asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive arrears of deserted wife's allowance.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
674.
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 claim of the person concerned was refused because it was held that this condition had not been satisfied. She appealed against the decision and after an oral hearing of her case the appeals officer disallowed the appeal. The officer's decision is final and conclusive and can only be reviewed in the light of new facts or fresh evidence not available at the time of the hearing.
Following receipt of further correspondence on her behalf her case was referred again to the appeals officer for consideration as to whether it contained any new facts or fresh evidence which would warrant a review of the decision already given. He held that it did not and consequently the decision disallowing her claim remained unchanged. She was notified to this effect on 1 November 1984.
675.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 has had her fuel voucher withdrawn.
It is understood from the Eastern Health Board, which is responsible for the administration of the national fuel scheme in the Dublin area, that an application for a fuel allowance from the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that her income, which, in addition to an old age contributory pension, includes an occupational pension, did not leave her in a category which would be eligible for an allowance under that scheme. In previous years she had been in receipt of a widow's contributory pension and as such would have had automatic entitlement to a fuel allowance under the urban fuel scheme operated by Dublin Corporation. It would be open to her to reapply for a widow's contributory pension if she considers that this would be to her advantage.
676.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance payments will be increased to the maximum rate for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Following a reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were reassessed at £7.65 weekly derived from self-employment in the building industry. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £67.35 weekly being the appropriate rate £75 less means £7.65. He recently lodged an appeal at his local office against the amount of means assessed against him and arrangements are being made to refer his case to an appeals officer for determination. His rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
677.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford has not received payment of her living alone allowance.
A pension book covering payment of living alone allowance from 5 October 1984 and a payable order in respect of the arrears due for the period 7 September 1984 to 28 September 1984 was issued to the person concerned on 6 December 1984. The payments were delayed due to a clerical error and any inconvenience caused to the pensioner is regretted.
678.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not yet been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick as he has been signing on at Limerick employment exchange for nine weeks and has no other income.
The person concerned exhausted his entitlement to unemployment benefit on 14 November 1984 and applied for unemployment assistance from 15 November 1984. He was issued with an application form for unemployment assistance on 29 August 1984 which he failed to return. He was issued with a further form on 27 September 1984 which he subsequently completed and returned to his local office.
His case was then referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries into his means. These inquiries were extensive as satisfactory evidence of disposal of capital had to be acquired. It is understood that these inquiries will be completed this week. His means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the social welfare officer's report. In the meantime he is getting supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance claim.
679.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason payment of disability benefit has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who was submitting monthly certificates.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 3 December 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 at an early date. His entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
680.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the application of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly for a blind pension.
It has been decided that the person concerned is entitled to a blind pension at the weekly rate of £24.30 in respect of four qualified children from 11 May 1984 which increased to £29.20 from 6 July 1984. This is the rate of pension to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means consisting of half the weekly value of a holding and his wife's income. The appropriate pension book payable from 5 October 1984 issued on 3 December 1984 and a payable order for £574 covering arrears of pension due from 11 May 1984 to 28 September 1984 issued on 5 December 1984.
681.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an unmarried mother's allowance which was applied for three months ago has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned whose claim was received on 10 October 1984 has been awarded an unmarried mother's allowance with effect from 20 September 1984, the Thursday following the birth of her child. An allowance book with orders payable from 6 December 1984 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. Arrears for the period from 20 September to 5 December 1984 will be sent direct to the claimant shortly by payable order after adjustment has been made in respect of maternity and disability benefit paid to her during that period.
682.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an unemployment assistance appeal case will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
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 and arising from contentions raised in the appeal the case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries.
The case was recently referred to an appeals officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing of his appeal. Arrangements are being made to have the case hearing at the earliest opportunity after which his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
683.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny was not paid disability or occupational injury benefit from December 1983, onwards; and if he will make a statement on this case.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit from 18 January 1984 in respect of an incapacity resulting from an alleged accident at work on 24 January 1983. Injury benefit is statutorily limited to a period of 26 weeks from the date of the accident. The incapacity commenced after the end of the injury benefit period and the claim therefore was rejected.
