asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a living alone allowance for which she applied some time ago.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
585.
The person concerned, who has been in receipt of a widow's contributory pension since 30 November 1984, has been awarded a living alone allowance at the weekly rate of £3.20 with effect from that date.
An allowance book with order payable from 5 April 1985 has been sent to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. Arrears for the period from 30 November 1984 to 4 April 1985 will be sent direct to her shortly by payable order.
Her late husband also worked in the United Kingdom and liaison papers have been sent to the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to see if she qualifies for any widow's payment from that Department. They will be in touch with her in this regard.
586.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was not paid a contributory old age pension from the time he retired on 11 November 1980 to 29 May 1981.
The regulations provide that when a person claims a contributory old age pension after he has reached pension age the claim can be back-dated for up to three months prior to the date of claim. This period may be extended to a maximum of up to six months prior to that date if it is considered that there was good cause for the delay in making the claim. The person concerned claimed the pension on 24 November 1981 and it was awarded to him at the maximum rate with effect from 29 May 1981, that is the maximum allowable period of six months prior to the date of his claim.
587.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 29 November 1984, following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
Her case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of the case as soon as possible. She will be notified of the time and place of the hearing as soon as the arrangements have been made.
588.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 24 March 1983 to 5 May 1984, when he ceased to submit medical evidence. A statement was received from his doctor on 19 March 1985, indicating that he had been ill and incapable of work from 7 May 1984 to 14 March 1985. Benefit has been issued from 14 March 1985, at the weekly rate of £37.25, the maximum rate payable has been issued up to 12 April 1985, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
An officer of the Department will interview the claimant as soon as possible regarding his claim for the period from 7 May 1984 to 13 March 1985. On receipt of his report, the claimant's entitlement during the period will be reviewed.
589.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the application for a free telephone rental allowance made by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 as his family consists of two persons over 70 years of age one of whom is an invalid and one daughter who is also an invalid.
To qualify for a free telephone rental allowance a person in receipt of a qualifying payment must be living entirely 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 application from the person concerned was rejected as his daughter with whom he resides is not from the medical evidence furnished, permanently incapacitated as required by the scheme. He was notified of this decision and the reason for it on 29 April 1985.
If his daughter's condition should deteriorate or if he otherwise feels that the conditions of the scheme are satisfied in his case at a future date it is open to the person concerned to notify the Department to this effect and his claim will be reviewed.
590.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has not received disability benefit.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 9 April 1985. There was a delay in issuing payment while his entitlement to benefit was being examined. It has now been established that he is qualified for payment at the weekly rate of £93.80 and the arrears payable to 7 May 1985, the date of the latest medical certificate received, have been issued to him.
591.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is not in receipt of unemployment benefit.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking work.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 15 January 1985 but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 23 April 1985. An appeals officer also decided that she was not available for employment and disallowed her unemployment benefit claim. She was notified of the decision in her case and has ceased to sign as unemployed after 29 April 1985.
592.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned exhausted her title to unemployment benefit when she received 312 days of unemployment benefit on 15 September 1984. She will not requalify for unemployment benefit until she resumes employment for a period of not less than 13 weeks of insurable employment with contributions paid at the appropriate class providing cover against unemployment. Counted for this purpose are any weeks of intermittent employment since the date on which she received 156 days of unemployment benefit which in her case occured on 16 April 1984.
According to the Department's records she only has two weeks of requalifying insurable employment since 16 April 1984 and she is at present signing as unemployed for credited contributions only.
593.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as she applied four months ago; and the reason for the delay.
The entitlement of the person concerned to a widow's non-contributory pension is being investigated by the local social welfare officer. Progress is held up at present because the officer is awaiting certain information concerning the claimant's estate from her solicitor. When the officer's report is received a decision on her claim will be given and she will be notified of the outcome.
Meanwhile it is understood that the claimant is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance from the Southern Health Board.
594.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will pay a full widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Following a reinvestigation of her circumstances in September 1984, the widow's non-contributory pension of the person concerned was reduced from £40.50 to £8.50 per week with effect from 5 October 1984. This is the rate payable to a widow under 66 years of age with no qualified children and whose weekly means exceed £36 but do not exceed £38. Her means, derived from a farm holding, were assessed at £36.90 per week. She appealed against this decision but the appeal was disallowed by an appeals officer on 26 February 1985. The decision of an appeals officer is final and conclusive and can be reviewed only if there is a material change in the claimant's circumstances.
595.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a living alone allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned, who is in receipt of widow's contributory pension, has been awarded a living alone allowance of £3.20 a week with effect from 8 March 1985 (her 66th birthday).
Allowance books with orders payable from that date have been sent to the designated post office for collection by the claimant and she has been notified accordingly.
