asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit due to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly for some weeks will be paid.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
599.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 17 April 1984 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
She appealed against the disallowance of benefit and was examined on 26 June 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. She will be notified of the time and place fixed for the hearing as soon as the final arrangements have been made.
600.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the full rate of pay-related benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 June 1984 and has been paid to 15 October 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
He is not entitled to pay-related benefit from 5 July 1984 as the weekly rate of disability benefit payable from that date exceeds 75 per cent of his average reckonable weekly earnings in the 1982-83 tax year which governs his claim.
601.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying a living alone allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been in receipt of old age contributory pension since 31 December 1971. Details of his claim for a living alone allowance have been sent to the local social welfare officer for investigation. A decision will be made when the officer's report is received.
602.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment assistance at the correct rate to a person (details supplied) in County Cork and when payment will be increased.
The person concerned applied for unemployment benefit but her claim was disallowed as she did not satisfy the contribution conditions.
She claimed unemployment assistance and following an investigation of her case her means were assessed at £28 weekly derived from the benefit of board and lodging on her brother's holding. She is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £1.95 weekly being the appropriate rate £29.95 less £28 means.
She applied for a reinvestigation of the means assessed against her and her case was referred to a social welfare officer for examination. When these inquiries are completed the assessment of her means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to her will be determined accordingly.
603.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is being paid social welfare benefit at such a low rate and when the matter will be rectified.
The person concerned was originally assessed with means of £76.90 derived from self-employment. He appealed against this decision and an appeals officer reduced the means assessment to £38.45 weekly.
He is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance at £43.40 weekly being the appropriate rate of £81.85 less means of £38.45. He was paid all arrears due to him on 11 October 1984 and weekly payments of £43.40 continue to be made as they become due.
604.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork and when payment will be made.
The entitlement of the person concerned could not be determined until her case was investigated and her means assessed. Following the completion of inquiries she was assessed with means of £4 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in her parents' home. Accordingly she is entitled to unemployment assistance at £25.95 weekly being the appropriate rate £29.95 less means £4.
She ceased to sign as unemployed at her local office after 21 August 1984. A letter has been issued to her advising her to call to her local office to collect arrears due to her for the period 8 to 21 August 1984.
605.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Clare whose assistance payments have been discontinued.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that the means assessed against him £49 weekly exceeded the maximum rate appropriate to him as a single person. His means were derived from the profit from land and from capital.
He appealed against the decision and the case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer reduced the amount of means assessed against him to £43.25 but as this amount exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance appropriate to him his unemployment assistance claim was again disallowed. He was informed accordingly on 9 February 1984. He last signed as unemployed on 10 January 1984.
606.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
The old age pension book for £3 in respect of the over 80 years age allowance for the person concerned payable from 5 October 1984 did not issue to the local post office due to a clerical error which did not come to light until representations were received on 25 October 1984. The appropriate pension book has now been issued to the person concerned. There has in fact been no reduction in pension. Any inconvenience caused to the pensioner is regretted.
A letter received from the pensioner on 9 October 1984 has been accepted as an application for an increase in pension and has been referred to the social welfare officer for investigation. When the inquiries have been completed the matter will be referred to a deciding officer for decision and the pensioner will be notified of the outcome in due course.
607.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when social welfare benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who was given protective notice by his employers, the ESB, and laid off by them on 3 August 1984; and if payment can be expedited in view of the urgent need of the person.
The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution condition for unemployment benefit as the class of contributions paid by him do not provide cover against unemployment.
He claimed unemployment assistance and following the completion of inquiries his claim was disallowed on the grounds that he lost his employment by reason of a stoppage of work which was due to a trade dispute.
An appeal application has however been received from an employee of the ESB whose employment circumstances are the same as the person concerned and whose claim was disallowed under similar circumstances. In accordance with usual arrangements in dealing with trade dispute disqualifications the appeal will be treated as a test case and the outcome will be applied to other employees of the same grade or class whose claims were also disallowed. Accordingly the entitlement to unemployment assistance of the person concerned will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
608.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding an appeal for the maximum rate of old age pension made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Representations received on 11 July 1984 on behalf of the person concerned were accepted as an application for an increase in his old age pension and was referred to the social welfare officer for investigation. The social welfare officer is at present awaiting details from the pensioner's solicitor regarding a deed of transfer and when this information is available the matter will be referred to a deciding officer for decision. The pensioner will be notified of the outcome in due course.
609.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a children's allowance was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned submitted applications for extended allowance in respect of two school-going children on 19 September 1984. The appropriate allowance books have now been issued to her. These applications were not dealt with as promptly as normal due to the large influx of applications following the reopening of schools in September.
610.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who was injured in a traffic accident on 28 March 1984, has been unfit for work since, and has as yet received no benefit whatever, despite the fact that he was employed in insurable employment for 29 weeks in the previous tax year.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 29 March 1984. He submitted the claim to the Department on 30 August 1984 but no covering medical evidence was received. In view of the time lapse from the date of the commencement of his incapacity to the date he submitted the claim it was necessary to have the case investigated by an inspector of the Department.
