asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
588.
Following the recent completion of inquiries the person concerned was assessed with means at £47.65 weekly dervied from self-employment as a carpenter. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £20.50 weekly being the appropriate rate £68.15 less means £47.65. Weekly payment of unemployment assistance to him commenced this week. He was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance claim and when the amount to be reimbursed to his local health authority is ascertained the balance of any arrears of unemployment assistance due to him will be paid.
589.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an invalidity pension application form will be sent to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if this case will be sympathetically considered when the form is completed.
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 24 September 1980 and payment is being made at regular weekly intervals. Arrangements are being made to have him examined by a medical referee on 21 February 1985. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
590.
(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 his means derived from the profit from his holding exceed the statutory limit. He has been informed accordingly. If he is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
591.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when his Department will make a decision on the rate of unemployment benefit or assistance payable to a person (details supplied) in Country Limerick who has been waiting a considerable time for a decision.
A person shall not be deemed to be unemployed within the meaning of the Social Welfare Act on any day on which he works for wages.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 10 May 1984 following exhaustion of his entitlement to unemployment benefit. He was paid unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £57.90, being the maximum rate appropriate to him £68.40 less £10.50 means, increasing to £63.40 on 4 July 1984. The person concerned advised his local office that he is employed on a number of hours each week as a telephonist with effect from 13 August 1984. Under the provisions of the legislation governing the unemployment assistance scheme, he is only entitled to unemployment assistance on days on which he is not employed and where the number of days of unemployment amount to at least three in a six day period. He is being paid assistance for the appropriate days of unemployment in accordance with these provisions.
592.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay a full non-contributory old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
During the course of a review of the old age pension entitlements of the person concerned it was found that the pensioner was in fact in beneficial occupation of a holding which at the time of last assessment was accepted as having been transferred to his son. This change in circumstances has resulted in an increase in the means being assessed against the person. Accordingly, he was requested to return his pension book. He has failed to do so despite two requests. In the circumstances a stop notice has been placed on his pension book and when it is returned to the Department a decision will be made on the matter. He will be notified of the outcome in due course, and if he is dissatisfied with the decision it will be open to him to appeal against it.
593.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 22 November 1984 to 5 January 1985 after which date he was certified fit to resume work. On the basis of available information, all benefit due on the claim has been paid less supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the health board. There was some delay for part of the claim while the amount due to the health board was being established. Although the claimant indicated that he is married, there is no trace of the receipt of a claim form which was issued to him for completion in respect of his dependants. A second claim form has been issued to him.
594.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is entitled to a family income supplement; and, if so, when this will be paid.
The person concerned has been awarded family income supplement at the weekly rate of £9.25 from 6 September 1984. The appropriate order book was issued to the designated post office on 8 February 1985 and the claimant was notified accordingly.
595.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit payments for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be reconsidered in view of the fact that she is fully capable and available for work and has submitted all the necessary documentation to prove this on the latest appeal.
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 but her claim was disallowed on the ground that she was not available for work. She appealed against this decision and an appeals officer also held she was not available for work. She continued to claim benefit from 14 December 1984 and her claim was again disallowed. As she expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, she was supplied with an appeal application form, which she has not yet returned. When this form is returned, her case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
596.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cause of the delay in having a non-contributory widow's pension paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned whose husband died on 11 December 1984 claimed a widow's non-contributory pension on 15 January 1985. Her case is at present with the local social welfare officer for investigation and when his report is received a decision will be given on her claim without delay. Her late husband had been in receipt of an old age non-contributory pension, which included an increase in respect of his wife, and payment of this pension was continued to her for six weeks after his death.
597.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
An application for a free electricity allowance, which was received from the person concerned on 7 February 1985 has been approved and the ESB have been instructed to apply the allowance to his electricity account from the February-March 1985 billing period onwards.
598.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will again investigate the possibility of having unemployment benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
Availability for work is a condition of entitlement to unemployment benefit and to fulfil this condition an applicant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking work.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 12 October 1984 and her claim was disallowed on the ground that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 7 December 1984. The appeals officer also decided that she was not available for employment and disallowed her unemployment benefit claim and she was notified accordingly. She has not been in touch with her local office since 7 December 1984 and there is accordingly no case for investigation since her claim was decided by the appeals officer whose decision is final. If the person concerned feels she now satisfies the conditions for entitlement to benefit, it is open to her to re-apply at her local office and her case will be reinvestigated.
