asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated cost to the Exchequer of financing children's allowances in 1985.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
548.
The estimated cost of children's allowances in 1985 is £172.3 million. This does not represent a full year's cost because children's allowances orders in respect of January 1985 were encashed to an estimated total amount of about £4 million at the end of December 1984. The advance encashment of orders took place because the first Tuesday of January 1985, which was the normal pay day, was a public holiday.
549.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is entitled to claim unemployment benefit.
A person who wishes to claim unemployment benefit is required to make his claim at a local office of the Department. The person concerned did not claim unemployment benefit during the period referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy. If he now wishes to have his entitlement to unemployment benefit examined it is open to him to do so. It will then be possible to examine all the particular circumstances regarding the claim and his case will be statutorily decided by a deciding officer.
550.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a family income supplement will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
The claim form for family income supplement from the person concerned was not fully completed and was returned to him on 18 December 1984 together with a request for further information regarding his employment. When the completed application form and the other information requested have been received in my Department, a decision on his entitlement to family income supplement will be made and he will be notified of the outcome without delay.
551.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in payment of a widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned whose husband died on 26 November 1984 claimed a widow's non-contributory pension on 10 January 1985. A social welfare officer was requested to investigate and report on the claimant's circumstances. He hopes to call on her shortly and when his report is received a decision will be given on her case without delay and she will be notified of the outcome.
552.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the date from which disability benefit is payable to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; the date disability benefit was paid; the arrears, if any, that are due; and the element of pay-related benefit payments that are included in the payments.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 25 June 1984 and is currently paid at the weekly rate of £61.40 the maximum rate appropriate to a married man. He was not entitled to pay-related benefit at the commencement of his claim as according to the records of the Department he did not have any reckonable earnings in 1982-83, the income tax governing his claim.
It was established on 17 December 1984 that he had earnings of £5,861 in that year and therefore was entitled to pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £18.56. Payment was issued from 15 December 1984, but as a result of an administrative error the arrears payable for the period from 16 July (nineteenth day of incapacity) to 14 December 1984 amounting to £409.26 were not issued to him until 1 March 1985. His weekly rate of pay-related benefit was reduced to £14.85 from 27 December 1984 in line with social welfare regulations and all benefit payable in respect of his claim has been issued to 22 February 1985 the date of the latest medical certificate received.
553.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who is awaiting an oral hearing will be considered.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 4 September 1984, following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance and she was examined on 16 October 1984 by a different medical referee who also considered her to be capable of work. Her case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing as soon as possible. She will be notified of the time and place of the hearing when the arrangements have been made.
554.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following the recent investigation of his case by a social welfare officer the person concerned was assessed with means at £67.30 weekly derived from the profit from his holding. Accordingly he is entitled to unemployment assistance at £14.55 weekly the appropriate rate £81.85 less means £67.30. All arrears due will be paid this week and weekly payments at £14.55 will continue to be made as they become due.
555.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 1 January 1985, fourth day of incapacity at £88.35 per week, the maximum rate payable to a married man with three child dependants. He was also paid pay-related benefit from 18 January 1985, nineteenth day of incapacity. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit payable to 23 February 1985, after which date he was certified as fit to resume work, has been issued.
556.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the outcome of the application of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for an 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.
557.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of arrears of a British retirement pension to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The arrears of the British pension, together with the arrears of his pro rata Irish retirement pension, were issued to the person concerned on 27 February 1985.
558.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for immediate payment of maximum rate unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway who has no means.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £28.90 weekly the appropriate rate £31.75 less means £2.85. His means are derived from the value of board and lodging on his father's holding. He recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arrangements are being made to have his means determined by an appeals officer. His rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
559.
asked the Minsiter for Social Welfare the entitlements of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick in respect of his 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. Arrangements are being made to have him examined by a medical referee on 20 March 1985. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
560.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 who went to Berlin seeking employment on 7 July 1984 and who, between that date and 7 October 1984 was not in receipt of unemployment benefit despite having made all the necessary arrangements prior to his departure and having complied with requirements under the German social welfare code; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned went to Germany on 12 July 1984 and in accordance with EC Regulations on Social Security he received a transfer of his unemployment benefit for the 78 day period 12 July 1984 to 10 October 1984. The relevant documentation was issued by this Department to the German authorities but it appears that the papers went astray in postal transit. He returned here on 4 October 1984 and payment of unemployment benefit by this Department was resumed. Confirmation that he fulfilled the condition of being unemployed while resident in Germany from 12 July 1984 to 3 October 1984 has recently been received from the German authorities and arrangements have been made to pay all unemployment benefit due to him next week.
