asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make arrangements for the immediate payment of the maximum rate of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
594.
The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £53.10, being the appropriate rate £68.15 less means £15.05. However the case has been referred to the social welfare officer for a review of his means. When the inquiries are completed the assessment of his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
595.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit or assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway despite the fact that this person has been paying stamps since 1946; if he will direct his Department to ensure that these benefits are paid to this person immediately; the total amount of money to be paid in both arrears and weekly allowances; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned is a landowner who did not satisfy the contribution condition of 78 paid contributions in a three year period. The profit from his holding was also deemed to exceed £2 daily and his claim for unemployment benefit was disallowed. He appealed against this decision and following an oral hearing of his appeal on 7 February 1985 an appeals officer also decided that he was not unemployed. He was advised of his right to apply for unemployment assistance but declined to do so.
596.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the full amount of a non-contributory old age pension is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
It was decided on 12 April 1984 that the person concerned is entitled to old age pension at the weekly rate of £18.60 from 15 February 1984, increased to £21.30 from 6 July 1984. This is the rate of pension to which he is entitled having regard to the latest assessment of his means, consisting of the weekly value of a holding and capital. If his circumstances have changed since then, it is open to him to apply for an increase in his existing rate of old age pension by notifying the Department to that effect.
597.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary has not been put on an invalidity pension; and when he will be put on an invalidity pension.
Invalidity pension is payable in place of disability benefit to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work.
A contribution condition for receipt of invalidity pension is that the claimant has 156 weeks of insurable employment for which the appropriate contributions have been paid. According to the records of the Department the person concerned has only 96 weeks of insurable employment and in the circumstances is not entitled to receive invalidity pension.
598.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's contributory pension at the weekly rate of £55.10 with effect from 26 April 1985. This is the maximum rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years of age with one qualified child. A pension book with orders payable from 26 April 1985 was sent to the designated post office on 20 May 1985 for collection by her and she was notified accordingly.
Her late husband had been in receipt of disability benefit at the weekly rate of £70.25, which included an increase in respect of his wife and one child, and this benefit was paid to her for six weeks after his death on 13 March 1985, in place of widow's pension.
599.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare is not being paid full unemployment assistance.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £30.75 derived from the profit from his holding. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at £1 weekly the appropriate rate £31.75 less means £30.75.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arising out of contentions made by him in support of his appeal his case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries are now complete and his case is being referred to an appeals officer for determination. His rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
600.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive his travel pass.
A free travel pass was issued to the person concerned on 29 November 1982. If the pass has been lost or stolen he should complete the replacement pass form which was issued to him on 17 May 1985. When the completed form is returned to the Department, the question of issuing a replacement pass will be considered and he will be notified of the outcome.
601.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare who is married with three dependent children was disallowed unemployment assistance recently.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from profit from his holding and the weekly value of capital exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed and an appeals officer also decided that his means exceeded the statutory limit. He is being notified accordingly this week.
602.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare as she was made redundant approximately six weeks ago.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must have at least 26 contributions paid or credited at the appropriate rate in the governing contribution year.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit from 19 April 1985 cannot be determined until inquiries to establish her contribution record during the governing contribution year 6 April 1983 — 5 April 1984 have been completed. She was written to on two occasions by her local office to ascertain if she had an insurance record prior to May 1984 when she commenced employment with her previous employer. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of her reply.
603.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the payment of unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefit. He claimed unemployment assistance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. He was not available for interview when the social welfare officer called to his residence.
Arrangements are however being made to afford him a further opportunity of having his case investigated. When the inquiries are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
604.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the claim for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will immediately make a decision on her case.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance and her case 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. Her means have now been assessed at £0.30 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in her parents' home. She is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £29.65 weekly the appropriate rate £29.95 less means £0.30. All arrears due to her were paid last week and weekly payments of £29.65 will continue to be made as they become due.
605.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the full arrears of an unmarried mother's allowance due to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick have not been paid to her, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A payable order for arrears for the period from 21 March to 3 April 1985, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to her by the MidWestern Health Board, was sent to the person concerned at the address in England supplied by her on 16 May 1985. Unmarried mother's allowance is not payable for any period a person is outside the country and no payment will be made to her in respect of the time she is in England.
606.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the application for a free telephone rental allowance made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will insist that a decision be made on the matter immediately.
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.
An application from the wife of the person concerned was rejected as she is not in receipt of a qualifying payment. On receipt of her application her husband's entitlement to the allowance was also examined. He was requested on two occasions to furnish a medical certificate in respect of his wife. The required medical evidence was not received however and the allowance cannot therefore be granted to him. The person concerned and his wife were notified of the decisions in their case on 17 May 1985.
607.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to the appeal for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when this appeal will be decided on.
The person concerned recently appealed the means assessment in his unemployment assistance claim and the appeal is in postal transit for referral to an appeals officer. The appeal will be dealt with by an appeals officer at the earliest opportunity.
608.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to the appeal against the Departmental refusal of a non-contributory old age pension application made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It was decided on 29 April 1985 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension on the grounds that his means, comprising the weekly value of a holding and capital, are in excess of the statutory limit. His appeal against that decision has been submitted to an appeals officer for determination. The appeal will be decided as soon as possible and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome without delay.
609.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to the appeal for unemployment benefit made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following reinvestigation of the claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £20 weekly derived from the profit from his self-employment as a shoe repairer. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at £66.75 weekly the appropriate rate £86.75 less means £20. He has not appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and the time allowed for appeal has now expired. However, if he feels that his circumstances have changed, it is open to him to request a review of his means. A form for this purpose can be obtained at his local office.
610.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance or benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that the means assessed against her £35.85 exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to her. Her means are derived from the value of board and lodgings on her father's holding. She recently appealed and the case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. Her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
611.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to issue a pension book to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
A replacement pension book at the weekly rate of £41.30 was issued to the person concerned on 21 May 1985.
612.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a death grant will be paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
There is no record of a claim for a death grant having been received in this case. An application form for the grant has been issued to the representatives of the person concerned.
613.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a free electricity allowance and a television licence have not been allowed for a person (details supplied) in County Meath who is on a contributory old age pension.
An application for free electricity allowance received from the person concerned has been approved and the ESB have been instructed to apply the allowance to her electricity allowance account from the December 1984 - January 1985 billing period onwards. She also qualifies for a free television licence which may be obtained on application at the local post office.
614.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit from 14 February 1985 in respect of an incapacity which he attributed to an accident at work. Following investigations injury benefit was awarded from 14 February 1985 and all benefit due to the date of the latest medical certificate received has been issued less a deduction in respect of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the North Eastern Health Board which has been refunded to the board.
The person concerned did not qualify for disability benefit pending the completion of investigations in the absence of contributions in the governing contribution year 1983-84.