asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an increase in unemployment benefit paid last week as a marriage allowance has not been backdated to the date of marriage in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will authorise the payment of arrears as soon as possible.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
547.
The person concerned, a landholder, has been in receipt of unemployment assistance at the appropriate single rate since 1975. He did not at any time inform the local office that he had become married. However, it subsequently came to light at the local office that he was married and a form to enable him to claim an increase in respect of an adult dependant issued to him on 16 April 1985. He returned the completed form but failed to give the date of marriage and an increase in respect of an adult dependant was allowed from 16 April 1985 and all arrears due have been paid.
The claimant has been asked to furnish a copy of marriage certificate and to state the reason he did not claim for his wife from the date of his marriage and when this information is received consideration will be given to allowing retrospective payment for an adult dependant back to the date of marriage.
548.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will outline any other social welfare benefits which the applicant is entitled to.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 25 December 1984 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and was examined by a different medical referee who found him to be incapable of work from that date. Accordingly payment of benefit was restored from 25 December 1984 and all benefit payable in respect of his claim has been issued to 23 April 1985, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
549.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is on invalidity pension has been granted free telephone rental.
There is no record in the Department of receipt of an application for this allowance from the person concerned. An application form was issued to him on 6 May 1985. On receipt of the completed application in the Department an early decision will be given in the case and the applicant will be notified of the outcome.
550.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cause of the long delay in paying arrears of a children's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, in respect of a child born on 25 November 1984 and a claim made in March 1985.
Children's allowance was awarded in respect of the child in question from April 1985. The claimant was notified of this decision and the reasons for it and the appropriate allowance book was issued on 2 April 1985.
Under the regulations, payment from an earlier date may be made only if there are exceptional or extenuating circumstances which prevented the claim being made within three months of the child's birth. If the claimant contends that there are extenuating circumstances in her case she should furnish details to the Department and her claim will be reviewed.
551.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a decision has been made on an appeal for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from the value of board and lodging on his brother's holding and from the value of capital, exceeded the rate payable to him. He appealed against this decision and an appeals officer on 17 October 1984 also assessed him with means exceeding the rate payable to him. He recently requested a review of his means and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. When these inquiries are completed his means will be reviewed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the amount of means assessed against him.
552.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related social welfare benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Entitlement to pay-related 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 earnings of the claimant.
To enable the 85 per cent limit to be calculated the person concerned has been asked to furnish details of his income between 6 April 1984 and 1 March 1985 and when he does so, his entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat rate unemployment benefit will be determined.
553.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a decision has been reached on an appeal for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
An appeals officer decided that the means of the person concerned derived from profit from his holding exceeded the statutory limit. Accordingly he is not entitled to payment of unemployment assistance and he has been accordingly notified.
554.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an application for unemployment assistance will be decided for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Following reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim a deciding officer assessed his means at nil with effect from 21 June 1984. He is therefore entitled to unemployment assistance at the maximum weekly rate of £92.35 increased to £99.80 as from 4 July 1984. Payment of arrears adjustment will issue to him this week and weekly payments will continue as they become due.
555.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit when his claim was disallowed from 20 December 1984 on the grounds that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance of his disability benefit claim and pending the outcome of his appeal he claimed unemployment benefit from 20 December 1984 contending that he was unemployed and available for work. His unemployment benefit claim was allowed from 20 December 1984 and all unemployment benefit due to him, less supplementary welfare allowance received by him, was paid up to 27 February 1985.
In the meantime an appeals officer determined his appeal against the disallowance of his disability benefit claim and upheld the disallowance of his claim from 20 December 1984 to 14 January 1985 but allowed his disability benefit claim from 15 January 1985. Accordingly the amount of unemployment benefit which he received from 15 January 1985 to 27 February 1985 was treated as paid on account of disability benefit. Payments of disability benefit commenced to be made from 14 March 1985 and an adjusting payment representing arrears of disability benefit from 28 February 1985 to 13 March 1985 will be made this week. He has accordingly received all unemployment benefit to which he was entitled and as he is at present incapable for work, further payment of disability benefit will be made on receipt of medical evidence of his incapacity.
556.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 6 April to 13 April 1985, the date of the latest medical certificate received. His claim was received in the Department on 19 April 1985 and all benefit payable in respect of his claim was issued on 1 May 1985.