561.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when free travel passes will be granted to persons (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Free travel passes were issued to the persons concerned on 19 February 1985.
562.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the fact that she claims that she was not paid for a period in 1982 when she was entitled to payment.
The person concerned has made a number of claims for a deserted wife's payment, the first in January 1982 and the most recent in June 1984. On each occasion her claim was refused and she was notified of her right to appeal if dissatisfied with the decision. Following the first decision her solicitors indicated that she wished to appeal but the issue was not pursued. A further claim was received from her in December of that year which was again refused but there is no record of any appeal having been lodged against this or a latter decision on her claim. There is therefore no question of any arrears of deserted wife's benefit-allowance being due in this case.
563.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the grounds on which payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has been discontinued; and when it is anticipated that a decision will be given in respect of his appeal.
The person concerned was assessed with means at £34.60 weekly and as this amount exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance appropriate to him as a single person with effect from 12 October 1983 his claim was disallowed. He applied for a reinvestigation of his means in December 1984 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries. It is expected that the extensive inquiries being made in the case will be completed shortly after which the assessment of his means will be reviewed in the light of the outcome and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
564.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is the part owner of 50 acres of land but who is being assessed as the full owner, and if he will assess his means independently of the neighbour with whom he resides.
It was decided on 14 February 1985 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension on the grounds that his means, consisting of the weekly value of income from a holding, exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension. The claimant is assessed with full beneficial occupation of the holding. He claims to have transferred part of the holding but there is no evidence to support this claim. The assessment of his means takes no account of his neighbour's income.
565.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who made application approximately seven weeks ago.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 10 January 1985 and his claim was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. Extensive inquiries are being made in the case but it is expected that these will be completed shortly. His means will be assessed in the light of the outcome of the investigation and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
566.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expendite the application for free electricity allowance made by a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
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 her son-in-law resides with her who is not a person who comes within these categories for satisfying the living alone condition of the scheme.
567.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and, if so, at what rate.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 10 December 1984, and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. The social welfare officers has made a number of void calls to his home address. He has not succeeded in interviewing the applicant and has asked him to supply certain statements which affect his means. When the social welfare officer gets these statements he will complete his report and the applicant's entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the amount of means assessed against him.
568.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance at the maximum rate cannot be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has no visible means of support; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £30.10 weekly derived from the value of board and lodgings on his father's holding and from the value of capital. His unemployment assistance claim was accordingly disallowed as the amount of the means assessed against him exceeded the rate of unemployment assistance appropriate to him namely £29.95 weekly. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination of his means. The appeals officer assessed his means at £30 weekly and as this also exceeds the rate payable to him his claim continues to be disallowed. He was informed accordingly.
569.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is in receipt of an invalidity pension.
An application for a free electricity allowance from the person concerned 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.
570.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is genuinely seeking work.
The person concerned is a postal applicant for unemployment assistance. Following the completion of inquiries he was assessed with means at £9 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in his parents' home. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £20.95 weekly being the appropriate rate £29.95 less £9. All arrears of unemployment assistance due were paid last week and further weekly payments will be made to him as these become due.
571.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when occupational injury benefit or disability benefit will be paid on a continuous basis to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit from 26 June 1984 and was paid for the appropriate period of 26 weeks to 24 December 1984. He is not entitled to disability benefit as according to the records of the Department he has fewer than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment. The person concerned has been issued with a from on which to claim disablement benefit and when this is returned his claim will be reviewed without delay.
572.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and the circumstances under which payment was discontinued in this case.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that the means derived from self-employment as a painter, benefit from his wife's self-employment and from the value of capital, exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against this decision and following further inquiries a deciding officer revised the previous decision and assessed his means at £29.15 weekly. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £22.55 the appropriate rate £51.70 less means £29.15. All arrears due to him will be paid this week and payments of £22.55 weekly will continue to be made as they become due.