asked the Minister for Social Welfare the circumstances under which the unemployment assistance is payable to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 has been reduced by an amount of £4 a week since the end of April; and how it is expected that the young man in question, who is one of three unemployed members of the same family, can cope with his most basic demands unless the amount in question is restored forthwith.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
99.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned his means, derived from the value of board and lodging in his parent's home, were assessed at £8.80 weekly. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at £22.10 weekly the appropriate rate £30.90 less means £8.80. In accordance with the provisions of the legislation governing the unemployment assistance scheme the value of the benefit derived by an applicant from board and lodging in his parent's home must be taken into account in the assessment of means. This requirement has been a feature of the unemployment assistance scheme since its inception. Its purpose is to achieve a degree of equity as between applicants whose parents are well-to-do and those in poor circumstances.
100.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was refused to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8.
Payment of disability benefit for the person concerned was disallowed from 25 February 1985, following an examination by a medical referee who considered her to be capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance and arrangements have been made to have her examined on 18 June 1985 by a different medical referee. Her entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
101.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will allocate free fuel vouchers to persons (details supplied) in Dublin 11.
The determination of entitlement to a fuel allowance under the national fuel scheme is a matter for the appropriate health board and I have no function in individual cases. It is understood from the Eastern Health Board that there is no record of an application for a fuel allowance from the persons concerned in the period October 1984 to April 1985, when the scheme last operated.
102.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when persons (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will receive their contributory old age pension.
The husband concerned is in receipt of contributory old age pension at the maximum rate since 12 June 1981. He is in receipt of £84.25 per week at present. This includes an adult dependant's allowance in respect of his wife at the rate of £36 per week which is the amount payable where the dependant is over age 66. An explanatory leaflet listing the various other allowances which may be claimed by a pensioner has been issued to him.
103.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be transferred to an invalidity pension.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 13 October 1981. Payment is being made at regular weekly intervals. Invalidity pension is payable in place of disability benefit to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. The person concerned was examined on 9 May 1985 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was not permanently incapable of work and requested that she be referred for a further examination after three months. She is not therefore qualified to receive invalidity pension.
If the person concerned is dissatisfied with this decision it is open to her to forward a detailed report from her doctor. On receipt of this report the question as to whether she is permanently incapable of work will be reviewed by the medical adviser of the Department.
104.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay one week's unemployment assistance arrears to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
It is a condition of the Social Welfare Act that a person shall be disqualified from receiving unemployment assistance while he is resident, whether temporarily or permanently, outside the State. The person concerned, an applicant for unemployment assistance, is required to attend at his local employment exchange daily to sign the unemployment register. He failed to attend the employment exchange from 22 May 1985 to 24 May 1985 and stated on his return that he was in the United Kingdom during this period. Consequently he was not entitled to unemployment assistance in respect of the three days concerned. However, he was paid £23.45 supplementary welfare allowance by the South Eastern Health Board for this period and received payment of £28.23 in respect of unemployment assistance for the remainder of the week. He continues to sign the unemployment register and is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the appropriate rate of £56.45 weekly.
105.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned has been awarded an old age contributory pension at the maximum rate with effect from 17 May 1985, that is the Friday following his 66th birthday. An old age contributory pension book containing orders payable from 17 May 1985 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by him and he has been notified accordingly.
106.
(Dublin North-West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason social welfare assistance was refused to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 pending the hearing of an appeal lodged against the decision of a medical referee refusing her disability benefit.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 11 March 1985, following an examination by a medical referee who considered her to be capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance and was examined on 6 May 1985 by a different medical referee who also considered her to be capable of work. She was advised of the result of this examination and supplied with a form of appeal on 7 May 1985. When the completed form is received in the Department her case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination. She claimed unemployment benefit on 17 May 1985 and inquiries had to be made to establish whether she fulfilled the conditions of being available for work. The deciding officer determined in the light of the outcome of these inquiries that she was not available for work. Her claim was accordingly disallowed. She was notified of the disallowance and of her right to appeal on 29 May 1985. She has not lodged an appeal to date.