557.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 January 1985. Payment of benefit was not authorised as according to the records of the Department she had not the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1983-84, the contribution year governing her claim. She has only 21 contributions paid in that year.
Credited contributions have been awarded from 14 January 1985 to 29 April 1985, the date of the latest medical evidence received. However, no payment of benefit can be made in respect of the current benefit year which runs from 7 January 1985 to 4 January 1986.
558.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the non-payment of disability benefit for six weeks to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 29 March 1985. There was a delay in issuing payment pending the confirmation of details of supplementary welfare allowance advanced to him by the Southern Health Board. The position has now been clarified and all benefit payable to 25 April 1985, the date of the latest medical certificate received, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the health board, was issued to him on 6 May 1985.
559.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 29 April 1985. To date he has submitted only one medical certificate indicating that he is incapable of work. Further medical evidence is necessary to establish the duration of incapacity before any payment can be made.
560.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the early payment of a death grant to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
Payment of a death grant at the maximum rate in respect of the deceased person concerned has been authorised and a cheque was issued on 7 May 1985.
561.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cause of the delay in processing the claim of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for an invalidity pension; and when he can expect to be called before a medical referee.
The person concerned has been awarded an invalidity pension from 7 March 1985, the Thursday following the date of the receipt of completed claim form. A pension book payable from 13 June 1985 will be issued shortly to the designated post office of payment and arrears in respect of the period from 7 March 1985 to 12 June 1985, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by payable order. The person concerned was examined on 16 January 1985 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was permanently incapable of work. A further examination is therefore not necessary.
562.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons a free electricity allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Galway has been discontinued; if he and his Department are aware that this person is receiving an invalidity pension and is living with his wife and that both of his daughters are in full-time education; if he will now direct his Department to rescind this decision; if this electricity allowance will be regranted to this person; the date on which this will be done; and if he will make a statement on the entire situation.
To qualify for a free electricity allowance a person must reside alone or with categories of persons whose residence is excepted for the purposes of the scheme.
Two daughters of the person concerned reside with him and as he indicated that they were in full time education, he was asked on three occasions to supply certificates from the school authorities to confirm this. He failed to do so and the ESB was therefore instructed on 25 April 1985, to terminate the allowance which applied to his electricity account. If he produces these certificates, consideration will be given to the restoration of the allowance in his case.
563.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons payment of unemployment assistance has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; in view of this situation that this person finds himself in, if he will now direct his Department to increase this assistance and restore it to the former figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following investigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed at £73.40 weekly derived from profit from his holding and from the weekly value of capital. He is therefore entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £13.35 being the appropriate rate £86.75 less means £73.40.
The case was recently referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries are not yet completed but when they are his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
564.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free telephone rental allowance will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
An application from the person concerned which was received in the Department on 12 April 1985 has been approved with effect from that date. Telecom Éireann has been notified of the decision in the case and will arrange to apply the allowance to the applicant's telephone account.
565.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on a claim for unemployment benefit from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
An applicant for unemployment benefit who is a landholder but does not satisfy the contribution condition of having 78 contributions paid in a three year period is not entitled to unemployment benefit if the net income from his holding exceeds £2 daily. The person concerned is a landholder who does not satisfy the 78 contributions condition. His case was referred to a social welfare officer and following the completion of inquiries which revealed that the value of his holding exceeded £2 per day his unemployment benefit claim was disallowed with effect from 11 February 1985.
He applied for unemployment assistance and following investigation by a social welfare officer his means were assessed at £44.20 weekly derived from profit from his holding. He is therefore, entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £18.75 being the appropriate rate £62.95 less means £44.20. All arrears due will be paid this week and further payments will be made as they become due.
566.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting a free telephone rental allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
To qualify for a free telephone rental allowance a person in receipt of a qualifying payment must be living alone or only with children under 15 years of age or other persons who are so permanently incapacitated as to be unable to summon aid in an emergency. The person concerned is residing with his wife who is not, from the information furnished, permanently incapacitated as required by the scheme. His application was therefore rejected and he was notified of this decision and the reason for it on 12 February 1985.
There is no record in the Department of receipt of the further medical evidence referred to by the Deputy. In the circumstances therefore, a form which may be used by the applicant to furnish additional medical evidence, was issued to him on 6 May 1985. On receipt of his reply his application will be reviewed and he will be notified of the outcome.
