asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Limerick did not receive his full entitlement of £81.15 in unemployment assistance from June 1984; and if he will have the matter investigated and corrected retrospectively.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
519.
The person concerned was originally assessed with means of £8.95 weekly derived from the value of capital. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and an appeals officer assessed him with weekly means at £8.95 from 12 April 1984, £7.30 from 1 June 1984, £6.15 from 10 June 1984, £3.95 from 2 July 1984, £2.90 from 3 August 1984, £1.55 from 3 September 1984, £1.45 from 1 October 1984 and £1.15 from 8 October 1984 onwards.
All arrears due to him have been paid and weekly payments of unemployment asistance at £80 being the appropriate rate £81.15 les £1.15 means continue to be made to him as they become due.
520.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is in receipt of disability benefit from 28 June 1984, the fourth day of incapacity. All benefit payable up to 19 March 1985, the date of the latest medical certificate received, has been issued.
There was a delay caused by an administrative error in issuing benefit for the period from 4 February 1985 to 26 February 1985. The error has been rectified and arrears of benefit payable have been issued.
521.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit from this Department at a weekly rate of £67.50 since 28 June 1984. This reduced rate of benefit was awarded to him in respect of himself, his wife and one child, based upon his record of 34 Irish contributions in the governing contribution year.
It has recently come to light that he was last insurably employed, prior to his incapacity, under United Kingdom social security legislation. Under the EC Regulations on Social Security, the claim for sickness benefit is therefore the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Accordingly, the claim, the medical evidence and details of his Irish insurance were transferred to the UK authorities on 25 March 1985.
Pending settlement of the claim by the Department of Health and Social Security, The Department of Social Welfare will continue to pay benefit until 30 April 1985 to avoid any possible break in payment. The appropriate reimbursement to the Department of Social Welfare will be arranged with the Department of Health and Social Security.
522.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the early payment of a prisoner's wife's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The claim of the person concerned to a prisoner's wife's allowance has been referred to a local officer of the Department for investigation. The local officer hopes to call on the claimant within the next few days and when the officer's report is received a decision will be given and the claimant will be notified
In the meantime she is receiving supplementary welfare allowance from the Western Health Board.
523.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
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 the weekly value of a holding, exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension.
524.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is on short term unemployment assistance can be transferred to the long term rate as he has been signing on regularly since November 1983.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance at long term rate is subject to the condition that the applicant has been unemployed and signing the live register for more than 390 days.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 30 November 1983 to 3 April 1984 on the grounds that he failed to disclose his means. His claim was however allowed from 18 April 1984 and he is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £27.95 weekly being the appropriate rate £29.95 less £2 means. Subject to him remaining unemployed he will qualify for the long term rate of unemployment assistance in July this year.
525.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to the non-contributory old age pension application from a person (details supplied) in County Kildare.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned is with the social welfare officer for investigation. When the officer's inquiries have been completed a decision will be given and the applicant will be notified of the outcome.
526.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to the non-contributory old age pension application from a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow.
It has been decided that the person concerned is entitled to old age pension at the maximum weekly rate of £41.30 from 28 February 1985 the date of transfer of her holding. The appropriate pension book has been issued.
She is not entitled to payment of pension prior to that date as her means, comprising the weekly value of a holding and capital, exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension.
527.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will request social welfare officers who make void calls to the homes of applicants for various social welfare allowances and assistance to leave a card indicating the date and time on which they will return to interview the applicant.
Applicants for certain social welfare pensions and allowances are visited at their homes by social welfare officers for the purpose of having their applications investigated. Where an applicant is not available on the date on which the social welfare officer calls a revisit is necessary.
Advance notification of visits, both first visits and subsequent visits which may be necessary, is given to claimants in suitable cases. However, where an investigating officer fails to find the claimant at home, the officer will not be, generally speaking, in a position to know until some time later when a revisit can be scheduled as this will depend on a review of the volume of work on hands and the need to visit claimants in other areas. In these circumstances it would not be possible to leave notification of the date of the next visit.
528.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to the appeal made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway against a significant reduction in his unemployment assistance.
An appeals officer on 20 March 1985 reduced the amount of means assessed against the person concerned to £49 weekly. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £74 weekly the appropriate rate £123 less means £49.
All adjusting arrears due to him will be paid this week and weekly payments of £74 will continue to be made as they become due.