The claim was treated as a claim to disability benefit which was allowed from 18 January 1984 and has been paid with pay-related benefit to the date of the latest medical certificate received. A deduction of £6 a week is being made towards the recovery of supplementary welfare allowance advanced to him by the South Eastern Health Board. He also claimed disablement benefit under the occupational injuries scheme in respect of disablement resulting from the alleged accident. The claim is being investigated and a decision will be given as soon as possible.
684.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 has been told that an overpayment of £776.64 was made to her as she states that she and her employer were paying social insurance contributions since 1977 and believes she was entitled to the payments made to her.
Following an investigation of the employment of the person concerned it was established that her employment from 6 April 1979 was not insurable at a class of contribution which provides cover against unemployment. She accordingly did not satisfy the contribution condition for unemployment benefit and the amount of the benefit which she received is due to be recouped to the Department. She informed her local office that she was prepared to refund the overpayment by furnishing monthly instalments and her offer has been accepted.
685.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appeal under the Social Welfare Act, 1981, for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 for a rent allowance will be heard as he is threatened with eviction by his landlord.
The application in this case is for a rent subsidy under the supplementary welfare allowances scheme, which as far as the Dublin area is concerned is administered by the Eastern Health Board. It is not possible to say when the appeal will be considered but it is understood from the board that the matter will be dealt with at an early date.
686.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a person (details supplied) in County Donegal who is a recipient of a UK retirement pension is also eligible for a reduced pension from his Department.
If the person concerned has no means in addition to the UK pension detailed by the Deputy she could qualify for a non-contributory old age pension. An application from enabling her to claim this pension has been forwarded to her. When the completed form is returned the matter will be referred to the social welfare officer for investigation and on completion of his inquiries it will be referred to a deciding officer for decision. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome in due course.
687.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of payment due to a person (details supplied) in County Louth will be paid; and the reason for the delay in payment.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 19 November 1984 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He was notified of the disallowance of benefit and of his right to appeal on 21 November 1984, but has not done so to date. There was a delay which was caused by an administrative error in issuing payment for the period 13 November 1984 to 17 November 1984. A cheque paying benefit for this period was issued on 6 December 1984.
688.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a supplementary pension book has been withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned is in receipt of an old age contributory pension since 19 January 1979 at the rate appropriate to his yearly average of 23 contributions. The supplementary book which contained orders payable from 6 July 1984 to 28 September at the rate of £4.90 per week was in respect of the 7 per cent increase in his weekly rate of pension from 6 July 1984. This increased his weekly rate of pension from £70.50 to £75.40. The book for the six months period October-March contains orders payable at the increased rate of £75.40 per week.
689.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be given in respect of a claim for an old age pension by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension on the grounds that her means were not fully disclosed. If the person concerned is now prepared to make a full disclosure of her means she should notify the Department to that effect and her case will be reinvestigated.
690.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
One of the conditions for receipt of a contributory old age pension requires a person in the age group of the person concerned to have entered into insurance before he reached age 58 years. The Department's records show that contributions were first paid in respect of him in the 1979-80 contribution year when he was over age 60. The local social welfare officer has been asked to investigate to ascertain if he was in employment prior to 1979 which would enable him to satisfy the qualifying conditions and a decision will be made when the investigation is completed. In the meantime his entitlement to a non-contributory old age pension is being investigated.
691.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following investigation of his means by a social welfare officer the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from land exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against the amount assessed against him and his case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. His case will be dealt with by the appeals officer at the earliest opportunity after which his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
692.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
It was decided on 14 August 1984 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension on the grounds that his means were not fully disclosed. No communication has been received from him since that date. In view, however, of the information furnished by the Deputy, the matter has been referred to the local social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries are completed the claim will be reviewed and the claimant will be notified of the outcome.
