asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who is at present in receipt of the enterprise allowance scheme is entitled to the family income supplement, as he had no earnings until the spring and this is his total income for his family.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
660.
To qualify for family income supplement a person must be engaged in remunerative full time employment as an employee. A person in receipt of an enterprise allowance would not satisfy this condition and would not therefore qualify for family income supplement.
661.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan is being deprived of unemployment assistance.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed in November 1983 on the grounds that his means exceeded the statutory limit. His means were derived from beneficial occupation of land and from the value of capital. He ceased to sign at his local office then and he did not appeal against the amount of means assessed against him. He again signed as unemployed at his local office and he has been issued with an application form for completion to enable his means to be reinvestigated. When he returns the form his case will be referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries and his means will be re-assessed in the light of the outcome. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
662.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that her weekly means of £34.60 exceeded the rate payable to her. Her means were derived from the value of board and lodging on her father's holding. She appealed against the amount of means assessed against her and an appeals officer also assessed her with weekly means of £34.60. Her unemployment assistance claim was again disallowed and she was notified accordingly.
663.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an increase in unemployment assistance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and the amount of such increase that it is proposed to grant him.
An appeals officer recently reduced the amount of means assessed against the person concerned from £19.20 to £16.60 weekly with effect from 4 April 1984. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £12.80 from 4 April 1984 increased to £15.15 weekly from 7 July 1984. Arrangements have been made to pay adjusting arrears this week and further payments of unemployment assistance at £15.15 weekly will be made as these become due.
664.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for immediate payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway who has signed for unemployment assistance for a period of 21 weeks and received no payment.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned cannot be determined until inquiries which are still being made by a social welfare officer about the value of land and the benefit to him from his wife's earnings are completed. It is expected however that the investigations will be completed shortly. His means will be assessed in the light of the outcome of the inquiries and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
665.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made in the application for a free telephone rental allowance made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned has been approved for a free telephone rental allowance and Telecom Éireann has been informed of the decision in his case. The allowance will be applied from the date on which he is provided with telephone service.
666.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be given the result of his appeal for increased social assistance.
The person concerned did not lodge an appeal but did apply for a review of the means assessed against him for the purposes of his unemployment assistance claim. His case was referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries into his means. These inquiries were recently completed and his case is being submitted to a deciding officer for a review of the amount of means assessed against him. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined in the light of the outcome. In the meantime weekly payments of unemployment assistance continue to be made to him at £21 being the appropriate rate £31.75 less £10.75 means.
667.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the claim for unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Louth will be paid; and the reason for the delay in processing his claim.
To be entitled to unemployment assistance an applicant must be the holder of a qualification certificate and to obtain a qualification certificate an applicant must fulfil certain conditions which include an assessment of his means. The person concerned, who is not the holder of a qualification certificate claimed unemployment assistance on 31 October 1984 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. When these investigations are completed his means will be assessed in accordance with the provision of the Social Welfare Acts and regulations and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
668.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will grant free electricity and a free television licence to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
There is no record in the Department of an application for free electricity allowance from the person concerned. An application form for this benefit was issued to him on 11 May 1984 but has not been returned to date. On receipt of a completed application, his entitlement to a free electricity allowance will be decided and he will be notified of the outcome. He will also be advised, in the light of the information on his application, if he is qualified for a free television licence and if so, how to obtain it.
669.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in restoring free electricity entitlements to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who qualifies under the appropriate regulations.
A free electricity allowance has been restored in the case of the person concerned and a notification to this effect issued to him and the ESB on 2 November 1984. The ESB have confirmed that the allowance is now applying to his ESB account. Inquiries, which have only recently been completed, were necessary to establish if the conditions for entitlement were now satisfied in this case.
670.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been partially investigated by the social welfare supervisor. Details regarding the transfer of a holding have been requested from the solicitor of the person concerned on three separate occasions. When these have been received the claim will be referred to a deciding officer for decision. The claimant will be notified of the outcome in due course.
671.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of a living alone allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; when it will be paid; and when the arrears of payment due will be made.