107.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 2 is entitled to unemployment benefit.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that an applicant must have at least 26 contributions paid at a class which provides cover against unemployment. According to the Department's records the person concerned has had no insurable employment and accordingly does not qualify for receipt of unemployment benefit. He applied for unemployment assistance on 4 October 1984 and his means were assessed at £21.95 weekly derived from the value of capital. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £8.95 being the appropriate rate £30.90 less means £21.95. Weekly payments are continuing to be made as they become due.
108.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if arrangements could be made to pay a deserted wife's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly for which she applied in February 1984.
The claim of the person concerned to a deserted wife's payment which was received on 14 March 1985 is at present under investigation. It is hoped to have a local officer of the Department call on the claimant shortly. When inquiries have been completed and the report received a decision will be given and she will be notified.
109.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance which is presently under appeal has not been sanctioned for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from the profit from his holding exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance of his claim but on 8 February 1985, an appeals officer also assessed him with means exceeding the statutory limit. He was informed of this decision. In the absence of fresh evidence or new facts the decision of an appeals officer is final.
110.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who applied for unemployment assistance will receive payment.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned his claim was disallowed on the grounds that his means exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance of his claim and an appeals officer also assessed him with means exceeding the statutory limit. He was informed of this decision. In the absence of fresh evidence or new facts the decision of an appeals officer is final.
111.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for unemployment assistance will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person named by the Deputy has not applied for unemployment assistance but another person from the same address was recently issued with an appeal form in order to appeal against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim. However, to date he has not returned the completed form to his local office. If it is returned his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and his entitlement to unemployment assistance determined accordingly. He is at present in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
112.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned has been in continuous receipt of unemployment assistance at £89.20 weekly the appropriate rate £94 less £4.80 means derived from profit from his holding. Following a recent reinvestigation of his claim his means were assessed at £2 weekly with effect from 18 April 1984. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £92 being the appropriate rate £94 less means £2. All arrears due were paid last week and weekly payments of £92 will continue to be made as they become due.
113.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the appeal regarding the reduction of his unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Following reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed at £34.85 weekly effective from 24 April 1985. His means are derived from profit from his holding.
He recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and the case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer will deal with the case at the earliest opportunity and his claim will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer. In the meantime payments of unemployment assistance at £51.90 weekly being the appropriate rate £86.75 less £34.85 means, continue to be made as they become due.
114.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an invalidity pension application form.
Invalidity pension is payable in place of disability benefit to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 13 January 1983 and payment is being made at regular weekly intervals. Arrangements are being made to have her examined by a medical referee on 4 July 1985. Her entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
115.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 9 April 1985 and all benefit payable has been issued to 4 June 1985 the date of the latest medical certificate received.
The person concerned is in receipt of a contributory widow's pension and is entitled to payment of disability benefit at half the appropriate single rate. In order to qualify for payment at the maximum rate of £18.63 per week she would need to have a minimum of 48 contributions recorded in the 1983-84 contribution year which governs her claim. The person concerned has only 26 such contributions recorded and qualified for payment at the reduced rate of £16.68 per week. In order to qualify for pay-related benefit the claimant would need to have minimum earnings of £2,450 in the 1983-84 year. According to the records in the Department her earnings for that year amounted to £2,347 only. She is not therefore entitled to pay-related benefit on her claim.
116.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the social welfare entitlements of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person in question is not entitled to any social welfare benefits from my Department. The general age limit for child dependant allowances under the social welfare code is 18 years of age. Persons aged over 18 are entitled to claim unemployment assistance in their own right if they satisfy the conditions of being unemployed, available for and genuinely seeking work. However, full time attendance at a course of education is not consistent with being available for work. It would be open to the person concerned to apply for a qualification certificate at her local employment exchange which will enable her to apply for unemployment assistance when she becomes available for work.
The Commission on Social Welfare are examining the issue of child dependancy as part of a comprehensive review of the welfare system. My Department have recently published a new leaflet entitled "Social Welfare and School-Leavers". I am arranging for copies to be sent to the person in question and to the Deputy for information.
117.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the many delays experienced by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in the receipt of his occupational injury and disability benefits.
