allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was awarded an old age contributory pension with effect from 21 October 1983. He indicated on the claim from at that stage that he was not living alone. He subsequently claimed a living alone allowance and this was awarded to him, also with effect from 21 October 1983.
A supplementary book for the living alone allowance containing orders payable from 6 April 1984 was issued to the designated post office for collection by him and he was notified accordingly. The arrears due from 21 October 1983 were issued to him by payable order on 28 May 1984.
475.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Old age pension of £25 a week, which includes an adult dependant allowance of £8.40 in respect of his wife, was restored to the person concerned recently.
It was subsequently decided by an appeals officer that the wife of the person concerned is also entitled to a pension of £16.60 a week from 18 April 1984. The adult dependant allowance is no longer payable, therefore, and when the pension books which the husband holds are returned to the Department, pension books for £16.60 each will be issued to the couple. A payable order in respect of arrears due will be issued separately.
476.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 24 January 1984. Following investigation of his means by a social welfare officer his unemployment assistance claim was disallowed on the grounds that his means from self-employment exceeded the statutory limit applicable to him of £3,387 per annum.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arising from contentions raised in the appeal his case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were recently completed and the case has 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. He is in the meantime in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
477.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The entitlement of an applicant to pay-related benefit with flat-rate unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the sum of weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit, pay-related benefit and income tax refunds may not exceed 85 per cent of the average net weekly earnings of the claimant. The method of calculating the 85 per cent is prescribed by regulations.
The person concerned made a claim to unemployment benefit on 8 November 1983. The 85 per cent limit for pay-related benefit purposes applicable in his case is £60 weekly based on his earnings in Ireland during the 1983-1984 tax year. However as he is in receipt of flat-rate unemployment benefit at £82.50 weekly and as this amount exceeds the 85 per cent limit in his case, he is not entitled to pay-related benefit.
The person concerned was employed in Libya from June 1983 to November 1983 and his earnings from this employment have not been taken into account in the calculation of his 85 per cent limit. Earnings derived from employment outside the EEC area are not normally included in the calculation of the 85 per cent limit. He has stated that his contract of employment in Libya was with an Irish company and that PAYE and PRSI deductions were made by his employer during the period in question. He has been requested to furnish further details of the employment and when these are received his claim to pay-related benefit will be reviewed.
478.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of people unemployed in (a) the Firhouse area and (b) Kilnamanagh, broken down between those signing on at those centres and those signing on elsewhere in Dublin.
All people registered as unemployed in the Tallaght area including those in Firhouse and Kilnamanagh sign on in the signing centre at Tallaght. Payments to unemployed people from Firhouse are made at Ailesbury Post Office while payments to those from Kilnamanagh are made at Kilnamanagh Post Office. The number of people registered as unemployed in (a) Firhouse is 141 (estimated) and (b) Kilnamanagh is 600.