He was interviewed by an inspector on 26 October 1984 and it was established that he was incapacitated from 29 March 1984. He was requested by the inspector to submit medical certificates to the Department covering the period of his illness. When these are received his claim will be reviewed.
611.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding an application for a free electricity allowance made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
An application for a free electricity allowance from the person concerned has been approved and the ESB have been instructed to apply the allowance to her electricity account from the September-October 1983 billing period onwards.
612.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a free electricity allowance has been stopped in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
To qualify for a free electricity allowance a person must reside alone or with categories of persons whose residence is excepted for the purposes of the scheme. A son of the person concerned who resides with him ceased to come within the categories of excepted persons on reaching the age limit of 18 years. The allowance was, accordingly, withdrawn in January 1984.
613.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding an application for an old age pension, free electricity allowance and free travel made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It was decided on 26 October 1984 that the person concerned is not entitled to any old age pension on the ground that his means were not fully disclosed. If the person concerned is now prepared to disclose fully details of his means he should notify the Departament to this effect and his case will be reinvestigated. His application for free electricity allowance has been disallowed on the ground that he is not in receipt of a qualifying pension. His free travel pass, however, issued on 25 October 1984.
614.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will grant an invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned has been awarded an invalidity pension from 30 August 1984. The pension book payable from 15 November 1984 has been issued to the designated post office of payment. Arrears in respect of the period from 30 August 1984 to 14 November 1984 less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period will be paid by payable order.
615.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 1 October 1984 and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries into his means. When these inquiries are completed his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the means assessed against him.
616.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that her means derived from the benefit of board and lodging on her father's holding exceeded the rate payable.
She appealed against the amount of means assessed against her and her claim has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. Her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
617.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to the payment of pay related moneys due to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned has been paid disability benefit from 16 August 1984, fourth day of incapacity, to 17 October 1984, date of latest medical evidence received. He is not entitled to pay-related benefit as the amount of disability benefit payable exceeds 75 per cent of his average reckonable weekly earnings in the 1982-83 tax year which governs his entitlement to pay-related benefit.
618.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway, despite the fact that he has been signing for a long period of time; if he is aware of this man's serious situation; if he will now direct his Department to make an immediate payment to this applicant; the weekly amount, the total arrears and the date on which all payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance of £28 weekly (being the appropriate rate £29.40 less £1.40 means derived from the value of capital) when he ceased to sign as unemployed after 5 June 1984. In the meantime the assessment of his means was reviewed and he was assessed with nil means so that when he resumed claiming unemployment assistance on 15 October 1984 he was paid the maximum rate of unemployment assistance appropriate to him £31.75 from that date.
The claim papers are at present in postal transit to the applicant's local office with the authorisation to pay adjusting arrears in respect of all periods of proved unemployment. Arrangements have been made to write to the Deputy and inform him of the total amount of arrears due when the specific periods of unemployment are known and the amount due is calculated.
619.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons the full rate of unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if he is aware of this man's serious situation; if he will now direct his Department to make full payments; the date on which full payment and all arrears will be paid to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £9.80 weekly being the appropriate rate £29.95 less means £20.15. His means are derived from the value of capital and from the value of board and lodging on his brother's holding. If he is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal against the decision. A form for this purpose can be obtained at his local office.
620.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 17 September 1984 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have him examined by a different medical referee as soon as possible. His entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
621.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension was withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 15 November 1983 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as he does not fulfil the statutory condition as to means. The assessment of his means, consisting of half the weekly value of his own and his wife's share of a holding and half the weekly value of payments to his wife under a deed of transfer, exceeds the statutory limit.
622.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free telephone rental allowance will be allocated to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
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 concerned 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 8 June 1984.
623.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to an application for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and the reason it has taken over 12 months to consider this case.
It has not been possible to identify the person concerned as there is no record of an unemployment assistance claim referring to a person of the same name and address as stated in the details supplied. There are however a number of persons of the same name residing in adjacent areas and if the Deputy will furnish additional details to enable this particular case to be identified, further inquiries will be made in the matter.
624.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a prescribed relative's allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, in respect of his nephew.
The person concerned is in receipt of old age contributory pension since 5 November 1976. Details of his claim for a prescribed relative's allowance have been sent to the local social welfare officer for investigation. A decision will be made when the officer's report is received.
625.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that an applicant is available for work and to be available for work an applicant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking employment.
The person concerned applied for unemployment benefit on 8 October 1984 and following the completion of inquiries her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was making no efforts to find employment and accordingly she was not available for work. Arrangements are being made to notify her of the decision in the case and the steps open to her to appeal and to have the matter determined by an appeals officer.
626.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in the light of medical evidence, the application for reassessment upwards of disablement pension will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned is in receipt of a disablement pension since 3 February 1984 at the rate appropriate to disablement assessed at 40 per cent. He is also in receipt of disability benefit. A medical referee examination has been arranged for 6 November 1984 following which the degree of disablement will be reviewed. Medical evidence was recently received from the claimant and this evidence will be taken into account in connection with the medical examination.
627.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason deserted wife's allowance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The claim of the person concerned to a deserted wife's payment was refused and she has appealed against the decision. The case has been sent for determination by an appeals officer. In the event of his holding an oral hearing of the appeal the claimant will be notified of the date and location of the hearing.