599.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of reports that some money lenders have been taking children's allowance books as security for loans, the measures he is taking to protect social welfare recipients against abuses of this nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
600.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of reports that money lenders in Galway have been taking children's allowance books as security for loans and have been waiting outside social welfare offices to collect repayments from those on social welfare; the measures he is taking to protect those on social welfare against abuses of this nature, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 599 and 600 together. It is an offence to take allowance or pension books as security for loans and the legislation provides for penalties comprising fines of up to £2,000 and up to five years imprisonment for such offences. Where cases of this nature come to light they are fully investigated by the Department and, where necessary, the postal authorities and any appropriate action is taken following the investigation.
There have been media reports regarding alleged alienation of books in Galway but no specific complaints have been made which would enable action to be taken in the matter. The fact that it is an offence to buy, take in exchange or take in pawn a pension or allowance order book is stated on the front cover of the book. In this way people are made aware of the situation in this regard. Other than that the Department take action on receipt of information relating to alleged offences under this heading to the extent that it is possible to do so.
601.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the anomaly whereby a widow who has insufficient contributions to qualify for a contributory widow's pension at the time of widowhood and who subsequently enters employment in the public service, remains ineligible for a contributory widow's pension in spite of having paid sufficient Class D contributions and is also ineligiable for a contributory old age pension; if he has any plans to end this injustice; the total number of widows affected by this anomaly; and the estimated cost of covering them for both widows and old age pensions.
For a widow to qualify for contributory widow's pension the contribution conditions must be satisfied at the date the contingency arises i.e. at the date her husband dies. This is in accordance with accepted principles of insurance and the principle applies also to all the other contingencies covered under the social insurance system.
Widows in the public service, in common with other permanent and pensionable employees in that service, are insurable at Class D rate, which gives cover for widow's contributory pension. In accordance with the principle referred to, a widow with insufficient insurance contributions (from a prior employment) to qualify for the contributory widow's pension and who subsequently enters the public service cannot have later contributions taken into account. The later (and earlier) contributions would of course be reckonable should the person marry again and become a widow a second time. It is against this risk that a widow in the situation postulated would be paying contributions.
Public servants in permanent and pensionable employment are not insurable for the social welfare contributory old age pension in view of their occupational superannuation arrangements. Statistics are not available of the number of widows affected in this way, and the costs involved cannot therefore be estimated. The question of retirement-old age pension entitlements is a matter which has been raised by a number of people in relation to various categories of insured persons and it is being considered by the Commission on Social Welfare which is carrying out a general review of all social welfare schemes.
602.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a pension book was withdrawn from an old age pensioner (details supplied) in County Roscommon, the means which have been assessed against this person; and when this book will be returned.
Following a routine review of the old age pension entitlement of the person concerned it was found that there had been an increase in his means since the date of the last assessment. Accordingly, it was decided that he is entitled to a pension at the weekly rate of £33.30 from 8 February 1985. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means, consisting of the weekly value of a holding and capital. A pension book at the appropriate rate issued to the pensioner on 11 February 1985.
603.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and the rate which will be paid.
The person concerned has been assessed with nil means. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £86.75 weekly, the appropriate rate payable to him. He was, however, in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance claim, and the amount which he received will be recouped to his local health board from arrears of unemployment assistance due to him. A current week, and all adjusting arrears due to him will be paid this week and weekly payments of £86.75 will continue to be made as they become due.
604.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension on the ground that he does not fulfil the statutory condition as to means. His means, consisting of half the weekly value of his own and his wife's holdings greatly exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension. If the person's circumstances have deteriorated considerably since the last assessment it is open to him to re-apply for pension by notifying the Department to that effect and the matter will be reinvestigated.
605.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will reinvestigate the application for an old age pension of a person (details supplied) in County Laois who is a widow and who is living alone.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 21 November 1984 that the person concerned is not entitled to any pension on the grounds that her means, consisting of the weekly value of capital, exceeded the statutory limit of £44 a week for entitlement to pension. If the person's circumstances have deteriorated considerably since the last assessment it is open to her to re-apply for pension by notifying the Department to that effect.
606.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the published estimate for 1985 for the family income supplement; the number of families (i) eligible; (ii) who have applied; (iii) who have been deemed eligible for this; the savings he intends achieving in 1985 on the estimated figure; and the manner in which these savings will be made.