567.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will issue on an application for a non-contributory old age pension for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 as the application was submitted three months ago.
The qualifying conditions for contributory old age pension require a person (i) to have entered insurance under the Social Welfare Acts before the prescribed age, 57 years in this case; (ii) to have not less than 156 qualifying contributions paid in respect of his employment since his entry into insurance; and (iii) to have a yearly average of not less than 20 qualifying contributions, paid or credited, from 5 January 1953 or from the beginning of the contribution year in which he entered into insurance, whichever is the later, to the end of the last complete contribution year before he attained pension age.
The person concerned claimed a contributory old age pension on 4 March 1985. He has no record of contributions paid or credited under the Social Welfare Acts and does not, therefore, qualify for this pension. He is not entitled to credited contributions in respect of his claim for unemployment assistance as such contributions can only be allowed in a case where a claimant had a record of paid or credited insurance during the two contribution years prior to the one in which his claim commenced.
Details of his pension claim have been sent to the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for examination of his entitlement to a British retirement pension. That Department will reply direct to him. In the meantime his entitlement to a non-contributory old age pension is being investigated.
568.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 as application was made four weeks ago.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 April 1985 and all benefit payable has been issued to 29 April 1985 the date of the latest medical certificate received.
569.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding an application for an old age pension submitted by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5.
The person concerned has been awarded a contributory old age pension with effect from 29 March 1985, the Friday following his 66th birthday. He is in receipt of an invalidity pension at present and has been asked to return the book for this pension to the Department. When this is done a contributory old age pension book will be issued to the designated post office for collection by him. The arrears of contributory old age pension due will then be issued to him by payable order.
570.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason arrears of a non-contributory old age pension have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
571.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an adult dependant allowance was deducted from a non-contributory old age pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 570 and 571 together, as they refer to a married couple.
It has been decided that the husband concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the weekly rate of £23.05, which includes an adult dependant allowance of £7.75. This was awarded from 1 March 1985, the Friday following the date of transfer of a portion of his holding. His wife applied for pension in her own right on 8 March 1985 and was awarded old age pension at the weekly rate of £15.30. Accordingly, adult dependant allowance of £7.75 ceased to be paid on her husband's pension from that date, thus leaving both husband and wife entitled to pensions of £15.30. This is the rate to which they are each entitled having regard to the assessments of their means, each consisting of half the weekly value of the holding. The appropriate pension books and all arrears due have been issued.
572.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on a free telephone rental allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Meath, as he is living alone.
To qualify for a free telephone rental allowance a person in receipt of a qualifying payment must be living alone or only with children under 15 years of age or other persons who are so permanently incapacitated as to be unable to summon aid in an emergency. According to the Department's records the person concerned is residing with his wife and their fourteen year old son. From the medical evidence furnished the applicant's wife is not incapacitated as required by the scheme and his application was therefore rejected. The applicant was notified of this decision and the reason for it on 29 January 1985.
573.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for the period from 1 February 1985 to her commencement of employment recently; and the cause of the delay in this case.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of her means. The social welfare officer made a number of void calls to her home address before she made herself available for interview.
She has now been assessed with nil means and she is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £29.95 weekly the appropriate maximum rate payable to her. All arrears due to her will be paid this week and as she continues to sign as unemployed, weekly payments will be made as these become due.
574.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must have at least 26 contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 11 March 1985. According to the Department's records she did not satisfy the contribution conditions during the contribution period 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984 which governed her entitlement to payment of unemployment benefit from 11 March 1985. She was notified accordingly. She continues to sign the unemployment register for credited contributions.
575.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for unemployment assistance will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Arising out of contentions made by the person concerned in support of his recent appeal against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim, on the grounds that by failing to disclose details of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit, his case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries are completed his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
576.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow for the period 4 to 25 March 1985.
Injury benefit in respect of the period from 25 February 1985 to 23 March 1985, last day of incapacity, has been paid to the person concerned. He was initially paid disability benefit but following receipt of a claim for injury benefit and confirmation of the details of the accident he was awarded injury benefit. A cheque in respect of the amount of injury benefit due over and above disability benefit already paid was issued to him on 6 May 1986.
577.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the correct amount of occupational injury benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow as there seems to be a mistake in over-payment.
