asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will pay full unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
175.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £106.25 weekly the appropriate maximum rate payable to him. There was no recent change in his rate of payment.
176.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will grant dental benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
A claim to dental benefit was received from the person concerned on 28 March 1985. Because of an administrative error contributions paid in respect of his employment in the 1984-85 contribution year were not taken into account and his claim was disallowed on 16 May 1985.
It has now been established that the person concerned is qualified for dental benefit and he has been informed of the position. The dentist has also been notified that he may proceed with the proposed treatment.
177.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be approved in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The old age pension claims of the persons concerned are under investigation by the social welfare officer. Details regarding the transfer of a holding have been requested and when these are received the claims will be referred to a deciding officer for decision. The claimants will be notified of the outcome in due course.
178.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the rate of non-contributory old age pension payable to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be increased in view of the fact that his income has deteriorated.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of old age pension at the weekly rate of £27.40 which includes £3.40 living alone allowance. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the latest assessment of his means comprising the weekly value of capital and a holding.
In view of the Deputy's representations the case has been forwarded to the social welfare officer for reinvestigation. On completion of inquiries it will be referred to a deciding officer for decision. The pensioner will be notified of the outcome in due course.
179.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the means which were assessed against a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny and how they were compiled.
The person concerned has been assessed with means of £16.15 weekly, derived from profit from his holding and the value of capital. However, his application for unemployment assistance was disallowed on the grounds that he was not fully available for work. He has not appealed against the disallowance although he was advised of his right to do so.
180.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if invalidity benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned has been awarded an invalidity pension from 9 May 1985. A pension book payable from 22 August 1985 was sent to the designated post office on 14 August 1985. Arrears in respect of the period from 9 May 1985 to 21 August 1985, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, were issued by payable order on 18 September 1985.
181.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an increase in unemployment assistance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £26.10 weekly the appropriate rate £31.75 less means £5.65 derived from the value of board and lodging on her father's holding. She recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against her and her case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. Her rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
182.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for payment of maximum rate unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £12.90 weekly being the appropriate rate £92.35 less means of £79.45 derived from self employment and profit from his holding. He recently appealed against the means assessment and arising from contentions made in his appeal the papers were returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. When the inquiries are completed his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination, and his rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
183.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will issue an invalidity pension application form to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford and arrange for an early decision as he will be unable to work again due to ill health and in view of his age whereby the one year requirement for receipt of invalidity pension is waived in this instance.
The person concerned claimed and was paid disability benefit from 29 May 1985 to 28 September 1985 when he submitted a final certificate from his doctor stating that he was fit to resume work.
Invalidity pension is payble to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. A claimant must have been incapable of work for a continuous period of not less than one year before he can be considered for that pension. This is a statutory condition and cannot therefore be waived. Accordingly, the person concerned is not entitled to invalidity pension. If he has become ill again the person concerned should claim disability benefit by forwarding the appropriate medical certificates to the Department.
184.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance payments will be continued for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford further to the recent appeal against a refusal of such payments.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned she was assessed with means of £30 weekly derived from the value of board and lodgings in her brother's home. Accordingly her claim to unemployment assistance was disallowed on the grounds that her means exceeded the rate payable to her. However, the appropriate rate of unemployment assistance was increased from 3 July 1985 to £31.75 weekly and from that date she became entitled to £1.75 weekly being the appropriate rate in her case of £31.75 less means of £30. Due to an oversight her claim was not put into payment but the error has now been rectified and all arrears due to her will be paid this week. Further weekly payments at £1.75 will be made as they become due.
Her appeal against the amount of means assessed against her has been submitted to an appeals officer for determination. Her case is listed for oral hearing and will be dealt with at the first available opportunity. Her rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
185.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded maternity benefit and pay-related benefit; and the rate at which she will be paid.
The person concerned qualified for payment of maternity benefit at the weekly rate of £39.50 for a 12 week period from 29 July 1985 until 19 October 1985. She was not qualified for payment of pay-related benefit as her earnings in the income tax year governing her claim were insufficient to qualify her for payment of benefit.
186.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit payments will be considered for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 11 June 1984 and payment was issued to 12 June 1985 based on her contribution record in the 1982-83 contribution year.
She is not entitled to payment of benefit from 13 June 1985 as according to the records of the Department she had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the 1983-84 contribution year which governed her claim from that date.
187.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is making PRSI payments is entitled to dental benefit; and, if not, what her PRSI entitles her to.
A claim to dental benefit was received from the person concerned on 12 April 1985. The claim was refused because the class D1 contributions which were paid on her behalf as a teacher in a permanent and pensionable capacity by the Department of Education are not reckonable for dental benefit. Notification to this effect was issued to her on 31 May 1985.