607.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the published estimate for non-contributory old age pensions in 1985; if he will give details of intended savings on this estimate and how he proposes to achieve savings.
608.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the published estimate for the Social Insurance Fund in 1985; if he will give a breakdown of how this is funded; the savings intended on this fund for the forthcoming year; and if he will give a breakdown of how these savings will be made.
615.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the published estimate for 1985 for miscellaneous grants in his Department; if he will give a breakdown of these grants; the savings intended on these grants for the forthcoming year; and if he will give a detailed breakdown on how these savings will be made.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 606, 607, 608 and 615 together.
1. In his Budget Statement the Minister for Finance announced non-pay expenditure reductions of £28.6 million. Included in that total was a net reduction of £7.368 million in the non pay element of the published Social Welfare Estimate. The services contributing savings to this reduction in the Estimate were family income supplement (£2.5 million), miscellaneous grants (£1.25 million), non-contributory old age pensions (£2 million) and payment to the Social Insurance Fund (£1.618 million). The reductions arise solely from estimating revisions based on the latest data available with regard to trends in expenditure and in numbers of recipients. They do not in any way result from or entail changes in policy which would affect entitlements to social welfare benefits.
2. The information sought in relation to certain published estimates for 1985 and the reductions made in those estimates are as follows. In interpreting the information it should be borne in mind that the revised Estimates Volume, which is being prepared at present, will reflect also the improvements in the social welfare services announced in the budget.
(i) Family Income Supplement
|
£m |
|
|
Estimate published in abridged 1985 Estimates Volume |
13,000 |
|
Estimated savings in the light of latest information |
6,000 |
Note
Of the £6.000 million estimated savings, £2.500 million was included in the reduction of £7.368 million in the published Social Welfare Estimate referred to in paragraph 1 above. The balance of £3.500 million is being used to offset a reduction in the estimate of contribution income of the Social Insurance Fund and therefore does not give rise to a reduction in the Social Welfare Estimate as a whole.
It was estimated before the introduction of the scheme that up to 35,000 persons could qualify for supplements. Up to 7 February 1985 a total of about 9,300 applications had been received and about 4,400 supplements had been awarded. Despite extensive publicity when the scheme was launched, the take-up has been disappointingly low.
The total provision for miscellaneous grants as published in the abridged 1985 Estimates Volume is £94.03 million. Details are as follows:
(ii) Miscellaneous Grants
|
£ |
|
|
1. Grants to County Borough Councils, Urban District Coun- cils and Town Commissioners for the provision of meals for children attending National Schools |
635,000 |
|
2. Grants to certain County Coun- cils for the provision of food for children attending National Schools in the Gaeltacht |
10,000 |
|
3. Grants to Local Authorities towards the supply of fuel for necessitous families |
7,560,000 |
|
4. Grants in respect of the pro- vision for free travel |
24,636,000 |
|
5. Grants in respect of the pro- vision of free electricity allowan- ces |
21,265,000 |
|
6. Grants in respect of the pro- vision of free television licences |
5,490,000 |
|
7. Grants in respect of the pro- vision of free telephone rental allowances |
5,280,000 |
|
8. Grants in respect of the provision of free bottled gas |
139,000 |
|
9. Grants to health boards towards the cost of supplementary wel- fare allowances |
29,000,000 |
|
10. Grant towards the cost of administration, travelling, sub- sistence and other expenses incurred by the Social Welfare Tribunal |
15,000 |
|
Total |
94,030,000 |
In the light of the most recent information on expenditure in 1984 a saving of £1.250 million is anticipated on the provision for grants to health boards towards the cost of supplementary welfare allowances (item 9 above). This sum was included in the overall reduction of £7.368 million on the published Social Welfare Estimate referred to in paragraph 1 above.
(iii) Non-Contributory Old Age Pensions
|
£m |
|
|
Estimate published in abridged 1985 Estimates Volume |
266.000 |
|
Estimated savings in the light of latest information |
2.000 |
Note
The savings were included in the overall reduction of £7.368 million on the published Social Welfare Estimates referred to in paragraph 1 above. They arise because the latest information shows a slightly lower number of pensions in payment and slightly lower average rates of payment than were assumed in the published Estimate.