596.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department will supply a person (details supplied) in County Wexford with exact details of payments made to him from last August to date; and the reason this person is not receiving the maximum rate of non-contributory old age pension.
Following a routine investigation of the old age pension entitlements of the person concerned it was discovered that his means had increased since the date of his last assessment. Accordingly, it was decided that he is entitled to an old age pension at the weekly rate of £37.30 from 3 August 1984. The assessment of his means consisting of the weekly value of a holding and capital entitle him to pension at this rate only. The appropriate pension book payable from 3 August 1984 issued on 7 August 1984.
When the pensioner reported not receiving this book, payment for the period involved was issued by payable order. It was later discovered that the book was subsequently received and cashed by the pensioner. Inquiries in the matter have now been completed and it has been established that the pensioner has received all pension due to date and did not cash the payable order which, in the circumstances, would not be due to him. The position, as requested, has been fully explained, in writing, to the pensioner.
597.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded an old age pension now that she has reached the age of 66 years; and if this person is entitled to any other benefits.
There is no record in the Department of receipt of an application for old age pension from the person concerned. On the information available, however, she does not satisfy the statutory conditions for receipt of an old age contributory pension. In the circumstances, the widow's contributory pension of £44.30 a week to which she is entitled will continue to be paid to her. The person concerned is entitled to free travel and was issued with a pass for this purpose on 4 January 1985.
To be eligible for a free electricity allowance she would need to be living alone or with certain categories of persons only. Her application for the allowance was refused on 13 February 1985 as her son and daughter-in-law who reside with her are not persons who come within these categories for satisfying the living alone condition of the scheme. She was notified of this decision and the reasons for it at that time. A free telephone rental allowance or a free television licence could not be granted in her case for similar reasons.
598.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the application of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo for an old age pension will be dealt with.
The applications of the persons concerned to old age non-contributory pensions have been referred to the social welfare officer for investigation. Details regarding the pensioners' bank accounts and birth certificates have been requested and when these are received their claims will be referred to a deciding officer for decision. The pensioner will be notified of the outcome in due course.
599.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare how the EC directive on equal treatment will affect the retirement pensions being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The Social Welfare (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 1984, circulated on 13 December 1984, contains the necessary provisions for the implementation of equal treatment as between men and women in matters of social security in accordance with the terms of EC Directive 79/7/EEC. So far as the retirement pensions scheme is concerned the Bill provides for a revision of the conditions under which increases of benefits are payable in respect of adult and child dependants.
The person referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy is not in receipt of a retirement pension from my Department but an increase of retirement pension is being paid to her husband in respect of her. Pending a full examination of the circumstances in the light of the legislative provisions as finally enacted it is not possible to say how entitlements would be affected.
600.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork had her deserted wife's benefit withdrawn in March 1984.
The deserted wife's allowance of the person concerned was terminated with effect from 29 September 1983 for the reason that her husband had returned to live with her from that date, following a reconciliation between them. A reapplication was received from her on 1 February 1985 and she has been interviewed by a local officer of the Department. Her husband apparently went back into hospital on 13 December 1983 and has been there since. Her claim is under consideration by a deciding officer and it is expected that a decision will be given shortly in the case.
601.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in dealing with the appeal for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; if he is aware that the appeal was sent in on 1 February 1985; and when the appeal will be dealt with.
Due to the increased number of persons applying for appeals under various social welfare services there is an inevitable lengthening of the time in determining cases. The appeal of the person concerned against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim on the grounds that his means, derived from self employment exceeded the statutory limit was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer has decided to hold an oral hearing of the case and arrangements are being made to have the case heard at the earliest opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the amount of means assessed against him by the appeals officer.
602.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has received an application for disability benefit from a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; the reason for the delay in payment having regard to the fact that appropriate medical certificates were sent to his Department.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 January 1985 to 2 February 1985, after which date he was certified as fit to resume work. There was a delay in authorising payment of benefit as inquiries were necessary to establish his correct RSI number. A cheque paying benefit for the period 16 January 1985, fourth day of incapacity, to 2 February 1985 was, however, issued on 13 May 1985.
603.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who has been unemployed for three years is only receiving £23 unemployment assistance when he should be in receipt of £30 per week; and the income that would have to be assessed against this person to allow him a social welfare payment of £23 per week.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £23.05 weekly the appropriate rate £31.75 less means £8.70. His means were derived from the value of capital. He did not appeal against the amount of means assessed against him and the time allowed for appeal has expired. However, if he feels that his circumstances have changed it is open to him to request a review of his means. An application form for this purpose can be obtained at his local office.
604.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the disability benefit application made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 29 January 1985, following an 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 30 April 1985 by a different medical referee who also considered him to be capable of work. He was advised of this decision and issued with an appeal form on 3 May 1985. On receipt of the completed form, his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination.