asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason only a reduced allowance of social welfare assistance was approved for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
394.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance and was paid at the personal rate pending the completion of inquiries to establish whether he was entitled to an increase for dependants. These inquiries have now been completed and his claim has been allowed at the weekly rate of £60.60, the rate appropriate for a married man with one child dependant less means of 30p. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due next week.
395.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension which was applied for in November 1984, will be sanctioned for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The old age non-contributory pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated by the social welfare officer and has been referred to a deciding officer for decision. If pension is awarded, the appropriate pension book and any arrears due will issue without delay. The delay in this case was due to the fact that details regarding a holding which were requested on 28 November 1984 were not received until 10 January 1985.
396.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made with regard to the payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
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 means.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 29 January 1985 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. When these inquiries are complete his case will be referred to a deciding officer for assessment of his means and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the amount of means assessed against him.
397.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a free telephone rental allowance has been disallowed to a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
An application for a free telephone rental allowance from the person concerned was incorrectly refused as medical evidence relating to her cousin who resides with her was overlooked. The decision has now been revised and the person concerned has been approved for a free telephone rental allowance. Telecom Éireann have been notified to apply the allowance from the date on which she is provided with telephone service. Any inconvenience caused to the person concerned is regretted.
398.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cause of the long delay in having a contributory old age pension book together with arrears issued to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow where the pension has been awarded since 28 December 1984.
The person concerned claimed a contributory old age pension on 5 December 1984. He was awarded the pension at the maximum rate with effect from 28 December 1984, i.e. the Friday following his 66th birthday. A contributory old age pension book containing orders payable from 8 February 1985 was issued to the designated post office for collection by him and he was notified accordingly.
Arrears of pension from 28 December 1984 to 7 February 1985, less the amount of supplementary welfare paid to him in this period, were issued to him by payable order on 6 February 1985.
399.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is in receipt of disability benefit was not paid from 19 July 1984 to 26 July 1984.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 19 July 1984 following examination by a medical referee of the Department who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He was subsequently certified fit to resume work on 30 July 1984 by his own doctor. A form on which to set out the grounds for his appeal against the disallowance of benefit during the period 16 to 30 July 1984 has recently been sent to the claimant. When this is returned his case will be sent to an appeals officer for determination.
400.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when free telephone rental allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for the delay.
An application for a free telephone rental allowance was received from the person concerned on 14 November 1984. This scheme is confined to persons in receipt of certain payments and as she is not in receipt of a qualifying payment her application had to be disallowed. She has recently been notified to this effect. The delay in dealing with this case was due to increased pressure of work in the area concerned.
401.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an application for an unmarried mother's allowance was made by a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is now living in a mobile home; when the application was approved; the reason for the delay in payment of arrears; and when arrears will be paid to her in full.
An application for an unmarried mother's allowance was received from the person concerned on 5 September 1984 and it was awarded by a decision dated 5 November 1984. A payable order for arrears of the allowance for the period from 6 September 1984 to 14 November 1984, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to her by the Southern Health Board during that time, has now been sent to her. The delay in paying the arrears was caused by an administrative error and this is regretted.
402.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange a review in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath where certificates are being submitted weekly.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 September 1984 and was paid to 10 September 1984 after which date he was certified fit to resume work. There is no record in the Department of any medical evidence of his incapacity for work for the period 11 September 1984 to 24 September 1984. If he submits medical certificates for this period his entitlement to benefit will be reviewed. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 18 September 1984 and was paid to 19 January 1985. He again claimed disability benefit from 21 January 1985, and payment has been issued to 28 January 1985, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
403.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give a detailed breakdown of the computation of overpayments to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath for the period from 5 November 1983, to 22 August 1984, involving the sum of £1,471.46.
The present overpayment arose in this case from the fact that the person concerned was paid disability benefit at certain rates from 5 November 1983 to 22 August 1984 and it subsequently transpired that her correct entitlement should have been at a lower rate by reason of the fact that she became entitled to deserted wife's allowance from June 1983. Where a person is concurrently entitled to deserted wife's allowance at the maximum rate and disability benefit, the latter is payable at half the personal rate.
The total amount of disability benefit and pay-related benefit issued for the overlapping period of the two payments was £2,403.97, whereas the reduced revised entitlement was £1,177.33, resulting in an excess balance of £1,226.64. (This figure had been given in error earlier as £1,471.46 because an upwards adjustment of pay-related benefit totalling £244.82 which became payable arising from the reduction in the rate of disability benefit payable had not been included in the calculation.)
Accumulated arrears of £936 of the deserted wife's allowance have been offset against the excess balance of £1,226.64 on the disability benefit side leaving an actual overpayment figure of £290.64.
Details of the actual payments made over the period concerned giving rise to the overpayment are being sent to the person concerned.
404.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if there is a refund of PRSI due to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; if so, the amount and when it will issue.
The person concerned has been advised that a refund of £263.75 may be obtained from her employer to whom the refund was issued on 6 February.
405.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing a claim for a family income supplement made by a couple (details supplied) in County Westmeath as details were submitted with the claim some months ago and further correspondence by the applicants has elicited no response; and the decision in this case.
The person concerned has been awarded family income supplement at the weekly rate of £4.35 from 6 September 1984 and the appropriate order book has been issued to the designated post office.
Certain delays occurred in dealing with the initial volume of applications under this scheme. The initial difficulties have now been largely overcome and it is expected that the processing of applications will be fully up to date shortly.
Any inconvenience to the persons concerned caused by the delay in this case is regretted.
406.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the rate of unemployment benefit payable to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who is married with two children was reduced after only four weeks as he was in receipt of £111 and now gets £96; and if a tax rebate of £93 which he received on 22 January 1985 has affected his entitlement.
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 was calculated at £121.19 weekly. He is in receipt of the appropriate rate of flat rate unemployment benefit of £80.15 from 3 December 1984. Pay-related benefit of £31.59 was paid from 20 December 1984 making the combined weekly payments £111.74 from that date. He received an income tax rebate of £31.24 weekly from 10 January 1985, accordingly his pay-related benefit was reduced to £9.80 weekly. However, due to an error in the calculation of his combined weekly payment he was initially paid at £96.19 weekly instead of £89.95. This matter was subsequently adjusted and further payments at £89.95 weekly will continue to be made to him as they become due.
407.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give an explanation for the delay in hearing the appeal case against decreased unemployment payments made by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
Arising out of the contentions made by the person concerned in support of his appeal against the amount of means assessed against him for unemployment assistance purposes the case was referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries. When these inquiries were completed the case was submitted to an appeals officer who also assessed means at £65.35 weekly and the applicant was notified accordingly. Weekly payments of unemployment assistance at £9.65 being the rate appropriate to him £75 less means £65.35 continue to be made as they become due.
408.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in a transfer from disability benefit to invalidity pension for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned has been awarded an invalidity pension with effect from 6 December 1984. A pension book payable from 14 February 1985 has been issued to the designated post office of payment and the arrears of pension from 6 December 1984 less the amount of disability benefit paid since then, will be paid shortly by payable order.