Class D1 contributions provide cover for contributory widow's pension, contributory orphan's allowance, deserted wife's benefit and occupational injuries benefit only.
188.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford as his unemployment benefit is exhausted.
The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment assistance since 15 August 1985 and all arrears due were also paid to him on that date. He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £30.10, being the appropriate rate £33.80, less means £3.70 derived from the value of board and lodgings in his parents' home.
189.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be approved for a free telephone rental allowance.
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 Department's medical adviser is not satisfied from the medical evidence furnished that the daughter of the person concerned is permanently incapacitated as required by the scheme. Her application was therefore rejected and she was notified accordingly on 23 September 1985.
190.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a family supplement payment will be increased for a family (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of the substantial change in their household income situation.
The person concerned was awarded a family income supplement at the weekly rate of £3.50 for the period 21 February 1985 to 19 February 1986. Under the legislation governing the scheme, family income supplement is awarded for a fixed period and the weekly rate of supplement payable is not affected by any change of circumstances during that period. It is not, therefore, possible to increase the amount of supplement awarded in this case.
191.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment assistance since 8 August 1985 and all arrears due to him were also paid on that date. The full weekly rate in this case would be £29.45, being the appropriate rate £31.75 less means £2.30 derived from the value of capital but as the person concerned works one day each week he is paid £24.55, the rate appropriate to five days unemployment assistance.
192.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if payments of a non-contributory old age pension will be increased for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
It has been decided that the person concerned was entitled to old age pension at the weekly rate of £14.05 from 13 July 1984. This rate included £3 over 80 allowance and £3.75 adult dependant allowance. The latter allowance ceased to be payable from 31 August 1984 from which date his wife was awarded a pension in her own right at the weekly rate of £7.30. They are at present in receipt of £13.20 and £10 respectively which are the appropriate rates inclusive of the budgetary increases payable from 12 July 1985.
These are the rates to which they are each entitled having regard to the assessment of their means, each consisting of half the weekly value of capital. An appeal has been lodged against these decisions and the cases were referred to an appeals officer for his determination. The appeals officer feels that an oral hearing is necessary. The pensioners and their solicitor will be notified of the venue in due course.
193.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be reinstated for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of her obvious ill health.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 30 May 1985 following 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 by a different medical referee on 9 October 1985. She was, however, certified unfit to attend this examination and additional information regarding her illness was furnished by her doctor. In the light of the additional information, payment of benefit was restored from 30 May 1985 and all benefit payable has been issued to her.
194.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit payments will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if any payments are to be stopped because of the reason for which the claimant became unemployed.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be fully available for and genuinely seeking employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 29 April 1985 but his claim was disallowed on the grounds that he was not available for employment. He appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of his case on 7 August 1985. The appeals officer allowed his appeal and all arrears of unemployment benefit due from the date of his claim issued to him with his payment for week ending 20 August 1985. Further payments of unemployment benefit at the appropriate rate of £39.50 weekly have been made and will continue as they fall due.
195.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit payments will be reinstated for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford as this person is unable to work due to her disability.
The person concerned was allowed injury benefit in respect of an injury received as a result of an accident at work on 28 March 1985. Payment of benefit, including pay-related benefit, has been made in respect of the period to 18 August after which she resumed work.
196.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if full payments including a living alone allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if these will be backdated to the relevant date.
The person concerned is in receipt of retirement pension. She submitted a claim for a living alone allowance on 20 June 1985 and following investigation this was awarded to her with effect from 2 May 1985. A pension book containing orders valid for payment from 15 August 1985 was issued to the designated post office on 16 August 1985 and she was notified accordingly. Arrears of living alone allowance were issued to her on 3 August 1985.
198.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be notified of the decision on his claim for a non-contributory old age pension; if so, when a decision in this regard will be given; and, in view of the person's non-entitlement to a contributory old age pension, if his PRSI contributions will be refunded.
The person concerned withdrew his claim to non-contributory old age pension on 23 August 1985. His entitlement to a refund of the old age contributory pension element of the employment contributions paid in his case is under consideration and he will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
199.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when non-contributory old age pension payments will be increased for an elderly couple (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The application for an increase in old age pension from the person concerned is under investigation. The social welfare officer hopes to have her inquiries completed shortly, and the case will then be referred to a deciding officer for decision. The pensioner will be notified of the outcome.
200.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, who is permanently incapacitated, will be transferred to an invalidity pension and put on monthly certificates on an interim basis.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 25 October 1984. Invalidity pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. Arrangements are being made to have him examined on 29 October 1985 by a medical referee. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination, as will also the question of putting him on monthly certificates.
201.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if payments of a non-contributory old age pension will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford at the earliest possible date.
