asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an application for an increased rate of single woman's allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
634.
An appeals officer recently reduced the amount of means assessed against the person concerned to £23 weekly. She is accordingly entitled to single woman's allowance at £13.35 weekly and an allowance order book is being issued to her at that rate this week.
A payable order representing an adjustment of the arrears of single woman's allowance will be issued to her shortly.
635.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an oral hearing will be arranged in respect of an application for unemployment assistance from a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Arrangements are being made to hold an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim on the grounds that the means assessed against him exceeded the statutory limit, at the earliest opportunity.
It is not possible to give a precise date for the hearing because owing to the substantial number of appeals under various social welfare services the time to arrange an oral hearing is inevitably longer than in a case determined summarily.
636.
(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 has been disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of his wife's income from her hair dressing business, he has failed to show that his means do not exceed the statutory limit. He recently indicated that he is prepared to give details of his means and he is being given another opportunity to co-operate with the social welfare officer investigating his means. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the social welfare officer's report.
637.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned recently claimed unemployment assistance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. When these inquiries are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.
638.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of unemployment assistance will paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
All arrears of unemployment assistance due to the person concerned were paid to her on 22 November 1984.
639.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an invalidity pension has not yet been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who was examined by the medical referee on 23 October 1984; and when this will be granted.
The regulations 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.
The person concerned was examined on 23 October 1984 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was not permanently incapable of work and asked to have him referred again for a further examination after nine months. The question of entitlement to invalidity pension will be considered after that examination.
In the meantime he continues to receive disability benefit at the rate of £37.25 per week, the maximum rate appropriate to a single man.
640.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a children's allowance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary for her daughter since last August; when this will be paid; and the amount which will be paid.
An application for extended children's allowance was received from the person concerned on 26 September 1984 in respect of her daughter. An allowance book at the rate of £17.50 for July 1984 and £18.75 per month from August to June 1985 has been issued to her. The person concerned should now be in receipt of £79 children's allowance per month.
641.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an unmarried mother (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded increased payments for her second child.
The claim of the person concerned for an increase in her unmarried mother's allowance in respect of her second child is at present under investigation by a local officer of the Department. On receipt of his report, a decision will be given on the claim without delay.
642.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been deserted since September 1982, has not yet received a deserted wife's allowance.
One of the conditions for receipt of a deserted wife's payment is that a husband must have left his wife of his own volition.
The deciding officer held that this condition was not satisfied in the case of the person concerned and disallowed her claim. She was notified on 14 June 1984 of this decision and of her right to appeal if she was dissatisfied with it. If the person concerned appeals against the decision the case will be reviewed.
643.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford as he has been signing on for six weeks and is married with six children.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that he failed to furnish full particulars of his means to the social welfare officer investigating his claim. He appealed and arising from contentions raised in the appeal, the case was referred to the social welfare officer for additional inquiries but the applicant again refused to co-operate. The case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
644.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to the application by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who wishes to transfer from disability benefit to invalidity pension.
The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals and payment has been made to date. A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to her and on its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay.
645.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to an application for free travel made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
There is no record in the Department of an application for free travel from the person concerned and the information supplied by the Deputy is insufficient to enable a decision to be given in the case.
An application form for free travel was issued to her on 3 December 1984. On receipt of the completed form in the Department, a decision will be given in the case and she will be notified of the outcome.
646.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in making a decision on a free electricity allowance application made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when a decision will be made.
To be eligible for a free electricity allowance a person must either be living alone or be living with certain categories of persons only.
In notifications which were issued to the person concerned on the 26 April 1984 and again on 26 July 1984, she was informed that her application for a free electricity allowance could not be approved as her son who was resident with her and was employed full time as a farmer, did not come within the categories for satisfying the living alone condition of the scheme.
647.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying children's allowance for the period July 1983 to November 1983 to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when these payments will be made.
A payable order for £56.25 in respect of the period July 1983 to November 1983 was issued to the person concerned on 11 June 1984. She informed the Department in July 1984 that she had not received the payable order. The payable order was subsequently returned to the Department but due to an oversight a replacement order was not issued to the claimant at that time. A payable order for the amount due is now being issued.
648.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a free electricity allowance will be paid to persons (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if the payments will be reconsidered in view of the fact that they are now eligible for them.
To be eligible for free electricity allowance a person must either be living alone or be living with certain categories of persons only. The allowance which applied in this case was terminated as, on the information available to the Department, their daughter resides with them and she is not a person who comes within these categories for satisfying the living alone condition of the scheme. In the light of the information furnished by the Deputy, further inquiries are being made. When these are completed their entitlement will be reviewed and they will be notified of the outcome.