693.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payment of a contributory old age pension will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
A claim for contribitory old age pension was received from the person concerned on 24 September 1984. One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of contributory old age pension under the Social Welfare Acts requires a claimant to have a yearly average of at least 20 reckonable contributions over the period from the beginning of the 1953 contribution year or from the beginning of the year in which he entered into insurance, whichever is the later, to the end of the last complete contribution year before he reached pension age. There is no record of reckonable contributions having been paid in respect of him since 1953 and, consequently he does not have an entitlement to old age contributory pension. The PRSI Class J contributions paid in respect of him since 1980 are not reckonable for either old age contributory pension or retirement pension. The local social welfare officer is being asked to investigate his entitlement to a non-contributory old age pension.
694.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the different types of means assessment carried out by officials both in relation to claims for unemployment assistance and for medical card coverage; if he is aware that some applicants who have had medical cards withdrawn have been deemed eligible for unemployment assistance and vice versa as a result of such differing means tests; and if he will therefore have the matter clarified for all concerned.
There are a variety of means tests to determine eligibility for various social welfare, health and other services. Means assessment for social welfare entitlements, including unemployment assistance, is carried out by social welfare officers in accordance with the provisions of the Social Welfare Acts and these provisions vary for different services. The issue of medical cards to persons who are unable to provide general practitioner services for themselves and their dependants is, under the Health Acts, a matter for determination by the chief executive officer of the health boards and means assessment for this purpose is carried out by officers of the boards.
Generally speaking a person who is in receipt of unemployment assistance would also be entitled to a medical card. However, this does not necessarily follow in all cases because of the different criteria which apply and because reviews of entitlements under the two schemes are not carried out simultaneously. The question of different means tests for different services is an area which will be addressed by the Commission on Social Welfare. However if the Deputy is aware of any particular case where he considers that hardship has occurred the matter will be investigated.
695.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were reassessed at £38.45 per week derived from value of board and lodging in his father's holding. His means accordingly exceeded the maximum rate payable to him and his claim was disallowed. He has been informed of this decision. He has not signed as unemployed since 6 November 1984.
696.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision on an appeal for an old age pension will be made for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It has been decided that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension on the grounds that he failed to satisfy the statutory conditions as to means. His means, consisting of half the weekly value of two holdings, exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension. The person concerned appealed against this decision on 21 November 1984 and his appeal has been submitted to an appeals officer for determination. The appeal will be decided as soon as possible and the claimant will be notified of the outcome without delay.
697.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision on an appeal for unemployment assistance will be made for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from the profit from his holding and from the value of capital exceeded the rate payable to him. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and an appeals officer on 20 August also assessed him with means exceeding the rate payable to him. He was informed accordingly. He has not signed on at or been in touch with his local office since 21 August 1984.
698.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason old age pension books were withdrawn from two people (details supplied) in County Galway; when these books will be restored; and the rates which will be paid.
Following a review of the old age pension entitlements of the persons concerned it was found that they had means from capital which they had not previously disclosed. They were each overpaid pension amounting to £325.20, as a result.
The latest assessment of their means entitles each of them to pension at the weekly rate of £35.30. The amount overpaid is being recovered by withholding £2 per week from their pension entitlements and pensions of £33.30 are accordingly being paid to each of them. The deduction of £2 a week will continue to be made until the overpayment is fully recovered. Their pension books which were recalled for adjustment were returned to the pensioners on 6 December 1984.
699.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free telephone rental allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
There is no record in my Department of an application for a free telephone rental allowance from the person concerned. She is in receipt of a widow's pension and would not, in any event, qualify for the allowance until she reaches 66 years of age.
700.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the full rate of old age pension is not being paid to persons (details supplied) in County Wexford.
It has been decided by an appeals officer that the persons concerned are each entitled to old age pension at the weekly rate of £36.60 from 21 July 1984. This is the rate of pension to which they are each entitled having regard to the assessment of their means consisting of half the weekly value of capital.
701.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 has not yet received her deserted wife's allowance.
As indicated in a written reply on 6 December 1983 to a question from the Deputy about this case, the claim of the person concerned to a deserted wife's payment was refused because two of the qualifying conditions for receipt of payment were not met. A husband must have left his wife of his own volition and she must have made reasonable efforts to prevail on him to support her. The claimant was held not to have satisfied either of these conditions.
She appealed against the decision and following an oral hearing of the case an appeals officer disallowed the appeal. The claimant was notified to this effect on 22 February 1984. An appeals officer's decision is final and conclusive and can only be reviewed in the light of new facts or fresh evidence not available to the officer at the time of the appeal hearing.
A further application was received from her in August 1984. She was informed that unless she could produce new facts or fresh evidence relating to the grounds on which her claim had been refused, her application could not be accepted. There is no trace of any reply having been received to this letter.
702.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the outcome of the application of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 for a non-contributory old age pension.
The application of the person concerned to an old age non-contributory pension which was received on 28 November 1984 has been referred to the social welfare officer for investigation. When inquiries have been completed the case will be decided on and the claimant will be notified of the outcome.
703.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to an appeal against his Department's decision in connection with unemployment assistance from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned appealed against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim and arising from contentions raised in the appeal the case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were recently completed and his case is being 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.
704.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be transferred to invalidity pension.
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 by a medical referee on 1 August 1984. The medical referee did not consider that he was 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 £70.25 per week, the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with one qualified child dependant.
705.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be transferred 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 him and on its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay.
706.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be transferred to invalidity pension.
The person has been awarded an invalidity pension from 22 November 1984. A pension book payable from 20 December 1984 has been issued to the designated post office of payment. Arrears in respect of the period from 22 November 1984 to 19 December 1984, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by payable order.
707.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be transferred to invalidity pension.
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 15 November 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 four 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 £70.25 per week, the maximum rate appropriate to a married man under 66 years with one child dependant.
708.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
It has been decided that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension on the grounds that she does not fulfil the statutory conditions as to means. Her means, consisting of half the weekly value of her husband's earnings, exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension.
709.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Following the completion of inquiries the person concerned was assessed with means at £1.75 weekly derived from the value of capital. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £53.05 weekly, the appropriate rate £54.80, less £1.75 and arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week. Further payments will be made as weekly payments become due.
710.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be transferred 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 him and on its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay.
711.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be transferred to invalidity pension.
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 has been in receipt of disability benefit since 15 July 1983 and payment is being made at regular weekly intervals. Arrangements are being made to have him examined by a medical referee on 13 December 1984. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
712.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in deciding an unemployment benefit appeal lodged by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 14 August 1984. His claim was disqualified for a period of six weeks from 13 August 1984 to 22 September 1984 on the grounds that he lost his employment through misconduct. He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements were made to have an oral hearing of his appeal at the earliest opportunity. The hearing took place on 21 November 1984 after which the appeal officer also decided that he lost his employment through misconduct but reduced the period of disqualification to four weeks. All arrears due from 10 September 1984 to 22 September 1984 were paid on 29 November 1984. He is at present in receipt of £96.55 flat rate unemployment benefit and £26.21 pay-related benefit weekly. Combined payments of £122.76 weekly will continue to be made to him as they become due.
713.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if in view of the very special circumstances, he will expedite the payment of additional benefit to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will ensure that the children's allowance book is returned forthwith.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the maximum long term rate appropriate to him as a widower with four qualified children £64.15 weekly. There is no provision under the Social Welfare Acts whereby additional payment of unemployment assistance can be made to him following the death of his wife. He would, however, be entitled to claim a death grant and a form for this purpose may be obtained at any post office. The children's allowance book referred to by the Deputy was returned to him on 7 December 1984.
714.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be awarded a contributory old age pension; and if not, when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to him.
