asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has not been approved for optical benefit.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
569.
The claim of the person concerned to optical benefit was delayed because the RSI number quoted on his claim was not correct and further inquiries were necessary in order to determine his correct number and insurance record. These inquiries have now been completed and it has been established that he is qualified for benefit. A letter of authorisation for presentation to his optician was issued to him on 14 May 1985.
570.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free telephone rental allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who applied in December 1984.
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 13 May 1985. On receipt of the completed application from in the Department an early decision will be given in the case and the applicant will be notified of the outcome.
571.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
A payable order for the arrears in question, less adjustments in respect of supplementary welfare allowance paid to her by the North Western Health Board and the dependants' portions of her husband's unemployment assistance paid to her by the Department, will be sent to the person concerned within a day or two.
572.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a children's allowance book and arrears of payment will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Louth in respect of his daughter.
The person concerned was in receipt of children's allowance at the rate of £24.10 in respect of two children, one of whom it has come to the Department's attention, has not resided with him for some time. Payment of the allowance has had to be suspended, therefore, pending investigation of his entitlement. Inquiries are being made to establish the whereabouts of the child in question and when she left the claimant's household. When this information is received, his entitlement will be reviewed and he will be notified of the outcome.
573.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a pension was withdrawn from persons (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 5 March 1980 that the persons concerned are not entitled to an old age pension on the grounds that their means, consisting of capital, the disposal of which has not been accepted for old age pension purposes, and estimated income from a small holding, exceed the statutory limit.
If the persons concerned feel that they would now qualify for pensions they should claim in the normal way. On receipt of their applications, their title will be reinvestigated and they will be notified of the outcome.
574.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be increased for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon whose financial circumstances have changed since his last appeal.
The Deputy's representations have been accepted as a repeat claim to old age pension on behalf of the person concerned. The case is being referred to the social welfare officer for investigation. When the inquiries are completed a decision will be made and the pensioner will be notified of the outcome in due course.
575.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Offaly has had his unemployment assistance reduced; and if this allowance will be restored to the original rate.
Following a reinvestigation of the means of the person concerned by a social welfare officer a deciding officer assessed him with means £67.30 derived from self-employment with effect from 1 May 1985. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £38.30 weekly being the appropriate rate £105.60 less £67.30 means and weekly payments are being made as they become due. If he is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal and to have his means determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
576.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has been asked to return his family income supplement book as he was on disability benefit from 15 March 1985 until 15 April 1985.
Under the legislation governing the family income supplement scheme, supplement is not payable to a beneficiary who is in receipt of disability benefit for over six weeks. The person concerned claimed disability benefit for a period commencing on 15 March 1985 and accordingly on 29 April 1985 he was reminded that he should return his supplement book to the Department. It has since been established that the person concerned had in fact resumed work on 15 April 1985 and he has been advised to continue cashing his supplement book.
577.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that the changed arrangements for women from the Greenhills area of Dublin who are signing on for unemployment benefit are causing severe hardship and transport difficulties to the people concerned; and if he will revert to the previous arrangement.
Women from the Dublin 12 postal district claiming unemployment benefit or assistance were hitherto among those who were catered for in the employment exchange at Victoria Street, Dublin 8. Because of severe overcrowding at that office and at other offices in the city it was decided to open a new employment exchange at premises which became available in Tara Street. It is accepted that moving any claimants to the new exchange causes a certain amount of inconvenience, at least in the initial stages. However, the transfer of the approximately 1,850 women claimants in the Dublin 12 area in this way was the only viable solution to the problems of congestion at the Victoria Street exchange. The opening of the new exchange in Tara Street has afforded considerable relief to other city exchanges. It represents however essentially a short term solution and plans for the provision of employment exchanges in outlying city areas where they are required are being pursued as a matter of priority.
578.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of a retirement pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed a retirement pension on 25 February 1985 and this was awarded to him with effect from 4 April 1985, the Thursday following his 65th birthday. He was in receipt of invalidity pension and this continued in payment up to week-ended 24 April 1985. A retirement pension book containing orders payable from 25 April 1985 was issued to the designated post office on 22 April 1985 for collection by him and he was notified accordingly. Arrears of retirement pension payable from 4 April 1985 to 24 April 1985, less the amount of invalidity pension paid to him in this period, were issued to him by payable order on 13 May 1985.
579.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason there is a four month delay in having an appeal heard in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 18 October 1984, following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance and she was examined on 13 December 1984 by a different medical referee who also considered her to be capable of work. Her case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of the case. The delay in hearing the appeal has been caused by an increase in the number of appeals and everything possible is being done to relieve the situation.