The published provision for subhead E —Payment to the Social Insurance Fund, which represents the amount by which the income of the fund is less than its expenditure — is £316.422 million. The details are:
(iv) Social Insurance Fund
Estimated Expenditure of the Social Insurance Fund
|
£ |
|
|
Benefits: |
|
|
Disability |
201,400,000 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
69,320,000 |
|
Maternity Allowance |
10,520,000 |
|
Treatment |
15,100,000 |
|
Old Age (Contributory) Pen- sion |
233,250,000 |
|
Retirement Pension |
106,550,000 |
|
Unemployment |
245,630,000 |
|
Widow's (Contributory) Pen- sion and Orphan's (Con- tributory) Allowance |
191,800,000 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
16,450,000 |
|
Death Grant |
890,000 |
|
Pay-Related Benefit |
75,170,000 |
|
Total Benefits |
1,166,080,000 |
|
Administration |
53,807,000 |
|
(A) Total Expenditure |
1,219,887,000 |
Estimated Income of the Social Insurance Fund
|
£ |
|
|
Income from Contributions |
902,000,000 |
|
Income from Investments |
1,221,000 |
|
Rent |
22,000 |
|
Investment Return |
56,000 |
|
Receipts (net) under Reciprocal Arrangements |
166,000 |
|
(B) Total Income |
903,465,000 |
|
Excess of Expenditure over Income (A)—(B) i.e. amount of Subhead E |
316,422,000 |
Reductions of £1.000 million on the provision for expenditure on old age contributory pension and £0.250 million on maternity allowance are now anticipated in the light of the most recent trends, while a further reduction of £0.368 million will be financed from balances held by the Fund at the end of 1984. Those three items add up to the reduction of £1.618 million on this subhead which was included in the overall reduction in the Social Welfare Estimate referred to in paragraph 1 above.
A likely shortfall in the estimate of contribution income assumed in the published Estimate is being offset by the £3.500 million saving in the Family Income Supplement estimate referred to in paragraph 2 (ii) above.
609.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
To satisfy the conditions for payment of unemployment assistance an applicant is required to furnish evidence of unemployment by signing at his local office or signing centre. The person concerned, who was a postal applicant for unemployment assistance was paid unemployment assistance up to 11 January 1983 after which date he ceased to submit evidence of unemployment. There are accordingly no arrears of unemployment assistance due to him. He would not have been eligible for unemployment assistance after 13 March 1983 as he attained pension age on that date.
610.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 2 January 1985, and his claim has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. When these inquiries are completed his case will be submitted 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.
611.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons a person (details supplied) in County Limerick is not being given his full unemployment benefit of £72; and if he is aware that this person is only receiving £56 per week at the present time.
The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance at £56.70 a week, being the appropirate weekly rate payable to him £72.25 less £15.55 means, derived from capital. He appealed against this decision and his case has been submitted to the appeals officer. His rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
612.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on the disability claim of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 19 September 1984 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements have been made to have him examined on 12 February 1985 by a different medical referee. His entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
613.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the application for free travel made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following receipt of an application, a free travel pass was issued to the person concerned in June 1982. He was subsequently awarded an old age pension and a second pass was issued to him in error. When this came to light recently, he was requested to return the second pass. The person concerned, however, returned both passes. One of these passes was re-issued to him on 6 February 1985.
614.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 23 January 1984 and payment is being made at regular weekly intervals. 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 was examined in November last by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was not permanently incapable of work and asked to have him referred for a further examination after nine months. The question of entitlement to invalidity pension will be considered after that examination.
616.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the circumstances surrounding the refusal to include a widow (details supplied) in County Roscommon in the free fuel scheme.
It is understood from the Western Health Board, which administers the national fuel scheme in County Roscommon, that the application of the person concerned for a fuel allowance has been refused on the fround that she is not living alone or only with certain categories of persons as required under the conditions of the scheme. It is understood that she is living with a son, who is employed, and a daughter. The application is at present under appeal and the applicant will be informed by the board of the appeals officer's decision in due course.
617.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick whose invalidity/disability payments were discontinued since last September.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 27 May 1980 and was transferred to invalidity pension from 21 October 1982. A condition for the continued receipt of invalidity pension is that the pensioner remains permanently incapable of work. He was examined on 22 August 1984 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. On 21 September 1984 he was examined by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. Payment of his pension had therefore to be disallowed. The person notified the Department that he was dissatisfied with this decision and arrangements are being made to have his case submitted to an appeals officer. He will be notified of the time and place fixed for the hearing as soon as these arrangements have been completed. His entitlement to payment of invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
618.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from self-employment at fishing exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and an appeals officer also assessed him with means exceeding the statutory limit and accordingly his unemployment assistance claim was disallowed. He reapplied for a review of his means on 24 September 1984 and following reinvestigation his means were assessed at nil with effect from that date. His claim was allowed at the appropriate rate £76.50 being the maximum rate payable to a married man with three qualified children.
