asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as he is married with four children and is paying a high rent on his council house.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
629.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means exceeded the statutory limit. His means were derived from the value of capital and from the profit from his holding. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and an appeals officer also assessed him with means exceeding the statutory limit. His unemployment assistance claim was again disallowed and he was notified accordingly.
630.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as he is signing for ten weeks and can get only 16 hours work per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned applied for unemployment benefit but his entitlement to benefit cannot be determined until inquiries to establish his contribution record during the relevant contribution period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983 have been completed. He recently applied for unemployment assistance pending the outcome of his unemployment benefit claim and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. When the inquiries are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
631.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry since May 1984.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance at £3.80 weekly being the appropriate rate £17.80 less means £14 derived from the notional value of his land. His claim was sent for factual assessment of means by a social welfare officer. However, due to a clerical error payment was suspended during the course of the investigation.
The person has now been assessed with means in excess of the statutory limit with effect from 7 November 1984. His unemployment assistance claim has accordingly been disallowed from that date and he has been advised of the decision and of his right to have his case referred to an appeals officer for determination. Payment of arrears in respect of the period during which payment was suspended will be made this week.
632.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an application for the restoration of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed 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 assessment. Arising out of contentions made by him in support of his appeal his claim was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were completed recently, and in the light of a fresh social welfare officer's report a deciding officer in a revised decision assessed him with means exceeding the statutory limit. His means were derived from the capital value of property and from the profit from his holding. He has been informed accordingly and he has also been informed of his right to appeal.
633.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an application for an old age pension by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It has been decided that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age non-contributory pension on the ground that his means were not fully disclosed. He had lodged an appeal against the decision and his case was referred to an appeals officer. However, the appeals officer has requested further information in the matter before giving his decision. When this information is received the case will be referred back to the appeals officer for determination and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome in due course.
634.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an application for a deserted wife's allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be sanctioned by his Department.
The claim of the person concerned to a deserted wife's payment is at present with a local officer of the Department for investigation. It is anticipated that the officer will call on both the claimant and her husband shortly. When the reports on the case are received a decision will be given and the claimant will be notified. Meanwhile it is understood that the claimant is in receipt of a supplementary welfare allowance payment from the Western Health Board.
635.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on maternity benefit for an applicant (details supplied) in County Galway.
All maternity benefit due to the person concerned has now been issued. The authorisation of payment was held up for some time while difficulties concerning her contribution record were being resolved.
636.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 is not receiving full unemployment assistance payments.
The person concerned has not claimed unemployment assistance. He has, however, applied for a supplementary welfare allowance and it is understood from the Eastern Health Board, which is responsible for the administration of this scheme in the Dublin area that he is at present in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance at the rate of £13.70 per week. Under the legislation governing the scheme one of the items which must be taken into account in the assessment of means is the value of board and lodgings and the person concerned, who is living at home with his parents, has been assessed with means of £16.25 weekly in respect of the value of board and lodgings and the maximum rate of supplementary welfare allowance has been reduced accordingly in his case.
637.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to persons (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The local pension committee decided on 30 June 1984 that the persons concerned were each entitled to old age pension at the maximum rate of £38.60 from 28 November 1983. However, the social welfare officer lodged an appeal against this decision on the ground that their means exceeded the statutory limit for entitlement to pension and the case was referred to an appeals officer. The appeals officer requested further information in this matter before giving his decision.
The social welfare officer is at present awaiting a reply from the claimant's solicitor concerning a deed of transfer. When this is received the matter will be referred for decision and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
638.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the maximum amount of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following reinvestigation of his claim by a social welfare officer the means of the person concerned were assessed at nil with effect from 27 September 1984. He is, therefore, entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £29.95 weekly. Arrears due from 27 September 1984 will issue to him this week. Weekly payments of £29.95 will continue to be made as they become due.
639.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payment of the maximum amount of disability benefit will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned appealed against the disallowance of disability benefit following his examination by a medical referee who considered him to be capable of work. He was examined on 17 July 1984 by a different medical referee who also considered him to be capable of work.
His case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing. He will be notified of the time and place of the hearing as soon as the arrangements have been made.
640.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been signing for unemployment assistance for the past three years without receipt of moneys will have his case reconsidered.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on 29 January 1981 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 that decision and an appeals officer on 19 March 1982 also decided that by failing to furnish details of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.