One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of contributory old age pension requires a claimant to have a yearly average of at least 20 reckonable contributions over the period from the beginning of the 1953 contribution year or from the beginning of the year in which he entered into insurance, whichever is the later, up to the end of the last complete contribution year before he reached pension age. The Department's records show that the person concerned entered into insurance in 1961 and that he had a total of 375 contributions in the required period from 2 January 1961 to 5 April 1984. This is equal to a yearly average of only 16, and therefore he does not qualify for a contributory pension. He has been awarded a non-contributory old age pension at the maximum rate with effect from 28 September 1984. A book for this latter pension is being issued to the designated post office for collection by him.
715.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason free electricity has not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who is an old age pensioner; and when it will be granted.
To be eligible for a free electricity allowance a person must either be living alone or be living with certain categories of persons only. A free electricity allowance cannot be granted to the person concerned as his daughter resides with him and is not a person who comes within these categories for satisfying the living alone condition of the scheme.
716.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the date on which weekly payments and all arrears will be paid; the amount to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned is a postal claimant to unemployment benefit. He claimed unemployment benefit on 26 November 1984 and his claim has been allowed at the rate of £70.25, being the appropriate rate payable in his case. Arrangements have been made to issue an order amounting to £128.80 for encashment at his local post office representing arrears of unemployment benefit, this week. Further payments will be made as they become due.
717.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not been awarded a widow's pension; if he is aware of the bad quality land on which she lives and of her indifferent health; if he will now direct that a pension be paid to her immediately; the amount to be paid; if he will pay it retrospective to the original date of application; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The claim of the person concerned to widow's non-contributory pension was disallowed in June last because her means, assessed at £52.34 per week derived from a farm holding and some capital, exceeded the limit of £40 per week applicable to her as a widow without any qualified children. This limit is now £44. She appealed against the decision but the appeal was disallowed by an appeals officer and the claimant was notified accordingly. An appeals officer's decision is final and conclusive unless there is a material change in the person's circumstances, in which event she should write asking to have her claim re-investigated.
718.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons unemployment assistance at the maximum rate has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway despite the fact that he has no property or income; if he will outline in detail both the system and the figures used in arriving at the present figure being paid; if he will now direct his officials to increase this figure to the full rate; if he will make this payment retrospective to the former date on which the full rate of assistance was paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £28.85 weekly, He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at £2.90 weekly the appropriate rate of £31.75 less means £28.85. 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. In the time available it is not possible to contact the outdoor officer to furnish the details required by the Deputy but when the investigations are completed and the case has been determined by an appeals officer the Deputy will be written to and informed of the outcome.
719.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons supplementary unemployment benefits are being discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if he is aware that he has applied for several jobs and is urgently seeking a permanent job; if he will now direct his Department to restore these benefits to him from the date on which they were discontinued; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that an applicant must be fully available and genuinely seeking work. The claim of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer who was of the opinion that he was not genuniely seeking work. He has appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to hold an oral hearing of his appeal next week after which his case will be determined by an appeals officer. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
720.
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 no property or income; if he will now direct his Department to ensure that unemployment assistance is paid to him immediately from his initial date of application; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was assessed with means at £36 weekly derived from the value of board and lodgings on his parents holding. His means accordingly exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him and his claim was disallowed. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and an appeals officer also assessed his means at £36 weekly. He was notified accordingly. He has not signed as unemployed since 5 June 1984.
721.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will direct his Department to pay immediately unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway whose unemployment benefits have terminated recently and who has no other income or property; the date on which the new payments will commence; the weekly and arrears due; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Unemployment assistance cannot be paid to any person who is not the holder of a qualification certificate. The person concerned who is a postal applicant exhausted his title to unemployment benefit when he received 390 days benefit on 21 November 1984. He was however written to on 4 September 1984 and advised to apply for a qualification certificate to enable his entitlement to unemployment assistance to be determined before exhausing his title to unemployment benefit but he did not do so. He was again written to and asked to call at his local office for the purpose of completing the application form. He subsequently telephoned his local office and stated that he would call into the local office but he has not done so to-date.
When the necessary application form is completed his case will be referred to a social welfare officer for investigations after which his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.