619.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a free telephone rental allowance was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will have this application reinvestigated.
In order to qualify for a free telephone rental allowance a person in receipt of a qualifying payment must be living entirely alone or only with children under 15 years of age or other persons who are so permanently incapacitated as to be unable to summon aid in an emergency.
The person concerned and his wife are both in receipt of qualifying payments. Either one of them could therefore qualify for the allowance provided the other is permanently incapacitated as required by the scheme. From the medical evidence furnished however this does not appear to be the case and his application was therefore disallowed. He was notified accordingly on 24 January 1985. If the person concerned is dissatisfied with this decision he should furnish more comprehensive medical certificates in respect of himself and his wife. Their entitlement to the allowance will be reviewed in the light of any new medical evidence received.
620.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will have the matter reinvestigated.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that an applicant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 23 August 1984 and her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 1 November 1984. The appeals officer also decided that she was not available for employment and disallowed her unemployment benefit claim.
Her claim for unemployment benefit was allowed from 13 December 1984 as she satisfied the required conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit from that date and all arrears due were paid on 10 January 1985. However due to an error in computation her claim was authorised at an incorrect rate of £32.75 weekly. The appropriate weekly rate of unemployment benefit in her case is £37.25. A paying order for encashment at her local post office in respect of adjusting arrears of unemployment benefit will issue this week. Further weekly payments of £37.25 will issue as they become due.
621.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 9 October 1984 and payment is being made at regular weekly intervals.
Invalidity pension is payable in place of disability benefit to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. In order that a person may be considered permanently incapable of work, it is necessary for him to, inter alia, have been continuously incapable of work for a period of one year. Therefore, the earliest date on which the claimant can qualify for invalidity pension is 9 October 1985. In addition it will be necessary to have him examined by a medical referee for an opinion as to his future capacity for work.
622.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
There is no trace in the records of the Department of a claim for disability benefit having been received from the person concerned. According to the Department's records her PRSI contributions are at class D1. These contributions do not entitle her to disability benefit.
623.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was issued with a qualification certificate showing that he had an income of £58.23 per week; and if he will give a breakdown on how this figure was arrived at as this person is presently on only £2.67 per week unemployment assistance.
Following the completion of an investigation of the means of the person concerned a deciding officer assessed him with means at £58.23 weekly derived from the income from self-employment as a gardener at £3,000 per annum and the yearly value of capital at £30.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him but an appeals officer also assessed him with means at £58.23 and he was advised accordingly. Payment of unemployment assistance at £2.67 weekly, being the rate appropriate to him £60.90 less £58.23 means continues to be made to him.
624.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the children's allowance of a person (details supplied) in County Cork was reduced by £16 recently.
The person concerned is in receipt of children's allowance at the rate of £60.25 monthly in respect of five qualified children. It has come to the Department's attention, that one of her children was committed to care on 15 November 1984. Her allowance book has been recalled and when it is received a decision will be given on her current entitlement and she will be advised of the outcome.
625.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be transferred to an invalidity pension as he is two years on long duration certs and is unlikely to work again.
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 31 December 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 six 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 £69.55 per week, the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with four child dependants.
626.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been refused children's allowance in respect of her daughter.
Children's allowance was disallowed in respect of the child concerned from October 1981 following her committal to residential care until March 1985.
Her claim has now been reviewed and, in the light of a variation in the terms of the committal order, it has been decided that an allowance is payable in respect of the child in question from May 1982. The appropriate allowance book and arrears are in the course of issue.
627.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related benefit has been withheld from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 following his accident and subsequent unemployment on 5 January 1985.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit on 6 January 1985 in respect of an incapacity which he attributed to an occupational accident on 26 July 1984. Pending the completion of investigations arising from the accident disability benefit was allowed on an interim basis from 8 January 1985 at the rate of £70.25 per week. Payments have issued to the date of the latest medical certificate received.
The flat-rate disability benefit exceeded the limit of 75 per cent of the claimant's reckonable weekly earning in the relevant tax year ended April 1984 and he was not therefore entitled to pay-related benefit. The injury benefit claim will be decided as soon as possible.