asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny was disallowed payment of benefit on 12 and 14 June 1984, when she sat two Leaving Certificate exams as an external candidate, and would have been available for work if offered at the time.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
507.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit in respect of two days during the month of June when she sat for leaving certificate examinations was referred to a deciding officer for determination. Following the completion of inquiries in the matter her claim for the two days was allowed and payment was made on 23 August 1984.
508.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be paid a higher rate of unemployment assistance.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that the means assessed against him £33.85 weekly exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him. His means were derived from the value of board and lodging on his brother's holding.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and in the light of contentions made by him in support of his appeal his case was referred to a social welfare officer who is making further inquiries in the matter. When these investigations have been completed his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination of his means and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
509.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny is receiving the maximum rate of invalidity pension for himself and his wife; and, if not, if the matter will be reviewed.
The person concerned is in receipt of invalidity pension at the weekly rate of £70.15. This is the maximum rate payable in respect of a married man with no qualified child dependants who is under 66 years of age.
510.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will receive payment of unemployment assistance.
All arrears of unemployment assistance due to the person concerned were issued on 18 July 1984 and weekly payments followed as they became due. He is a postal applicant and the weekly rate of unemployment assistance payable to him at present is £28.55 being the maximum rate £29.95 weekly less £1.40 means derived from the value of board and lodgings on his parent's holding.
511.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who is in receipt of unmarried mother's allowance, will receive payment of arrears.
Following reinvestigation of this case, a deciding officer has held that the person concerned has not satisfied the conditions for entitlement to unmarried mother's allowance since 2 February 1984, the date from which the award of allowance had originally been made. The award of the allowance has therefore been withdrawn with effect from that date. Notification of this decision, and of her right to appeal if she is dissatisfied with it, has been sent to the person concerned.
512.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will receive disability benefit as he has completed two claim forms, and has now received a third although certificates have been furnished weekly for the past five weeks.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from the 25 May 1984 and payment was authorised from the 29 May 1984 the fourth day of incapacity. All benefit payable has been issued to the 28 September 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
513.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will receive unemployment assistance as she has been signing since January 1983.
The person concerned did not satisfy the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit at the date of her claim on 31 January 1984.
Inquiries to establish her contribution record were undertaken and these investigations were recently completed. Her claim was allowed and all arrears due were paid on 14 September 1984. She is no longer signing as unemployed and it is understood that she resumed employment.
514.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned was assessed with means at £35 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his parents' holding. His means accordingly exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him and his claim was disallowed. 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.
515.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment of unemployment benefit.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 2 April 1984 and her claim was disallowed to 12 May 1984, on the grounds that she lost her employment through her own misconduct. Her claim was disallowed further from 14 May 1984 on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against both disallowances and following an oral hearing of her case the appeals officer allowed her appeal.
All arrears of flat rate unemployment benefit were paid to her on 25 July 1984 and arrears of pay-related benefit paid on 1 August 1984. Combined weekly payments of £44.20 representing flat rate benefit £32.75 and pay-related benefit £11.45 continue to be made to her as they become due.
516.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any plans to reduce the qualifying age for old age pensioners to 65 years to bring it in line with other EEC countries.
The qualifying age for retirement pension under the social insurance system is already 65 years. Old age pension, contributory and non-contributory, is payable at age 66. The Government intend to publish a framework for a national pension plan and the question of the qualifying age for pension is one of the matters being considered in that context.
517.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be granted an increase in his unemployment assistance payment, in view of his current low level of payment.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £8.67 weekly being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him £31.75 less means £23.08. His means are derived from the value of his capital.
If the circumstances on which his means were assessed have changed it is open to him to apply for a reinvestigation of his case. An application form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
518.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will reconsider his decision in relation to the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford against the decision rejecting her claim for an old age non-contributory pension as she has to hand up a portion of the pension she receives to the convent and cannot manage on her present income.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 29 August 1984 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age (non-contributory) pension as her means, consisting of the weekly value of an occupational pension, exceed the statutory limit. The appeals officer's decision is final and conclusive except in the light of new evidence or fresh facts.