The person concerned was awarded injury benefit from 3 April 1985 in respect of a recurrence of an incapacity resulting from an accident at work on 12 November 1984. All benefit was paid including an adjustment in respect of injury benefit over and above the disability benefit paid on an interim basis. There was, however, a delay in issuing the initial payment of disability benefit due to an earlier claim remaining open as a result of a final certificate not having been received. Injury benefit is restricted to a maximum period of 26 weeks from the date of the accident concerned after which the claimant is considered for disability benefit. The person concerned was awarded disability benefit from 13 May when the injury benefit period elapsed. All disability benefit due has been paid to the date of the latest medical certificate received.
118.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason there is a double week disqualification for the purposes of credit signing at employment exchanges if a person signs off for only one week in view of the fact that this is not in any of the booklets issued by his Department; and if his Department will reconsider a maternity benefit payment for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who was disallowed payment on these grounds.
When the person concerned made a claim for maternity benefit in January 1985 it transpired that she did not have sufficient contributions paid or credited on her behalf in the 1983-84 contribution year in order to qualify for payment. However, following the submission of medical evidence in respect of three periods of incapacity in 1983 the person concerned now has the minimum 26 contributions paid or credited in 1983-84 to qualify her for payment of maternity benefit. The claim has now been authorised for payment and a cheque for £447 covering the period 4 February 1985 to 27 April 1985 will issue to her on 12 June 1985. Credited contributions have been awarded in respect of this claim. The question of the entitlement to dental benefit of the person concerned was mentioned in the note submitted with the question. The position is that persons aged 23 years or over must have, inter alia, not less than 156 contributions paid in order to qualify for benefit and the person concerned does not satisfy this condition.
The regulations provide for an employment contribution only to be credited to an insured person in respect of any full contribution week of proven incapacity for work or employment.
119.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned exhausted his entitlement to unemployment benefit on 3 May 1985. He was issued with an application form for unemployment assistance on 6 February 1985 but he failed to return the form to his local office. He was issued with a second form on 6 May 1985 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. When these inquiries are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance determined accordingly. He is at present in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance claim.
120.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when deserted wife's benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
Following the recent allowance of her appeal against the refusal of her claim the person concerned has been awarded deserted wife's benefit with effect from 17 May 1984, in respect of herself and three qualified children, at the maximum rate of £75.40 per week, increased to £80.70 from 5 July 1984. An order book payable from 13 June 1985 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. A payable order in respect of arrears for the period from 17 May 1984 to 12 June 1985, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance received by her during that time, will be sent direct to her shortly.
121.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appeal for unemployment benefit made by a person (details supplied) in County Louth will be decided.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must be available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 28 February 1985 but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work or genuinely seeking work. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 6 May 1985. The appeals officer also decided that she was not available for work. A notification of the appeals officer's decision issued to her last week.
122.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appeal for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Louth will be heard.
The person concerned was issued with an appeal form in order to appeal the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim but to date has not returned the completed form to his local office. When the appeal form is received his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and his entitlement to unemployment assistance decided accordingly.
123.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to grant unemployment assistance on appeal to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Arising out of contentions made by the person concerned in support of his appeal against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim 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 referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer will deal with the case at the earliest opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
124.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons for the reduction in the amount of unemployment benefit payable to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and his present benefit.
The rate of unemployment benefit payable to an applicant is reduced after 156 days of benefit, if he does not satisfy the contribution condition of having 280 paid contributions in a seven year period. The person concerned who is an applicant for unemployment benefit, did not satisfy the contribution condition of having 280 paid contributions in the seven year period. Accordingly, the rate of unemployment benefit payable to him was reduced from £61.40 weekly to £53.20 from the 157th day of his claim. He also entered the second phase of pay-related benefit and payment of this benefit was reduced from 70p weekly to 56p. He is accordingly in receipt of flat rate unemployment benefit of £53.20 weekly and pay-related benefit of 56p weekly and combined weekly payments of £53.76 will continue to be made to him as they fall due.
125.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person named by the Deputy has not claimed unemployment benefit but another person from the same address did make a claim for benefit on 28 January 1985. Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking employment. Following the completion of inquiries her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She continues to prove unemployment and it is open to her to appeal against the disallowance of her claim. A form for this purpose may be obtained at her local office.