asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a single parent's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
9.
One of the conditions for the receipt of a social assistance allowance by an unmarried mother is that the claimant and any other person must not be cohabiting as man and wife. The deciding officer held that this condition was not satisfied by the person concerned and her claim for an allowance was therefore refused.
The claimant appealed against the decision and an appeal hearing will be arranged as soon as possible. She will be notified of the date and place of the hearing.
34.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if approval can now be given to the deserted wife application made by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin having regard to the fact that her husband has now left her for approximately three years and is known to have departed to the United States permanently.
One of the conditions for the receipt of a deserted wife's payment is that a husband must have left his wife of his own volition. The deciding officer held that this condition was not satisfied in this case and that there was a mutual responsibility in the circumstances leading up to the separation. The person concerned was notified of the decision to disallow her claim on 21 May 1984 and of her right to appeal against the decision but she did not do so at the time.
A letter was received from the claimant on 6 March 1985 stating that her circumstances had changed since the original disallowance of her claim, that her husband had now gone to the United States of America and that she therefore wished to appeal. The fact that her husband has now gone to the United States would not in the normal course affect the circumstances giving rise to a separation which took place about two and a half years ago. The person concerned was written to on 15 March 1985 and the position was explained to her and she was asked if there were any new facts or fresh evidence in relation to the separation which she wished to submit. No reply to this letter has been received. A further letter is being issued to her, inquiring whether she wishes to proceed with the appeal and if so to give her reasons for her appeal.