519.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if free electricity will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if so, when.
An application for a free electricity allowance from the person concerned has been approved and the ESB has confirmed that the allowance will be applied to his electricity account from the September-October 1984 billing period.
520.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be given an increase in his pension in view of the circumstances.
It was decided on 19 July 1984, that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the weekly rate of £6.60 plus £3.40 adult dependant allowance from 9 March 1984. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means consisting of half the weekly value of capital.
However, recent representations from the Deputy have been accepted as an appeal against the decision and the matter has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. The person concerned will be notified of the appeals officer's decision in due course.
521.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an increased rate of non-contributory widow's pension will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is in receipt of a non-contributory widow's pension of £6.50 per week. This is the appropriate rate for a widow under 66 years of age with no qualified children and with means between £38-£40 per week. She has been assessed with means of £38.46 weekly derived from a seventy acre farm.
The claimant has appealed against the rate of pension awarded to her and her case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. The information concerning her circumstances given by the Deputy will be conveyed to the appeals officer. She will be notified of his decision as soon as it becomes available.
522.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will explain the reason for the delay in the payment of a contributory widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if there is any difficulty in tracing her husband's contributions record.
The information supplied by the employers of the late husband of the person concerned in respect of his insurability in the periods September 1972 to 31 August 1974, April 1976 to December 1977 and April 1979 to April 1981, is in conflict with the records of the Department which as they stand are insufficient to qualify her for a widow's contributory pension. The matter has been referred to outdoor officers of the Department for a full investigation of the late husband's employments and when their reports are received a decision will be made on her claim and she will be advised of the outcome.
Meanwhile a widow's non-contributory pension is being paid to the claimant, currently at the rate of £42.65 per week. This is the rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years of age with two qualified children whose weekly means exceed £24 but do not exceed £26. Her means derived from capital were assessed at £24.65 per week.
523.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford can submit monthly certificates instead of weekly certificates when claiming disability benefit and eventually go on to invalidity pension in October 1984; and if his Department will forward the necessary application form to him in October when he becomes eligible for invalidity pension.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 October 1983 and payment has been issued to date. Since 27 July 1984 he has been submitting medical certificates on a monthly basis and payment is being issued at regular weekly intervals. A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to the claimant and on its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay.
524.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned made a claim to unemployment benefit on 8 June 1984. Inquiries had to be made to ascertain whether she had sufficient weeks of insurable employment during the contribution period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983 to qualify for receipt of benefit.
These inquiries have now been completed and her claim has been allowed at the maximum weekly rate of unemployment benefit payable to her £37.25. Arrangements have been made for payment of all arrears this week. Further weekly payments will continue as they become due.
525.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The entitlement to unemployment benefit of the person concerned could not be determined until inquiries to establish his British contribution record had been made. These inquiries were recently completed and his claim was allowed at the rate of £70.25 weekly unemployment benefit from 17 July 1984 and £27.85 pay-related benefit from 7 August 1984 and all arrears due were paid last week. Further weekly payments of £98.10 will be made as they become due.
526.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if payment of unemployment benefit will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford and if so, when.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that an applicant must be available for work and to fulfil this condition an applicant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking employment.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 25 June 1984 and her claim was disallowed from that date to 18 September 1984 on the grounds that she was not available for work. However, a deciding officer was satisfied that she fulfilled the condition of being available for work with effect from 19 September 1984 and her claim was allowed at the maximum rate of unemployment benefit payable to her £32.75 weekly, from that date. All arrears due were paid to her last week and further payments will be made as weekly payments become due.
527.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is in receipt of maximum rate old age pension since 17 August 1984. It has been confirmed with the local post office that she is in receipt of her book since that date.