It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as she fails to fulfil the statutory condition as to means. The assessment of her means, consisting of the weekly value of capital, exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension. In arriving at the assessment, allowance was made for the expenses mentioned by the Deputy.
202.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason social welfare payments are not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare as he claimed nine months ago.
Following reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed from 13 February 1985 at £73.80 a week derived from self-employment. His unemployment assistance claim was accordingly disallowed as the means assessed against him exceeded the maximum rate then payable.
From 3 July 1985 he is entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £3.15 being the appropriate rate in his case of £76.95 less means of £73.80. However, due to an oversight the rate was not increased in his case until the matter came to light last week. Payment will commence this week at the weekly rate of £3.15. He is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance and when the amount to be recouped to his local health board is known the balance of any arrears of unemployment assistance due will be paid to him.
He appealed against the means assessment and arising from contentions raised in his appeal the case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries and was then referred to an appeals officer. The appeals officer required additional information and the case was again returned to the social welfare officer. These inquiries were recently completed and the case is now with an appeals officer for determination. His claim will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
203.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appeals officer will report on the application made by a person (details supplied) in County Clare for smallholder's assistance over six months ago.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £7.80 weekly the appropriate rate £67.05 less means £59.25, derived from the profit from his holding. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and an appeals officer on 14 January 1985 also assessed his means at £59.25 weekly. He was informed of this decision.
204.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned is being paid disability benefit since 2 June 1979. A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to him and on its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay.
205.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance or smallholder's assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
Pending investigation of his means by a social welfare officer the unemployment assistance application of the person concerned was put into payment on the basis of a qualification certificate issued to him in connection with a previous claim which recorded him with means of £14.20 weekly derived from the profit from his holding. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at £26.05 weekly, being the appropriate rate in his case of £40.25 less means of £14.20.
His case was referred to a social welfare officer for a review of his means but the investigation could not be completed as he failed to supply details of his bank statements. He has now been afforded a further opportunity to co-operate in the investigation of his means. When the inquiries are completed his means will be reviewed and his rate of unemployment assistance determined accordingly.
206.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance payments will be reconsidered sympathetically for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of the fact that he has no income of his own and has no capital.
The original unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned in 1984 was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He did not appeal against this decision but made a further application for unemployment assistance and again failed to furnish details of his means. His claim was again disallowed and he appealed against this decision and was given a further opportunity to disclose his means. Following inquiries the appeals officer assessed him with means of £36 weekly. As the means assessed exceeded the statutory limit he was not entitled to payment of unemployment assistance.
He made a repeat application for unemployment assistance on 23 July 1985 and following a further investigation by a social welfare officer his means were again deemed to exceed the statutory limit. He did not appeal against this decision.
207.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the level of non-contributory old age pension payments will be reassessed for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of his low income and the general circumstances of hardship.
It has been decided that the person concerned is entitled to old age pension at the weekly rate of £7.30 from 5 July 1985 which was increased to £10 from 12 July 1985. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means consisting of the weekly value of income from a holding and capital. An appeal has been lodged against this decision and the case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome in due course.
208.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the application for a free electricity allowance made by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3.
One of the conditions for receipt of a free electricity allowance is that an eligible person must be living alone or with certain excepted persons. The applicant concerned is residing with her son who is not a person who comes within the excepted categories for satisfying the living alone condition of the scheme. She does not, therefore, satisfy the conditions for award of the allowance.
209.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) residing in England who has an Irish and British insurance contribution record is entitled to an Irish contributory old age pension on the basis of his contributions.
One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of a contributory old age pension from the Department requires a claimant to have a yearly average of at least 20 reckonable contributions over the period from the beginning of the 1953 contribution year or from his year of entry into insurance, whichever is the later, to the end of the last complete contribution year immediately before the one in which he reaches pension age. EC regulations provide that where a person does not satisfy this condition on his Irish insurance record alone his insurance from 1953 onwards in any other member state may be combined with his Irish record if this would enable him to do so. In such circumstances the claimant would have an entitlement to a pro rata pension based on the number of his Irish contributions in proportion to the combined total in the relevant period. Since the person concerned has no record of Irish insurance from 1953 onwards a contributory old age pension is not payable in his case.
210.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
211.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay an old age pension at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together as the persons concerned are a married couple.
It has been decided that the husband is entitled to old age pension at the maximum weekly rate of £62.05 from 13 May 1985 including £20.75 adult dependent allowance. This rate increased to £66.10 from 12 July 1985. The adult dependent allowance ceased to be payable from 6 September 1985 from which date his wife was awarded a pension in her own right at the maximum weekly rate of £44. The appropriate pension books and arrears due have issued.
