asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the appeal for unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
42.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £16 weekly, derived from the value of capital. He appealed against the means assessment but an appeals officer also assessed his means at £16 weekly and he was notified accordingly on 7 November 1985. The person concerned, is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £17.80, being the appropriate rate in his case of £33.80 less means of £16 and weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due. He has recently applied for a review of his means and arrangements are being made to refer his case to the social welfare officer for investigation. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to the person concerned will then be reviewed in the light of the amount of means assessed against him.
43.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the benefit of a company pension, exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him. He appealed against this decision but an appeals officer also assessed him with means exceeding the statutory limit, and he was notified, accordingly, on 27 June 1985. The person concerned has not signed at his local office since 25 June 1985.
44.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who was disallowed unemployment benefit.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for, and genuinely seeking full time employment. When the person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 18 April 1985 she stated she was available for part-time work only and consequently her claim was disallowed. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her appeal on 10 June 1985 but the appeals officer also decided that she was not available for employment.
She continues to sign the unemployed register and inquiries are being made at present to establish if she now satisfies the required conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit. When these inquiries are completed her entitlement to unemployment benefit from 11 June 1985 will be determined.
45.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the application of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare for a non-contributory old age pension.
It has been decided that the person concerned is not entitled to old age pension on the grounds that she does not fulfil the statutory conditions as to means. The assessment of her means consisting of the weekly value of capital exceeds the statutory limit for entitlement to pension.
46.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a free telephone rental allowance granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny where medical evidence on behalf of his wife has already been submitted by Deputy Aylward to his Department on 14 October 1985.
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 person concerned is in receipt of a qualifying pension and resides with his wife. The medical evidence furnished in respect of his wife is insufficient to enable a decision to be given in his case and he was therefore requested to furnish a more comprehensive medical certificate in respect of her. On receipt of the appropriate medical evidence in the Department, an early decision will be given and the applicant will be notified of the outcome.