528.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a deserted wife's allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned has been awarded deserted wife's allowance with effect from 15 March 1984 in respect of herself and one qualified child at the maximum rate of £47.70 per week, increased to £51.05 from 5 July 1984. An order book payable from 13 September 1984 was sent to the designated post office for collection by the claimant on 11 September 1984 and she was notified accordingly.
A payable order in respect of arrears for the period from 15 March to 12 September 1984, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to her by the South Eastern Health Board during that time, will be issued direct to her shortly.
529.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an invalidity pension will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 3 February 1984 and payment is being made at regular weekly intervals. Invalidity pension is payable in place of disability benefit to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work.
The person concerned was examined in June last by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was not permanently incapable of work and asked to have him referred for further examination after six months. The question of entitlement to invalidity pension will be considered after that examination.
530.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if two week's arrears of a contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The amount of contributory old age pension for the two weeks in question (orders dated 20 April 1984 and 27 April 1984) has been issued direct to the person concerned by payable order. The replacement book issued to him at the time contained orders payable from 4 May 1984.
531.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 25 June 1984 and her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance on 24 August 1984 and arrangements are being made to have her case heard at the earliest opportunity. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
532.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a couple (details supplied) in South Tipperary were not granted the old age non-contributory pension.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 28 June 1983 that the persons concerned are not entitled to a non-contributory old age pension as they do not fulfil the statutory condition as to means. Their means consisting of half the weekly value of a holding exceed the statutory limit for pension entitlement.
533.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded unemployment assistance payments.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on 11 May 1983 on the grounds that his means derived from self-employment were deemed to exceed the statutory limit for receiving unemployment assistance.
He made a repeat application and his claim was again disallowed on 5 April 1984 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 this disallowance and he was afforded an opportunity to disclose his means before his case was submitted to an appeals officer.
His case was reconsidered by a deciding officer again on 16 April 1984 in the light of a fresh social welfare officer's report, and he was again assessed with means exceeding the statutory limit. He has been informed accordingly and he has not appealed against this decision.
534.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £11.70 being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to her £30.90 less means £19.20. She appealed against the amount of means assessed against her and her case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to her will be reviewed in the light of the assessment of her means by the appeals officer.
535.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of social assistance will be paid to an unmarried mother (details supplied) in County Wexford.
A payable order for £182.15, being £10.85 per week for the 14 week period from 8 March 1984 to 20 June 1984 plus £19.40 for the week 21 June 1984 to 27 June 1984 (£69.40 less £50 supplementary welfare allowance paid to her by the South Eastern Health Board), was sent to the person concerned on 2 October 1984.
536.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be paid a non-contributory old age pension in view of his financial circumstances.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 1 August 1984 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension on the ground that he failed to fully disclose his means. The claimant was notified of the appeals officer's decision on 3 August 1984.
A repeat claim to old age pension has since been received from the person concerned. The matter is under investigation at present and he will be notified of the outcome in due course.
537.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be approved for free telephone rental.
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 who are so permanently incapacitated as to be unable to summon aid in an emergency.
The person referred to in the Deputy's question is residing with his wife, who is not, from the information furnished, a permanently incapacitated person. Accordingly, a free telephone rental allowance cannot be applied in this case. The applicant was notified to this effect on 30 March 1984.
538.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is entitled to pay-related benefit and if he is receiving the maximum rate of unemployment benefit.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat rate unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the weekly rate of pay-related benefit, flat rate unemployment benefit and tax rebate may not exceed 85 per cent of the net average weekly earnings of an applicant.
The 85 per cent limit of the person concerned was £95.25 weekly. He is however in receipt of flat rate unemployment benefit at £111.30 weekly and as this amount exceeds the 85 per cent limit in his case he is not entitled to pay-related benefit. The weekly flat rate of £111.30 is the maximum rate of unemployment benefit payable to a married man with six qualified children.
539.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford received the full rate of unemployment benefit since his claim in April 1983, if he is entitled to any pay-related benefit and why his rate of unemployment assistance is higher than his previous rate of unemployment benefit.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 18 April 1983 and his claim was allowed at the maximum weekly rate for a single person of £31.65. However he did not satisfy the contribution conditions for continuous payment at the maximum rate after exhaustion of 156 days of benefit and the rate of unemployment benefit payable to him from 22 October 1983 was reduced to £28.90 weekly. The rate was increased to £30.90 from 5 July 1984 in line with the budget increases and the claimant exhausted his entitlement to unemployment benefit on 20 July 1984. He had insufficient earnings in the relevant tax year to be entitled to pay-related benefit with his flat-rate unemployment benefit.
He is now in receipt of unemployment assistance at a weekly rate of £31.75 which is a special rate of payment for persons who have been unemployed and on the unemployment register for fifteen months or more and who are in receipt of unemployment assistance payments only.
540.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the means assessed for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford for unemployment assistance will be reconsidered as the present assessment is inaccurate.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of £13.40 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £94.15 less means of £80.75. His means were derived from self-employment. He appealed against this decision and the appeals officer upheld the assessment of his means at £80.75 weekly and he was notified accordingly on 20 August 1984.
He recently applied for a review of the means assessed against him. Arrangements are being made to have his case investigated by a social welfare officer after which the means assessed against him will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
541.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in payment of contributory widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned whose claim to pension was received on 14 August 1984 has been awarded a widow's contributory pension at the weekly rate of £43.45 with effect from 3 August 1984, the Friday following her husband's death. This is the maximum rate of contributory pension payable to a widow under 66 years who has no qualified children. A pension order book was sent to the designated post office on 27 September 1984 for collection by the claimant and she was notified accordingly.
542.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in providing a children's allowance book to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
A renewal allowance book was issued in June, 1984 to the claimant's post office of payment for collection by her.
The claimant reported that she did not receive this book and a replacement was issued direct to her home address on 13 September 1984.
543.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a burial grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The claim of the person concerned has not yet been decided as it has not proved possible to trace his insurance record. He was requested to supply his insurance number but he omitted to quote this number when replying to the request. He has again been requested to quote the number or details necessary to trace it.
In the reply to the original request, he did, however, state that he had retired on pension from the Army in 1972. It may be, therefore, that he does not satisfy the contribution conditions for receipt of death grant. In order to qualify, a minimum of 26 contributions, paid or credited, are required in the 1982-83 income tax year. Alternatively, the grant would be payable if the claimant had a yearly average of 26 such contributions for 1970 to 1982-83.
544.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension and living alone allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned whose husband died on 25 August 1984, has been awarded a widow's contributory pension at the weekly rate of £44.30 with effect from 12 October 1984. This is the maximum rate of pension payable to a widow over 66 years and under 80 years of age, who has no qualified children.
Her late husband had been in receipt of an old age contributory pension of £87.55 per week which included an increase in respect of his wife and this was paid to her for six weeks after his death up to 11 October 1984, in place of widow's pension.
The claimant has in addition been awarded a living alone allowance at the weekly rate of £3.20 also effective from 12 October 1984. A pension order book and a living alone allowance book, with orders payable from 12 October 1984, have been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly.
545.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork and the reason for the delay in this case.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is subject to the condition that an applicant must be available for and genuinely seeking work.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 30 May 1984. Following the completion of inquiries his application was disallowed on the ground that he was not available for or genuinely seeking work. He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have his case heard at the earliest opportunity. 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 the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not being paid her unmarried mother's allowance as she applied in late June.
The person concerned has been awarded an allowance at the maximum rate of £51.05 per week from 12 July 1984 and an allowance book payable from 11 October 1984 has been sent to the designated post office for collection by her. She has been notified to this effect. Arrears for the period 12 July to 10 October 1984 will be issued shortly by payable order after adjustments have been made in respect of maternity benefit and supplementary welfare allowance paid to her during that period.
547.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary is only being paid £32.05 per week old age pension; when the full rate of pension will be paid and if payment will be made retrospective.
It was decided on 29 August 1984 that the person concerned is entitled to old age pension at the weekly rate of £18.60 plus £9.40 adult dependant allowance from 3 February 1984 increasing to £21.30 plus £10.75 from 6 July 1984.
This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means consisting of half the weekly value of earnings from self-employment and letting of land.
If the pensioner is dissatisfied with the decision it is open to him to appeal against it. If on the other hand, his circumstances have changed since the investigation it is open to him to apply to the Department for an increase in his old age pension.
548.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of unmarried mothers in receipt of unmarried mothers' allowance in the State, (a) for one child; (b) for two children; (c) for three children; (d) for four children; (e) for over four children; the maximum number of children for an unmarried mother in receipt of the unmarried mothers' allowance and the number of such families; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The number of recipients of unmarried mother's allowance at 30 September 1984 was 9,754. Of these 8,126 have one child; 1,200 have two children; 261 have three children; 99 have four children and 48 have over four children. The maximum number of children on an unmarried mother's claim at present is nine and there are two such families.
549.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of additional staff who have been recruited to his Department to deal with work arising from the new family income supplement scheme and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Twenty-four additional staff have been allocated to Family Income Supplement Scheme work. To date 18 of these have been assigned for duty.
The numbers assigned to deal with work arising from the scheme will be reviewed in the light of the number of applications received.
550.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who is on an invalidity pension and who lives alone is not getting a living alone allowance.
The person concerned was awarded invalidity pension from 16 December 1982. The present weekly rate of pension payable for a single man is £42.55. Living alone allowance is payable to invalidity pensioners who are living alone and aged 66 or over. As the person concerned has not attained 66 years of age a living alone allowance is not payable.
551.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has not been paid unemployment benefit, and when payment will be made.
The person concerned was disqualified from receipt of unemployment benefit for six weeks from 13 July 1984 to 24 August 1984 as she lost her employment through misconduct. She has appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have her case determined by an appeals officer. Her claim was allowed from 25 August 1984 at the weekly rate of £37.25 and all payments due to date have been made.
552.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is entitled to pay-related benefit and if so, when it will be paid.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 July 1984 and was paid from 16 July 1984, fourth day of incapacity. He was also paid pay-related benefit from 2 August 1984, nineteenth day of incapacity. All disability and pay-related benefit payable to 18 August 1984, after which date he was certified as fit to resume work, has been issued.
553.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite a decision on the appeal made by a person (details supplied) in County Wexford against the decision on her claim for a deserted wife's allowance.
In conjunction with her appeal, the person concerned sought clarification of certain points in relation to the decision in order that she might submit evidence in support of the appeal. A reply was issued to her on 11 September 1984 and no response has been received to this. A further letter is now being sent to her and if she then wishes to pursue her appeal the case will be referred immediately to an appeals officer.
554.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason that a person (details supplied) in County Cavan has been deprived of unemployment assistance.
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 the appeals officer also decided that his means exceeded the statutory limit. He recently advised his local office that he wished to have his case reinvestigated and he was furnished with an application form for this purpose. When he returns the completed form his case will be referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries following which the assessment of his means will be reviewed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
555.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 7 June 1983 to 14 June 1983 and from 15 August 1983 to 15 December 1983. She did not, however, satisfy the contribution conditions for payment of benefit on the basis of her Irish contribution record during the relevant governing contribution period 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982. She was employed in the United Kingdom and details of her contribution record were requested from the Department of Health and Social Security to enable her entitlement to unemployment benefit to be determined.
The Department have again got in touch with the British authorities and have made available the details of her employment together with the address of her employer during the relevant period. When details of her British contribution record are received her entitlement to unemployment benefit during the periods of her two unemployment benefit claims will be determined.