212.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will grant a free electricity allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
An application for a free electricity allowance received from the person concerned has been approved and the ESB has advised that the allowance has been applied to his electricity account from the August-September 1985 billing period onwards. Notification of the approval of his application was issued to him on 25 September 1985.
213.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if payments of unemployment assistance will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford as she has no other income and is available for work.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that the means derived from the value of board and lodging in her parents home assessed against her, £36 weekly, exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to her. She appealed against the amount of means assessed against her and arising out of contentions made by her in support of her appeal her case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries are completed her case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination of means and her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
214.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded payments for a recent claim for smallholder's assistance in view of his worsening circumstances.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 25 September 1985 and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. Inquiries are not yet completed and when they are his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will then be determined.
215.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a retirement pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of a retirement pension under the Social Welfare Acts requires a person to have a yearly average of at least 24 reckonable contributions over the period from the beginning of the 1953 contribution year or from his year of entry into insurance, whichever is the later, to the end of the last complete contribution year before reaching pension age. The person concerned does not satisfy this condition as the Department's records show that he had a total of 304 reckonable contributions in the relevant period which, in his case, is from 5 January 1953 to 5 April 1985. This is equal to a yearly average of only nine and, therefore, he does not qualify for a retirement pension under the Social Welfare Acts. Neither will he qualify for old age contributory pension at age 66; a yearly average of at least 20 is required for this latter pension.
He was insurably employed in Britian from 1963 to 1985. Under EC Regulations on Social Security a person who has been employed in another member state can qualify for a pro rata retirement pension on his combined Irish and other EC country records, the amount payable being based on the number of his Irish contributions in proportion to the combined total. The person concerned has a total of 304 Irish and 765 British contributions in the relevant period. This entitled him to a pro rata pension of £13.10 per week with effect from 25 April 1985, increased to £13.95 per week from 11 July 1985. A book containing orders payable at the latter rate to cover the period from 1 August 1985 to 26 September 1985 was issued to the designated post office on 7 August 1985 for collection by him and a further book containing orders payable from 3 October 1985 was issued at the end of September. The arrears payable from 25 April 1985 to 31 July 1985 were issued to him by payable order on 14 August 1985. He is also in receipt of a British retirement pension.
216.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason there has been a reduction in the unemployment assistance payable to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, his means were assessed at £13.70 weekly derived from self-employment and from the value of board and lodging on his brother's farm. He appealed against this decision but an appeals officer on 23 January 1985 also assessed his means at £13.70 weekly. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at £18.05 weekly; the appropriate rate £31.75, less means £13.70. If he considers that his means have changed, it is open to him to request a review of his means. A form for this purpose can be obtained from his local office.
217.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay arrears of disability benefit from the date of application in October 1984 to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
All arrears of disability benefit were issued to the person concerned on 10 October 1985 on receipt of the required medical evidence and further payments have been issued to 19 October 1985 in accordance with the medical evidence received. Payment of disability benefit will continue to be issued to her at weekly intervals on receipt of monthly medical certificates while she remains unfit for work.
218.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 29 July 1985 to 14 September 1985 but her claim could not be determined until inquiries to establish her contribution record in the relevant governing contribution year 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984 had been completed. Following completion of these inquiries her claim was allowed at £39.50 weekly, being the appropriate rate in her case. All arrears due were paid to her on 12 September 1985 and she has been paid up to 14 September 1985 when she ceased to sign at her local office.
219.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare is not in receipt of full smallholders' assistance.
Following investigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed at £77.05 weekly derived from profit from his holding and from value of capital. He is therefore entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £9.70 being the appropriate rate £86.75 less means £77.05.
Payment will commence this week when he will also be paid all arrears due. Weekly payments will continue as they become due. If he is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal and have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
220.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when smallholder's assistance or unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
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 but an appeals officer on 27 February 1985 also decided that his means exceeded the statutory limit. It is open to him to apply to have his means reviewed if he considers that they have changed and a form for this purpose can be obtained at his local office.
221.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the case of a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be finally reviewed as it has been with the appeals officer for some time now.
The appeal of the person concerned against the means assessment of £57.65 derived from the profit from his holding has now been dealt with by an appeals officer who has reduced his means assessment to £48.10 weekly effective from 13 February 1985. Accordingly he is now entitled to unemployment assistance at £18.95 weekly the appropriate rate £67.05 less means £48.10. All arrears due to him as a result of the reduction on the means assessment will be paid to him this week.
222.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment benefit and all arrears due to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for and genuinely seeking employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 12 April 1985 but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment.
She appealed against the disallowance and following an oral hearing of her case, on 7 June 1985 an appeals officer also decided that she was not available for employment. She was notified of this decision on 12 June 1985. She continues to sign the unemployment register and her entitlement to unemployment benefit is at present being reviewed in the light of her recent efforts to secure employment.