The person concerned was awarded an old age contributory pension and a living alone allowance with effect from 20 April 1984. Owing to an administrative error a supplementary book for the living alone allowance was not issued to her. The position has now been rectified by the issue of a supplementary book containing orders payable from 5 October 1984 and payment of the amount of the allowance due for the period prior to that date by means of a payable order.
672.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the outcome of an appeal against a reduction in unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £52.51 weekly derived from the profit from his holding. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arising out of contentions made by him in support of his appeal his case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were completed recently and in the light of the fresh social welfare officer's report a deciding officer in a revised decision assessed him with means of £42.30 weekly derived from the profit from his holding, effective from 8 August 1984. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £29.95 weekly the appropriate rate £72.25 less means £42.30. All arrears due to him were paid last week and payments of £29.95 weekly will continue as they become due. He has been informed of the revised decision and also of his right to appeal this decision if he is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him.
673.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the date a person (details supplied) in County Cork applied for a non-contributory widow's pension; the reason she has not been awarded a pension to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The claim of the person concerned to widow's non-contributory pension was received on 11 May 1984 and is at present under investigation by a local officer of the Department. Interim reports received from the officer have indicated that certain details regarding her financial circumstances have not been supplied by the claimant. In the absence of such information an assessment of her means, necessary to establish whether or not she is entitled to a non-contributory pension, cannot be carried out. When the officer's final report is received, a decision will be given on the case without delay and the claimant will be notified.
674.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of an old age pension which are due will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
A claim for old age contributory pension was received from the person concerned on 13 June 1984. He reached age 66 years on 21 September 1983 and was paid disability benefit to 26 July 1984. The disability benefit claim was treated as if it had been a claim for old age contributory pension and he was awarded the pension at maximum rate with effect from 23 September 1983.
A pension book containing orders payable from 27 July 1984 was issued to the designated post office for collection by him and he was notified accordingly. Arrears of pension for the period 23 September 1983 to 26 July 1984, less the amount of disability benefit paid to him in that period, have been issued to him by payable order.
675.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason full payment of a children's allowance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned was paid children's allowance in respect of seven children up to August 1983. Two of the children left her care prior to that date and a revised decision was given on her claim disallowing payment in respect of these children giving rise to an overpayment of £280. A third child left the claimant's care in March 1984 with the result that she is now entitled to payment at the rate of £48.20 a month in respect of four qualified children. The sum of £12.05 a month is being withheld to offset the overpayment and she is receiving the balance of £36.15 a month.
The claimant appealed against the revised decision setting up the overpayment and in the light of the information she has furnished, the local social welfare officer has been asked to report on the case. When these inquiries are completed, her appeal will be decided and she will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
676.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make known the decision of the appeal for an unmarried mother's allowance on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The appeal of the person concerned against the decision terminating her unmarried mother's allowance has been allowed by an appeals officer. As a result, her allowance has been restored for the period from 24 March 1983, the date of termination, up to her marriage on 27 July 1984 when she ceased to be entitled to the allowance.
Payment for the period from 17 May 1984 (she had already cashed the orders in her book up to 16 May), less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to her, will be sent direct to the claimant shortly by means of a payable order. Consequent on the appeals officer's decision the overpayment which she was asked to refund has been cancelled.
677.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total amount of disability benefit paid from 26 March 1984 to 21 April 1984 to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and the reason £63.75 is due to the Midland Health Board from 16 April 1984 to 21 April 1984.
678.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total amount of supplementary welfare benefit paid by the Midland Health Board from 26 March 1984 to 21 April 1984 to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 677 and 678 together. The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 22 March 1984 and payment was authorised from 26 March 1984, the fourth day of incapacity, at the weekly rate of £74.85, the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with two dependent children. Disability benefit for the period 26 March 1984 to 21 April 1984 amounted to £299.20. He was, however, paid £255 supplementary welfare allowance by the Midland Health Board for the same period. This amount was withheld from his disability benefit and was refunded to the health board.