580.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned submitted medical evidence of incapacity from 25 March 1985. Disability benefit was awarded from 29 March and benefit has been paid to 14 May less an amount refunded to the Mid-Western Health Board in respect of supplementary welfare allowance.
There was a delay in awarding benefit as a result of his contributions in respect of the governing contribution year 1983-84 being received late in the Department. His claim for injury benefit in respect of the period was rejected on the grounds that the incapacity concerned, which did not result from an occupational accident, was not among the diseases prescribed under the occupational injuries scheme.
581.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has been unemployed for some time and is suffering some considerable hardship as a result of the delay in processing her application.
Following an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned on 16 April 1985 an appeals officer decided that she satisfied the condition of being available for work and allowed her unemployment benefit claim with effect from 9 October 1984. Credited contributions were allowed during the period 9 October 1984 to 5 January 1985 as she did not satisfy the contribution condition for payment of unemployment benefit during the governing contribution period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983. She did however qualify for payment of unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £31.75 from the commencement of the new benefit year on 7 January 1985 which is governed by her contribution record during the contribution period 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984. All arrears of unemployment benefit due to her were paid on 9 May 1985 and further weekly payments will be made as these become due.
582.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the nonpayment of unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6 who was in insurable employment from September, 1978 to March 1982; and how this person can now qualify for unemployment benefit or assistance.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 4 May 1983 to 24 May 1983 after which she ceased to sign as unemployed. Her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she did not satisfy the contribution condition of having at least 26 weeks of insurable employment or credited contributions during the relevant governing contribution period 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982. She then claimed unemployment assistance in respect of that period but following an investigation by a social welfare officer her unemployment assistance claim was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of her means she failed to show that her means did not exceed the statutory limit.
If she is at present unemployed she would not satisfy the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit as according to the records of the Department she has nil weeks of insurable employment or credited contributions during the contribution period 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984 which governs entitlement to benefit in the current benefit year. However if she is willing to cooperate in the investigation of her means it is open to her to sign as unemployed and to claim unemployment assistance after which her case would be referred to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation. Her means would be assessed in the light of the outcome of inquiries and her entitlement to unemployment assistance would be determined accordingly.
583.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is not receiving unemployment assistance following the completion of payment of unemployment benefits.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until extensive inquiries regarding his means had been completed. The inquiries were recently completed and his means have been assessed at 45p derived from the weekly value of capital. He is therefore entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £31.30 being the appropriate rate £31.75 less means 45p. All arrears due will be paid this week and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
584.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of a refund of PRSI money due to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 16 November 1984. He was paid from 20 November 1984, fourth day of incapacity, at £80.15 per week, the maximum appropriate rate payable. He was also paid pay-related benefit at £35.76 per week from 7 December 1984, nineteenth day of incapacity. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit payable to 5 January 1985, after which date he was certified as fit to resume work, has been issued. There was no undue delay in issuing benefit in this case and there are no arrears outstanding.
585.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason means of £12.70 were assessed against a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he is satisfied that this assessment is justified when one takes account of all the circumstances in this case.
The assessment of the means of the person concerned was calculated on the basis of the value of his board and lodging in his father's home. He was, however, dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him and he appealed and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer also assessed him with means of £12.70 weekly and in the absence of fresh evidence or new facts the decision of the appeals officer is final and conclusive in the matter. Weekly payments at £17.25 being the appropriate rate £29.95 less £12.70 means continue to be made as these become due.
586.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason there has been a reduction in the unemployment benefit being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if, in view of the circumstances involved, he will have this matter investigated forthwith.
The rate of unemployment benefit payable to an applicant is reduced from the 157th day of payment if his/her record of paid contribution weeks is less than 280 in a seven year period.
According to the records of the Department the person concerned did not fulfil the contribution conditions for continuous payment of unemployment benefit at the maximum rate after 156 days of benefit and pending the completion of inquiries to ascertain the contribution record her rate of unemployment benefit was reduced from £87.15 weekly to £73.70 weekly with effect from 28 March 1985. However, inquiries in the case were recently completed and it was established that she satisfied the contribution condition for continuous payment at £87.15 weekly. Arrangements have been made to pay adjusting arrears this week and further weekly payments at £87.15 weekly will be made as these become due.
587.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the increase in old age pension due to persons over 80 years of age will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is now aged 82.
The increase in pension due to the person concerned on reaching age 80 was not awarded to him at that time because of an administrative error. The matter has been rectified and a supplementary book containing orders for the amount of the increase payable from 5 April 1985 was issued to him on 19 April 1985. The arrears for the period from 12 August 1983 to 4 April 1985 were issued to him by payable order on 10 May 1985.