asked the Minister for Social Welfare if another assessment will be held for a person (details supplied) in County Cork who was in receipt of disability benefit but which was stopped as the result of an independent assessor's examination.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
351.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 2 October 1979 to 4 February 1984. Payment was disallowed from 6 February 1984, following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He claimed unemployment benefit from 8 February 1984 and he ceased to submit medical evidence of incapacity from 9 February 1984.
He again claimed disability benefit from 23 August 1984 and was paid from 27 August 1984, the fourth day of incapacity, to 8 October 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received. A form of appeal in respect of the period 6 February 1984 to 9 February 1984 has been sent to the claimant and when this is returned his case will be referred to the appeals officer for determination in respect of that period.
352.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has been refused to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has not signed as unemployed or completed an application for unemployment benefit but he did make an oral inquiry at his local office about his eligibility for unemployment benefit and stated that he was last employed in the United Kingdom. He was informed that he would not satisfy the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit on the basis of his Irish contribution record. In reply to his inquiries it was explained that under the provision of EC Regulations his British contribution record could not be taken into consideration for unemployment benefit purposes until after he had resumed insurable employment in this country with contributions payable at the class providing cover against unemployment.
He was advised that it was open to him to claim unemployment assistance but he conveyed that he did not wish to do so.
353.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for unemployment assistance will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Following re-investigation of his unemployment assistance claim, the means of the person concerned were reassessed at £19.20 per week. He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £48.95 weekly being the appropriate rate £68.15 less means £19.20.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and in the light of contentions made by him in support of his appeal the case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these investigations are completed the case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
354.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for disability benefit will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 18 April 1984 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the option that she was capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance and was examined on 30 May 1984 by a different medical referee who also considered her to be capable of work.
Her case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of her claim. She will be notified of the time and place of the hearing as soon as the arrangements have been made.
355.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason old age pension payments ceased to be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
Following a review of the old age non-contributory pension entitlement of the person concerned it was found that her husband had returned to work with the county council and consequently there had been an increase in her means. Accordingly it has been decided that she is not entitled to a pension on the ground that her means, consisting of half the weekly value of her husband's earnings, exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension.
However, notification received on 12 September 1984 stating that her husband's circumstances had now changed was accepted as a repeat claim and accordingly the matter has been referred back to the social welfare officer for further investigation. When inquiries have been completed, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome in due course.
356.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment assistance since 20 September 1984. His means were assessed at £36.35 weekly and he is entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £33.30 being the maximum rate appropriate to him £69.65 less means of £36.35.
He appealed against the means assessment and the case has been returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries arising from contentions raised in the appeal. When the investigations are completed the assessment will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
357.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit from 25 February 1984 in respect of a disease which he claimed arose due to the nature of his employment. Pending the completion of investigations, he was paid disability benefit on an interim basis. Following his examination by a medical referee, who expressed the opinion that he was not incapable of work due to the disease, payment of disability benefit was discontinued from 29 March 1984.
The claimant appealed against the disallowance of benefit and in connection with his appeal he was examined by a different medical referee who confirmed the earlier opinion. The appeal has now been referred to an appeals officer for decision. In the meantime the occupational nature of the incapacity was confirmed and injury and disablement benefit, as appropriate, allowed.
358.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 November 1982. Benefit has been paid to 6 October 1984, in accordance with medical certificates received in support of the claim. Because of an administrative error, a deduction of £29.22 was made from her claim, for the period from 16 January 1984 to 21 January 1984. The error was discovered on 9 August 1984 and an adjustment cheque for £29.22 was issued to her on that date. There are no arrears held by the Department.
359.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when deserted wife's benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
One of the conditions for the receipt of a deserted wife's payment is that the husband must have wilfully refused or neglected to contribute to the support and maintenance of his wife and children. The husband of the person concerned is contributing to her support and maintenance and that of their three children and the deciding officer therefore disallowed her claim. Notification of this decision and of her right to appeal against it if she is dissatisfied with it was issued to the claimant on 9 October 1984.
360.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Following a reinvestigation of the means of the person concerned he was assessed with nil means with effect from 2 April 1984 and his unemployment assistance claim was allowed and all arrears due were paid on 3 October 1984. Further payments at £29.95, the maximum rate of unemployment assistance appropriate to him, will be made as weekly payments become due.