It subsequently transpired that in addition to this, the person concerned was paid the sum of £63.75 in respect of supplementary welfare allowance for the period 23 April 1984 to 28 April 1984. Weekly deductions made at the rate of £9.10 from his disability benefit entitlement to the total value of £63.75 were also refunded to the health board. All benefit payable has been issued to 17 November 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
679.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly as he is married with one child and has been signing at Portarlington employment exchange for the past four weeks.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 12 November 1984 and was paid flat-rate unemployment benefit of £70.25 weekly from that date being the maximum rate applicable to a man with one qualified child. He is also entitled to pay-related benefit of £10.37 weekly and arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of pay-related benefit due this week. Further combined weekly payments of flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit at £80.62 will be made as they become due.
680.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a widow's pension has not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly as she applied five months ago.
The claim of the person concerned to widow's non-contributory pension is under investigation by a local officer of the Department. Interim reports received from the officer have indicated that certain details about the late husband's estate, requested from claimant's solicitor on several occasions, have not yet been supplied. In the absence of such information an assessment of the widow's means, necessary to establish whether or not she is entitled to a non-contributory pension, cannot be carried out. When the officer's final report is received a decision will be given on the case without delay and the claimant will be notified.
681.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive back money which is due to her from 16 July to 19 October 1984.
A payable order for arrears of widow's contributory pension for the period from 6 July to 18 October 1984, less an adjustment in respect of unemployment assistance paid to her during that period, was sent to the person concerned on 21 November 1984.
682.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork did not receive pay-related benefit for the last three weeks.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat-rate unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the weekly sum of pay-related benefit, flat-rate unemployment benefit and income tax rebate may not exceed 85 per cent of the net average weekly earnings of an applicant.
The 85 per cent limit applicable to the person concerned is £91.66 weekly and as the weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit payable to him £96.55 weekly, exceeds this sum, pay-related benefit is not payable in his case.
683.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pension books will issue to a couple (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned reached age 66 years on 27 March 1984 and claimed old age contributory pension on 31 May 1984. He was awarded the pension at the rate appropriate to his yearly average of 47 contributions, including an adult dependant's allowance in respect of his wife, with effect from 30 March 1984. His wife had been in receipt of a reduced rate old age non-contributory pension and this was withdrawn in favour of the higher rate of the adult dependant's allowance. A person cannot be paid a non-contributory old age pension if her spouse is in receipt of an adult dependant's allowance in respect of her.
An old age contributory pension book containing orders payable at the rate of £83.55 per week from 10 August 1984 was issued to the designated post office for collection by him and he was notified accordingly. Arrears of pension for the period 30 March 1984 to 9 August 1984, less the amount of old age non-contributory pension paid to his wife in the same period, have been issued by payable order.
684.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision to grant an increase in unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be made.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £36.65 derived from the profit from his holding and from the value of capital.
He did not appeal against the amount of means assessed against him. However, his claim to unemployment assistance was reviewed on 8 November 1984, and in the light of the fresh social welfare officer's report his means, derived from the profit from his holding and from capital, were assessed at £36.60 weekly. He has been informed of this decision.
He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at £26.35 weekly the appropriate rate £62.95 less means £36.60. It is, however, open to him to appeal against this assessment of his means and to have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
685.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan has not received her old age pension book.
The old age pension books, payable from 5 October 1984, did not issue to the person concerned due to a clerical error. The appropriate pension books have since been issued direct to the pensioner.
Any inconvenience caused is regretted.
686.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means of £30.20 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his brother's holding exceeds the rate payable to him. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and an appeals officer also assessed him with means of £30.20 weekly. He has been informed accordingly.
687.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in making payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 October 1984. A delay occurred in authorising payment of benefit because the medical certificate submitted in support of the claim was incorrectly completed. Payment of disability benefit was authorised on 6 November 1984.
He is also entitled to pay-related benefit from 5 November 1984, the nineteenth day of incapacity. All benefit payable from 18 October 1984, the fourth day of incapacity, to 15 November 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate, has been issued.
688.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of a deserted wife's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
One of the conditions for the receipt of a deserted wife's payment is that a husband must have left his wife of his own volition. The person concerned applied originally in February 1976 and again in May 1978. Both applications were disallowed because the deciding officer held that this condition was not satisfied. She was notified of the decisions and of her right to appeal but did not do so.