556.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a prescribed relative's allowance has not been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who is an old age pensioner and is being looked after constantly by her son who has no other form of employment or means and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following the receipt of representations from the Deputy in June 1983 an application form on which to claim a prescribed relative allowance was sent to the person concerned (who is in receipt of a widow's contributory pension) for completion. There is no record of the form ever having been returned to the Department.
In view of the Deputy's question a social welfare officer has been requested to call on her for the purpose of having an application form completed and to report on her circumstances. On receipt of the application a decision will be given without delay and she will be notified of the outcome.
557.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason there has been a reduction in the single woman's allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when will this be reviewed and if back payment will be made on the moneys due to her.
Following a re-investigation of the means of the person concerned she was assessed with means at £15.38 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on her brother's holding. Her single woman's allowance was accordingly reduced from £27.35 to £19.35 weekly.
She appealed against the amount of means assessed against her and an appeals officer reduced the assessment of her means to £15 weekly. She is accordingly entitled to single woman's allowance at £21.35 weekly being the rate payable to a single woman assessed with means over £13 and up to £15 weekly. A single woman's allowance book at the rate of £21.35 has been issued to her and a paying order in respect of adjusting arrears will issue to her shortly.
558.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded free telephone rental allowance.
In order to qualify for a free telephone rental allowance a person must be receiving a qualifying social welfare payment and be 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 the event of an emergency. The person concerned who is in receipt of a qualifying payment is residing with his wife. He was, therefore, requested to submit medical evidence in respect of her in support of his application. When his reply is received a decision will be given on his application and he will be notified of the outcome.
559.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the long delay in having the claim for unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny examined and finalised and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned has been in continuous receipt of unemployment assistance since his claim commenced on 26 May 1979. He is at present in receipt of £72.25 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him as a long term recipient of unemployment assistance with an adult dependant and two qualified children and nil means assessed against him.
560.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's contributory pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's contributory pension at the weekly rate of £44.30 with effect from Friday 24 August 1984. This is the maximum rate of contributory pension payable to a widow over 66 years and under 80 years of age who has no qualified children.
A pension order book with orders payable from 24 August 1984 was issued to the designated post office for collection by her on 19 September 1984 and she was notified accordingly.
The woman's late husband had been in receipt of an old age contributory pension at the rate of £78.75 per week which included an increase in respect of his wife and payment of this pension was made to her for six weeks after his death on 12 July 1984 in place of widow's pension. She has in addition recently been awarded a living alone allowance at the rate of £3.20 per week, also from 24 August 1984. An allowance order book with orders payable from 24 August 1984 was sent to the post office on 3 October 1984 for collection by her.
561.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will have his payments of unemployment assistance increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £33.25 weekly being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him £72.25 less means £39. His case was referred to a social welfare officer for a reinvestigation of his means and inquiries are still being made in the matter. When the investigations are completed the assessment of his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
562.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the spouse of a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be included on his free travel pass; and if not, the reason why the spouse cannot be included in this case.
The spouse of any free travel recipient may travel free when accompanying that person. The wife of the person concerned is therefore entitled to travel free with her husband without further authorisation.
563.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why the rate of children's allowance payable to a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been reduced and if it will be restored to the original rate and the book and arrears of allowance issued without delay to the claimant.
Inquiries made by the Department in June 1984 established that a daughter of the claimant had been placed in care in October 1980. The child in question could not, therefore, be regarded as normally resident with the claimant and children's allowance was not payable in respect of the child for this reason. The claimant, however, failed to notify the Department of the circumstances and continued to cash children's allowances up to and including June 1984.
An overpayment of £447.75 resulted and recovery of the overpayment is being effected by deduction of £12.05 per month from the claimant's current entitlement of £48.20 in respect of four qualified children. An allowance book payable at £36.15 per month from September 1984 was issued to her on 18 August 1984.