His claim was reviewed in August 1982 and again in June 1983 and on both occasions he was assessed with means exceeding the statutory limit. His means were derived from the profit from his holding and from the value of capital.
He recently requested a further review of his claim and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries into his means. When these inquiries are completed the assessment of his means will be reviewed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the outcome.
641.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
Following the recent completion of inquiries the application of the person concerned for an increase in the rate of unemployment benefit for a housekeeper and three child dependants has been allowed and arrangements have been made to pay adjusting arrears this week.
Further weekly payments of unemployment benefit at £88.35 weekly will be made as they become due.
642.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who applied for a widow's pension in June of this year has not yet received a reply from his Department.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at the weekly rate of £35.85 with effect from 8 June 1984, the Friday following the receipt of her claim. This was the personal rate of non-contributory pension payable to a widow under 66 years who has weekly means exceeding £6 but not exceeding £8. The rate was increased to £38.50 a week from 6 July 1984. Her means were assessed at £6.93 per week derived from an amount of capital.
A pension book with orders payable from 5 October 1984 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. Arrears for the period from 8 June 1984 to 4 October 1984 will be sent direct to her shortly by means of a payable order.
643.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the application for dental benefit of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The Department have no record of the receipt of a claim for dental benefit in respect of the person concerned during the current year. The last claim was approved in August 1982 and the dentist was paid in full for the treatment provided. The dentist mentioned by the Deputy has confirmed that he has not submitted a claim on behalf of the person concerned since that time.
The person concerned is qualified for dental benefit. If further treatment is now required he should contact his dentist and arrange to have the necessary application form forwarded to the Department.
644.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has not received unemployment assistance even though he is signing for the past seven weeks.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 26 September 1984 and his claim was referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries into his means. Inquiries are still being made in the matter as the applicant has not, to date, furnished documentary evidence in connection with boat expenses and the sale of fish.
When these inquiries are completed, his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
645.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
Following a reinvestigation of his case by a social welfare officer, the means of the person concerned were assessed at £61.40 weekly with effect from 19 September 1984. His means were derived from profit from land and from the value of capital. His rate of unemployment assistance was reduced to £32.60 weekly being the appropriate rate £94 less £61.40.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
646.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payment of arrears of unemployment benefit will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit from the Department of Health and Social Security when he was resident in the United Kingdom. He removed to this country and applied to the British authorities for a transfer of his entitlement to unemployment benefit from the date on which he took up residence here in accordance with the provisions of EC regulations. The British authorities recently authorised payment of unemployment benefit for 79 days from 6 June 1984 to 5 September 1984 at the daily rate of £8.94 and arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of benefit due this week.
647.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be given to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal in respect of his appeal against a reduction in unemployment assistance.
The person concerned who is a recipient of unemployment assistance recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against him on 8 June 1983.
The time allowed for lodging an appeal has expired but his case was referred to a social welfare officer for a reinvestigation of his means. When these inquiries are completed the assessment of his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
In the meantime weekly payments of unemployment assistance at £12.70, being the appropriate rate £31.75 less £19.05 means, continue to be made to him.
648.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be given to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal in relation to his appeal against a reduction in unemployment assistance as his appeal was submitted to his Department in early August 1984.
The person concerned appealed against the means assessment in his case and arising from contentions raised in the appeal it was necessary to return the case to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were recently completed and the matter was referred to an appeals officer who will deal with the case at the earliest opportunity.
The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the amount of means assessed against him by the appeals officer. In the meantime he continues to receive weekly payments of unemployment assistance at £54.95 being the appropriate rate £72.25 less £17.30 means.
649.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension was granted to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; if his Department will state the dates on which double payments were made causing deductions of £88 to be made from arrears of £120 widow's pension due; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was paid invalidity pension to 4 July 1984. The husband of the person concerned died on 26 April 1984 and payment of his disability benefit was continued to her for six weeks after his death. Widow's pension was awarded from 8 June 1984 at the end of the six weeks. Regulations provide that both pensions cannot be paid concurrently. While invalidity pension cannot be paid to the person concerned with her widow's pension, she is entitled to receive disability benefit at half the appropriate rate and this benefit has been put into payment from the time title to widow's pension began.
The amount of the reduction in her arrears of widow's pension represents the amount of invalidity pension advanced to her during the overlapping period less the amount of disability benefit due. The balance payable has been issued to the person concerned.