A further application was received from the person concerned in December 1983. The deciding officer wrote advising her that unless she could produce new facts or fresh evidence in relation to the circumstance giving rise to the earlier disallowances, her re-application could not be accepted. There is no trace of any reply to this letter having been received in the Department.
689.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
A payable order for arrears of deserted wife's allowance for the period from 19 April 1984 to 5 September 1984, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to her by the North-Eastern Health Board during that time, has now been sent to the person concerned.
690.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
The person concerned has been awarded deserted wife's benefit for herself and one child with effect from 6 September 1984.
An order book payable from 29 November 1984 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. A payable order in respect of arrears from 6 September 1984 to 28 November 1984, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to her by the North-Eastern Health Board during that time, will be sent direct to her shortly.
691.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in providing an oral hearing on the appeal for small holders unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when the oral hearing will be granted to him.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from the profit from his holding exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him. The reason for the delay in dealing with the case is that arising out of contentions made by the person in support of his appeal his case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries have only recently been completed and the case has been referred to the appeals officer for determination, who will deal with the case at the earliest opportunity.
692.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded reduced payments of a non-contributory old age pension.
It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as she does not fulfil the statutory condition as to means. Her means, consisting of the weekly value of capital, voluntary contributions and the capital value of a holding are in excess of the statutory limit for entitlement to pension.
693.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when children's allowance payments will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
An allowance book at the rate of £12.05 per month payable from August 1984 was issued for collection by the claimant to the nominated post office of payment on 15 November 1984 and she was notified accordingly.
694.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded payments of unemployment assistance in view of the fact he has no income.
The person concerned is a postal applicant for unemployment assistance but due to misfiling the qualification certificate awarded to him was not associated with his claim and no payment of unemployment assistance was made to him.
The error was recently rectified and all arrears of unemployment assistance due, less an amount in respect of supplementary welfare allowance which had been paid pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance claim, were paid to him last week. Further weekly payments of £31.75 will be made as they become due.
695.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay credit contributions in respect of March 1982 to May 1982 to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
According to the records of the Department the person concerned was employed during the period March 1982 to May 1982 and all contributions due were paid. It is therefore presumed that it was the Deputy's intention to refer to the period May 1982 to January 1983 in respect of which she recently applied to sign retrospectively as unemployed for the purpose of being granted credited contributions. Her application to sign retrospectively was investigated and following the completion of inquiries her case was rejected on the grounds that she did not fulfil the condition of being available for work from May 1982 to January 1983. She was accordingly not entitled to receive credited contributions in respect of the period.
696.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a contributory widow's pension was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The qualifying conditions for receipt of widow's contributory pension provide that where the late husband's insurance record is being used there must be a yearly average of at least 39 contributions in either the last three or five contribution years prior to his death or his reaching pension age.
Alternatively an average of at least 24 contributions over the period from his entry into insurance up to the end of the year prior to his death or his reaching pension age (whichever is the earlier) also qualifies a widow for pension.
In this case the insurance record of the husband yielded a yearly average of only 28 and 27 contributions in the three and five years respectively prior to his reaching pension age and his yearly average from his first entry into insurance in 1936 up to the end of the year prior to his reaching pension age, was only nine contributions. The widow's claim to a contributory pension was disallowed as these tests did not yield an adequate average.
Further examination of the husband's social insurance record now shows that his re-entry into insurance in 1974 may be taken as an entry into insurance for the purposes of calculating his yearly average. On this basis, the average is calculated at 28 contributions which entitles the claimant to a reduced rate of pension.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's contributory pension at the rate appropriate to a yearly average of 28 contributions (£41.95 per week at present), based on her late husband's insurance record, with effect from 10 December 1982, the Friday following his death.
Pension books with orders payable from 21 September 1984 have been issued to the designated post office for collection by her. She has been notified accordingly. Arrears of pension for the period from 10 December 1982 to 20 September 1984 will be sent direct to her shortly by means of a payable order.
697.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will immediately ensure that payment of an old age pension is made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of old age pension at the weekly rate of £31.30. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means, consisting of the weekly value of a British retirement pension and capital.
