asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in regard to an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Galway against the decision to discontinue his unemployment assistance.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
600.
The person concerned appealed against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim and the case was returned to the social welfare officer to afford him a further opportunity to co-operate by disclosing his means. However he again failed to do so and the case was submitted to an appeals officer. The appeals officer decided that by failing to furnish particulars of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit and accordingly disallowed his claim. A notice to this effect has been issued to him.
601.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has been reduced from £70 to £61 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at the weekly rate of £61.40, the maximum rate for a married couple. He was also paid pay-related benefit from 20 January 1984, the nineteenth day of incapacity. Payment continued to 1 April 1985, after which date his entitlement to pay-related benefit was exhausted as he had been paid for the maximum period of 62½ weeks.
602.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pension books were not sent to an old age pensioner (details supplied) in County Galway when they became due for renewal over a month ago; and when they will be sent.
Due to an administrative error the renewal prescribed relative allowance book payable from 5 April 1985 did not issue. The appropriate book has now been issued. Any inconvenience caused to the pensioner is regretted. The pensioner is at present in receipt of an old age pension at the weekly rate of £61.40 which includes an over eighty allowance of £3 and a prescribed relative allowance of £23.10.
603.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an old age pensioner (details supplied) in County Galway is eligible for payment of his late wife's old age pension for a six week period after her death in order to defray her funeral expenses.
The payment of six weeks pension after the death of a pensioner is only made where the surviving spouse was a dependant of the deceased. In this case, the deceased pensioner's husband was not a qualified adult dependant and, in the circumstances, the payment of six weeks pension after death cannot be made.
604.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to an application for an old age pension from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of old age pension at the weekly rate of £41.05 which includes £13.75 adult dependant allowance. The latest assessment of his means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding, entitles him to pension at this rate. If the pensioner's circumstances have deteriorated since the last assessment of his means, it is open to him to apply for an increase in his pension by notifying the Department to that effect.
605.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when maternity benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The maternity benefit claim has now been authorised and payment in respect of the appropriate 12 week period from 4 February 1985 to 27 April 1985 has issued.
606.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a deserted wife's allowance due to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow which was granted on 29 November 1984 has not been paid in full; and when all arrears will be paid.
The person concerned was awarded deserted wife's benefit at the maximum rate with effect from 29 November 1984. An order book payable from 7 February 1985 was issued on 6 February to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly.
A payable order was sent to her on 24 April 1985 for arrears of benefit from 29 November 1984 to 6 February 1985, less the adult and child dependants' portion of her husband's unemployment assistance which were paid to her during that time.
607.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and, if he has exhausted his entitlement to unemployment benefit, if he will be entitled to unemployment assistance.
The person concerned received unemployment benefit to which he was not entitled as the contributions appropriate to his employment were proper to a class of contribution which did not provide cover against unemployment. Accordingly payment of unemployment benefit cannot be restored to him until after such a time as he takes up employment which is insurable at a contribution class providing cover against unemployment and obtains the necessary number of contributions.
In accordance with the provisions of the Social Welfare Acts a person who claims unemployment assistance cannot be deemed to be unemployed on any day on which he works for wages or remuneration. The person concerned is not therefore entitled to unemployment assistance in respect of any day on which he works as a school caretaker-cleaner.
608.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal can be carried out for an applicant for unemployment assistance (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Arising out of contentions made by the person concerned in support of his appeal his case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were completed recently and arrangements are being made to have his case submitted to an appeals officer for determination. His rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer. In the meantime he is in receipt of £32 weekly the appropriate rate £86.75 less means £54.75.
609.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in finalising the decision on the application for an old age pension made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
It has been decided that the person concerned is entitled to old age pension at the maximum weekly rate of £41.30 from 1 February 1985. The appropriate pension book and arrears due have issued. The delay in dealing with this case was due to pressure of work in the social welfare station concerned.
610.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until extensive inquiries being made by the social welfare officer were completed. These inquiries were recently completed following which he was assessed with means of £19.20 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his father's holding. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £10.75 weekly the appropriate rate £29.95 less means £19.20. All arrears due to him will be paid this week and weekly payments of £10.75 will continue to be made as they become due.