The person concerned was paid injury benefit at the rate of £102.35 from 1 February 1985, the date of his occupational accident. As a result of indicating two separate RSI numbers, he was also paid disability benefit in respect of the period from 6 March to 22 March at the rate of £88.35 a week resulting in an overpayment of £220.88.
The overpayment, together with supplementary welfare allowance advanced amounting to £143, was recovered from injury benefit which has been paid to the date of the latest medical certificate received.
578.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for disability benefit will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 13 March 1985 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have her examined by a different medical referee on 22 May 1985. Her entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
579.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the reduction from £44.45 to £27.05 in rate of widow's pension payable to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned had been in receipt of widow's non-contributory pension at the weekly rate of £44.65 in respect of herself and two qualified children. One of her children reached 18 years on 6 April 1985 and in the absence of evidence to show that he is receiving full time education by day (in which event payment would be made for him up to 21 years of age) he cannot be regarded as a qualified child from that date.
The rate of pension payable to the widow was consequently reduced to £27.05 a week. This is the appropriate rate for a widow with one qualified child and whose weekly means exceed £28 but do not exceed £30. She is assessed with means of £28.61 a week, derived from a farm holding. If the child in question is still in full time education, the form which was sent to the person concerned should be certified by the school authorities and returned to the Department. Payment in respect of that child would then be resumed from the date it was terminated.
580.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when moneys will be paid to her as a result of her claim.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 26 November 1984, following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance and arrangements were made to have her examined on 28 February 1985 by a different medical referee but she failed to attend. She was examined on 25 April 1985 by a medical referee who also considered her to be capable of work. The person concerned was advised of this decision and issued with a form of appeal on 30 April 1985. On receipt of the completed form the claim will be referred to an appeals officer for determination.
581.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has a record of an application for a free telephone rental allowance made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick before Christmas who is in receipt of a disabled person's maintenance allowance from the Mid-Western Health Board; and when a decision will be made on the application.
There is no record in the Department of receipt of an application for a free telephone rental allowance from the person concerned. An application form was issued to him on 24 April 1985 in response to representations on his behalf from the Deputy. On receipt of the completed application form in the Department a decision will be given in the case and the applicant will be notified of the outcome.
582.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payment of an orphan's pension and arrears due will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The orphan's pension of the person concerned, which was suspended following the death of her guardian on 12 January 1983, was restored with effect from that date and is now paid to the orphan herself. A pension book at the weekly rate of £23 with orders payable from 2 November 1984 was sent to the designated post office on 22 October 1984 for collection by her and she was notified accordingly.
A British guardian's allowance was also awarded in respect of this orphan from 8 February 1983 to 17 September 1984 (her 19th birthday). Consequently her Irish pension was reduced to £9.20 from 8 February 1983, £11.50 from 1 July 1983 and £13 from 6 July 1984 (formerly £19.20 from 8 February 1983, £21.50 from 1 July 1983 and £23 from 6 July 1984).
The arrears of Irish pension for the period 12 January 1983 to 1 November 1984 which amounted to £1,162.80, less a deduction of £547.90 in respect of supplementary welfare allowance paid to her in the same period, were sent direct to the orphan by payable order on 26 March 1985. Arrears of British guardian's allowance (IR£759.89) were also sent direct to her, on 3 May 1985. The Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, have been asked to examine the possible entitlement to an award from an earlier date as the orphan's mother was in receipt of British invalidity pension when she died in May 1980.
583.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the reduction of £15 per week in the rate of old age pension being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
During a routine investigation of the old age pension entitlements of the person concerned it was found that his means had increased since the date of the last assessment. Accordingly it has been decided that he is entitled to an old age pension at the weekly rate of £47.05 from 5 April 1985 which includes an adult dependant allowance of £15.75. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means consisting of half the weekly value of a holding. He was notified of this decision and the appropriate pension book was issued on 11 April 1985.
584.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be called before a medical referee again in relation to his claim for disability benefit.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 12 November 1984, following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and he was examined on 13 December 1984 by a different medical referee who also considered him to be capable of work.
His case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of the case as soon as possible. He will be notified of the time and place of the hearing as soon as the arrangements have been made.
585.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cavan applied for a widow's pension; and when a pension book will be sent to her.
The claim to a widow's contributory pension by the person concerned was received on 7 January 1985.
