asked the Minister for Social Welfare the level of social welfare benefit being paid to persons (details supplied) In Dublin 11; and the basis of these payments.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
537.
The first person referred to in the details supplied is at present on unemployment assistance at £17.45 weekly the appropriate rate £56.45 less means £39. His means were derived from the benefit of his wife's earnings. Following a recent review of his case his means were reduced to nil effective from 24 August 1984. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £56.45 weekly the appropriate rate payable to a man with an adult dependant. All arrears due to him will be paid this week, and weekly payments of £56.45 will continue to be made as they become due.
The second person mentioned in the details supplied is at present in receipt of disability benefit at £32.75 the appropriate rate payable to her. She is also in receipt of pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £16.38 based on her earnings of £54.25 in the 1982-83 governing tax year. Future disability benefit and pay-related benefit payments will continue to issue on receipt of weekly medical certificates, while she remains incapable of work.
538.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been restored to a person (details supplied) in County Longford.
Payment of disability benefit for the period from 31 January 1985 was issued to the person concerned on 26 February 1985 and payment will continue to be issued on a regular weekly basis. The delay in restoring payment was caused by an administrative error.
539.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare how the weekly earnings of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny were calculated with respect to his application for the family income supplement; and if the average gross earnings from full time work over the full year are used for the purposes of family income supplement assessments or if the income is assessed on a week to week basis.
Under the legislation governing this scheme, weekly family income from employment is in general calculated by reference to the weekly average of the gross amount of such earnings received in the period of six weeks prior to the date on which supplement was claimed where earnings are paid weekly.
On the basis of the information supplied by the person concerned in respect of the six weeks prior to his claim his average gross weekly income exceeded £125 which is the maximum amount prescribed for entitlement to a supplement in the case of a family with three qualified children.
540.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned has been paid disability benefit, at the maximum appropriate rate from 12 December 1984, the fourth day of incapacity, to 22 February, 1985, the date of the latest medical certificate received. He is not entitled to pay-related benefit as the amount of disability benefit payable in his case exceeds 75 per cent of his average reckonable weekly earnings in the 1982-83 income tax year which governs his entitlement to pay-related benefit.
541.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Galway is in receipt of unemployment assistance; and, if not, the reasons he has found to be ineligible.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £25.05 weekly the appropriate rate £31.75 less means £6.70. His means are derived from the value of board and lodging on his father's holding.
542.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who has been signing on for eight weeks.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 29 January 1985 and his claim was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. When these inquiries are completed his means will be assessed in the light of the social welfare officer's report, and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
543.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
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 a claimant. The 85 per cent limit applicable to the person concerned is £71.56 and as the flat rate unemployment benefit payable to him is £80.15 per week, pay-related benefit is not payable in this case.
544.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Offaly is not being paid the maximum amount of unemployment assistance; and when arrears of unemployment assistance will be paid to him.
The person concerned reapplied for unemployment assistance on 2 January 1985 and payment was made at the weekly rate of £24 on the basis of a previously held qualification certificate showing rate of means as £7.75. His case was recently reinvestigated and his means have been reduced to £2.05 per week derived from the value of capital. Accordingly he is entitled to a weekly rate of £29.70 the appropriated rate £31.75 less means of £2.05. All arrears due to him will be paid this week and weekly payments of £29.70 will continue to be made as they become due.
545.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the outcome of an appeal made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway against the decision to cancel his unemployment assistance.
The person concerned reapplied for unemployment assistance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries about his means. The inquiries in the case were prolonged as he did not advise his local office of a change in his address, but these were recently completed after which he was assessed with means of £17.80 weekly. His means were derived from the value of letting land and the benefit from his wife's earnings. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance of £33.90 weekly being the appropriate rate £51.70 less £17.80. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week and further payments will be made as they become due.
546.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who applied eight weeks ago.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 7 December 1984 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. These inquiries were completed recently but a deciding officer requested further information regarding the insurability of the applicant's employment. His case has again been referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.