In relation to his British retirement pension, there are provisional arrangements in operation by the Department of Health and Social Security for the payment of pension. To avail of this facility he should write to the Overseas Group, Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England NE 98 1 YX, requesting manual payment of his pension and giving his name, address, pension type and number, the amount of his pension, frequency of payments and the date of last payment. He should also forward the counterfoil which relates to the last payment received.
698.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when full old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was in receipt of an old age pension at the weekly rate of £4 up to 27 June 1984. This is the rate to which he was entitled having regard to the latest assessment of his means, comprising half the weekly value of his wife's earnings and a holding, and the fact that he had two qualified children. He ceased to be entitled to any pension when one of his children reached the age limit of 18 years on 27 June 1984. The case is being referred to a social welfare officer for a review of the person's circumstances and when the inquiries are completed the question of entitlement will be reconsidered.
699.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in restoring free electricity entitlements to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who qualifies under the appropriate regulations.
A free electricity allowance has been restored in the case of the person concerned and a notification to this effect issued to him and the ESB on 2 November 1984. The ESB has confirmed that the allowance is now applying to his ESB account. Inquiries, which have only recently been completed, were necessary to establish if the conditions for entitlement were not satisfied in this case.
700.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has been withheld from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who has been an insured worker since 1976 and who is available for employment.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that an applicant is available for employment and to fulfil this condition an applicant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking employment.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 31 August 1984 but following the completion of inquiries her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance and her case has been referred to an appeals officer for consideration. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
701.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin has not been paid unemployment benefit since October last, especially in view of the fact that she is registered as available for employment and has no impediment in the matter of her availability.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for and genuinely seeking work.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 17 October 1984 but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance and her case has been referred to an appeals officer for consideration. Arrangements are being made to have her case heard at the earliest opportunity following which her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
702.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will examine the application of a person (details supplied) in Dublin who is an applicant for invalidity pension and on whose behalf appropriate medical certificates have been submitted.
The person has been claiming disability benefit since 22 March 1984. Disability benefit is being paid to him at the weekly rate of £111.30 which is the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with six qualified child dependants. The regulations governing entitlement to invalidity pension provide that the claimant, apart from satisfying the contribution conditions, must be regarded as permanently incapable of work, in order to qualify for invalidity pension.
A claimant is regarded as permanently incapable of work if he has been incapable of work for a continuous period of not less than one year and then is certified as permanently incapable of work. The earliest date on which the person concerned can be considered for invalidity pension is 22 March 1985.
703.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for payment of arrears of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance at £63.85 being the appropriate rate £72.25 less means of £8.40, until he ceased to sign at his local office on 8 November 1984. He has not been in touch with his local office since that date.
There are no arrears of unemployment assistance due to him.
704.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for a deserted wife's allowance or benefit to issue to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who has a mortgage of £97.51 per month and who is in receipt of £46.10 disability benefit and £10 per week maintenance income and sometimes nothing at all; and as this lady has a mentally handicapped daughter, if he is aware of the special need and the urgency of this case.
This case has been referred to a local office of the Department who will arrange with the claimant to complete the relevant claim form and will interview her concerning the circumstances. When this officer's report is received a decision on the claim will be given without delay.
705.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of a deserted wife's allowance due to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 will be paid.
A payable order for arrears of deserted wife's benefit for the period from 31 May 1984 to 5 September 1984, less adjustments in respect of unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance paid to her during that time, will be sent to the person concerned within the next few days.
706.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will pay invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
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 is in receipt of disability benefit and arrangements are being made to have him examined by a medical referee on 6 December 1984 in connection with his claim for invalidity pension. Entitlement to invalidity pension will be determined in the light of the report of this examination.
707.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 9 August 1984 to 17 September 1984 and she was paid in full for that period. She claimed occupational injury benefit from 5 October 1984 to 10 November 1984. Pending completion of investigations into her entitlement to this benefit, disability benefit has been paid to her in respect of the period from 9 October 1984, the fourth day of incapacity, to 10 November 1984, after which date she was certified fit to resume work. She has submitted a further claim for occupational injury benefit from 14 November 1984 and disability benefit will be paid to her on that claim on receipt of further medical certificates, pending confirmation of her entitlement to occupational injury benefit.