Pension books with orders payable from 29 March 1985 were sent on 30 April 1985 to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. Arrears for the period 14 December 1984 to 28 March 1985, less an adjustment in respect of disability benefit paid to her during that time, have been issued direct to the claimant.
586.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a former employee of Irish Shipping Ltd. (details supplied) in County Monaghan is not receiving unemployment benefit.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim to unemployment benefit or assistance which refers to the person named in the details supplied. Further inquiries in the matter will be made if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the person concerned to be identified.
587.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider basing the payment of smallholder's unemployment assistance on adjusted acreage in the future in view of the equity which such a system would present and the less laborious system of appeals which it could involve; and if he would make a statement on the matter.
Following the abolition of the notional system of means assessment for unemployment assistance purposes based on PLV, smallholders now qualify for assistance on the basis of a factual assessment of their means such as that which applies to applicants generally. There are no plans for the reintroduction of a notional system of means assessment. In any event the system of adjusted acreage which is being devised at present for farm tax purposes will be limited to holdings over 20 adjusted acres and would not apply to many smallholders who are at present in receipt of unemployment assistance.
588.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason payment of disability benefit was reduced from £80.15 to £74.60 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been paid disability benefit at the maximum rate from 20 October 1984, fourth day of incapacity to 10 April 1985. From 11 April 1985, deductions of £5.99 were made from his weekly benefit to recover an amount of £29.95 supplementary welfare allowance advanced to the claimant, thus reducing his weekly payment from £80.15 to £74.16.
589.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason payment of disability benefit has been reduced from £88.35 to £78.98 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit at the maximum rate payable from 13 February 1984 to 9 April 1985. From 10 April 1985 deductions of £9.37 were made from his weekly benefit, to recover £195 supplementary welfare allowance, advanced by the Southern Health Board, thus reducing his weekly payment from £88.35 to £78.98.
590.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a hearing will be rearranged for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in relation to her appeal on the decision on her application for unemployment assistance in view of the fact she was unable to attend the previous hearing and a decision was made in her absence.
The claim of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that she was not available for or genuinely seeking work on and from 20 August 1984. She appealed against the disallowance and an oral hearing was arranged for 19 March 1985. However, she did not attend and the appeals officer decided summarily that she was not available for or genuinely seeking work. If she still wishes to have her appeal heard she should write to her local employment exchange giving her reasons for not attending appeal hearing on 19 March 1985 and also requesting arrangements to be made for a further hearing of her case.
591.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when his Department will ensure that a contributory old age pension book is issued to and received by pensioners (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if they will be approved for free electricity allowance credits.
A pension book containing an order for payment on 29 March 1985 and a book containing orders payable from 5 April 1985 for the pensioner concerned were issued to the wrong post office in error. The two books have been redirected to his home address and arrangements have been made with his local post office to pay all pension due to him from 29 March 1985. His application for a free electricity allowance has been approved and the ESB has been instructed to apply it to his electricity account from the June-July 1985 billing period.
592.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive occupational injury benefit.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit from 28 January 1985 in respect of an incapacity which he attributed to an occupational accident on 13 December 1984. Pending the completion of investigations arising from the accident he was considered for disability benefit on an interim basis. He did not however qualify for disability benefit in the absence of contributions in the governing contribution year.
Following confirmation from his employers of the occupational accident, the injury benefit claim was allowed. Benefit has been paid in respect of the period of certified incapacity from 28 January to 11 March.
593.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was provided with a rent allowance of only £5 when his rent is £12.50; if the consent of his Department was sought for an allowance of more than £5; the reasons his rent allowance was stopped on April 24; and if he is aware that the person residing with him has no form of income.
Under the regulations governing the supplementary welfare allowances scheme the amount of any payment of supplementary welfare allowance in respect of rent is a matter to be determined by the health board, who must decide what is reasonable in the circumstances of each case. It is understood from the Western Health Board, who are responsible for the administration of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in County Galway, that a weekly rent supplement of £5 has been in payment since October 1984 to the person concerned as this was considered to be the appropriate amount in his case. The consent of my Department to pay a sum in excess of £5 was not sought. Payment was suspended on 24 April 1985 while the case was being reviewed but has now resumed. It is open to the claimant to appeal against the board's decision if he is dissatisfied with it.