asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
165.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 1 November 1985 and following the completion of inquiries his claim was allowed from that date at the weekly rate of £85 which is the rate appropriate for a man with an adult dependant and two children. He was paid a current week on the 12 November 1985 and all arrears due were included in the payment for week ending 19 November 1985. Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
166.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance is payable to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Following a recent review of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, his means, which had been assessed at £74 weekly were assessed at £70.45, effective from 11 June 1985. He is accordingly entitled to adjusting arrears of £3.55 weekly from 11 June 1985, which will be paid to him this week and weekly payments of £21.90 being the appropriate rate in his case of £92.35 less means of £70.45 will continue to be made as they become due.
167.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit is payable to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 24 April 1980 and payment was issued on her claim to 5 March 1983. Payment was disallowed from 7 March 1983 following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. The decision to disallow payment was upheld by an appeals officer who decided that she was capable of work from 7 March 1983 to 12 August 1983. She submitted further medical evidence beyond 12 August 1983 in respect of the same incapacity and her claims for the periods from 13 August 1983 to 1 October 1985 were also disallowed. (Some payments were made to her in error during the period September 1984 to March 1985. These payments arose due to an administrative oversight of the true status of her claim.)
The decisions to disallow were upheld by appeals officers. Their decisions are final and can only be altered in the light of new facts or evidence. She was examined by medical referees of the Department on 7 March 1983, 11 May 1983, 7 March 1984, 5 March 1985 and 28 June 1985, who considered her to be capable of work. She has continued to submit medical certificates in respect of the same incapacity to 31 October 1985. Her claim has again been disallowed and she has been notified of her right to appeal against the disallowance of her claim from 2 October 1985.
168.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free telephone rental allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
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 person concerned is in receipt of a qualifying payment and is residing with her daughter who is not from the information furnished permanently incapacitated as required by the scheme. Her application was therefore rejected and the applicant was notified accordingly on 22 July 1985.
169.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until inquiries regarding her means had been completed. The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 7 November 1985 and the case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of her means. The inquiries are now completed and arrangements are being made to refer the case to a deciding officer for an assessment of means. Her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the amount of means assessed against her.
170.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The old age pension case of the person concerned has been partially investigated. On completion of inquiries it will be referred to a deciding officer for decision. The claimant will be notified of the outcome without delay.
171.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding an application for a £10,000 grant under the voluntary bodies grants scheme in the social services area made in March 1985 to his Department by a community worker with the Southern Health Board for and on behalf of the Ballyspillane community in Killarney town; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
An application under the scheme for grants to voluntary bodies in the social services area has been received from the organisation concerned and is under consideration at present. A decision will be made in the near future and the organisation concerned will be notified of the outcome.
172.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to an application for unemployment assistance from a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason he has had no communication from his Department and no call from a social welfare officer since he commenced signing the unemployment register in May; when it is expected that a decision will be taken on this application; and if he will inform Deputy Frank Fahey of the decision.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance but his claim was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from the profit from his holding exceeded the statutory limit. He made a repeat application in May 1985. Due to the increased number of persons applying for various means tested social welfare services, there is an inevitable lengthening of the time taken in investigating cases and in this situation, repeat claims are not accorded the same priority as fresh applications.
The papers in this case were referred to the social welfare officer to carry out an investigation into the means of the person concerned and arrangements have been made to make the necessary inquiries, shortly. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will then be determined in the light of the means assessed against him, and he will be informed of the decision. The delay in this case is regretted.
173.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when full children's allowance including arrears will be paid in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Children's allowance was paid to the claimant in respect of the child in question up to and including June 1985. An application for a further continuation of the allowance was received on 4 November 1985. Children's allowance has been awarded in respect of the child for the period July to December 1985 and an allowance book was issued direct to the claimant's home address on 18 November 1985. As the child in question reaches 18 years of age in December 1985 no further allowance is payable after that date.
174.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason arrears of an invalidity pension which has been approved for a person (details supplied) in County Cork have not been paid from 12 July 1985 when he submitted his application.
Arrears of invalidity pension for the period from 11 July 1985 to 4 December 1985, less the amount paid in respect of disability benefit in the same period, will be issued to the person concerned as soon as possible.
175.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Cork can go on long term illness benefit as she is in receipt of disability benefit at the rate of £39.50 per week and is sending in monthly certificates.
Invalidity pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. The person concerned was examined by a medical referee on 1 July 1985 who did not consider her to be permanently incapable of work. A deciding officer decided that she was not therefore entitled to invalidity pension. However arrangements are being made to have her examined by a different medical referee. Her entitlement to invalidity pension will be further considered in the light of this report.