708.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons unemployment assistance granted to a person (details supplied) in County Galway has been reduced from £18 to £10.95; and if he will initiate an appeal procedure in order that this person can have the decision reconsidered.
Following a review of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were reassessed at £20.80 weekly, derived from capital and profit from land. He is accordingly in receipt of £10.95 weekly being the rate of unemployment assistance appropriate to him £31.75 less means of £20.80. An appeal form has issued to him from his local office for the purpose of appealing against his means. When he returns this form his case will be submitted to an appeals officer and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
709.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an unemployment assistance appeal claim made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned appealed against the means assessment in his case and the matter was referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries in the light of contentions made by him in support of his appeal. These inquiries are not yet completed and when they are the case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and the rate of unemployment assistance which he is at present in receipt of will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
710.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the unemployment assistance appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to disclose his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries. Extensive inquiries were recently completed and the case was 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.
711.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a death grant is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in respect of her late mother who was in receipt of a contributory old age pension.
The death grant scheme was introduced on 1 October 1970 and one of the conditions for payment of the grant is that the deceased, or the spouse of the deceased, must have had 26 contributions paid since that date. This requirement is not satisfied on the insurance of either spouse and a death grant is not therefore payable.
712.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who appealed against the decision to disallow him disability benefit and was notified that an examination would be arranged will receive benefit and notification of the result of his appeal.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 7 May 1984 following examination by a medical referee who considered him to be capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and was examined on 22 August 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 has decided to hold an oral hearing of the case. He will be notified of the time and place of the hearing as soon as the final arrangements have been made.
713.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will receive payment from August, for disability benefit which he was receiving until his Department's doctors examination in August declaring him fit to return to work, which was appealed and he was declared unfit for work on his examination on 23 October 1984.
All amounts of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due from 22 August to 5 November 1984, date of the latest medical certificate received, have now been issued to the person concerned. Further payments will be made on receipt of the relevant medical evidence.
714.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be given a decision on his appeal submitted nine weeks ago against the refusal to grant him unemployment assistance.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from the value of board and lodging on his father's holding exceeded the rate payable to him. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arising out of contentions made by him in support of his appeal his case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were completed recently and arrangements are being made to have his case determined by an appeals officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
715.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be given a decision on his appeal lodged in June against the disallowance of his claim for unemployment assistance.
An appeals officer recently assessed the means of the person concerned at nil with effect from 2 April 1984. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance which he received pending the outcome of his appeal application, this week. Further weekly payments at £31.75 will be made to him as they become due.
716.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin was informed by his Department's officers at Phibsboro Tower that it will take three months for a decision to be reached on her application for the return of her deserted wife's allowance book.
The review of the claim of the person concerned for a deserted wife's payment is at present with a local officer of the Department for reinvestigation of the person's circumstances. It is expected that the officer will call on her shortly and when his report is received a decision will be given and she will be notified of the outcome without delay.
The claimaint notified the Department on 24 May 1984 that she was changing her address and she was supplied with a pre-paid envelope in which to return her book in order to have the new address endorsed thereon. She stated that she would return the book and give her new address within a few days. She did not do so, however, and the book was accordingly recalled via the post office at the end of June 1984. The last order cashed therein was dated 21 June 1984. She did not notify the Department of her new address until she called to the Phibsboro Tower office on 30 October 1984.
It is considered necessary in such cases to have the claim re-investigated to confirm that the qualifying conditions continue to be satisfied and it was on this basis that a period of three months was quoted to the claimant as possibly being necessary for inquiries to be carried out and a decision to be made.
In some cases no further inquiries are necessary by the local officer following on the interview with the claimant. In that event a decision could be expected in this case within about two to three weeks.
717.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 10 October 1984 and the case was referred to the 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.
718.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an application for unemployment assistance will be decided upon for 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 recently completed an appeal application at his local office. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
719.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay arrears of social Welfare benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
A payable order for arrears of social assistance allowance for the period from 19 July 1984 to 4 October 1984 was sent to the person concerned on 19 November 1984.