asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position in relation to the long delay in the consideration of the unemployment assistance appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will give an indication as to when the appeal will be decided.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
177.
The appeal of the person concerned was determined on 15 November 1985 and his means, derived from the profit from his holding which had been assessed at £73.05 weekly, were assessed at £63.45 weekly, effective from 23 January 1985. He is accordingly entitled, from 23 January 1985, to adjusting arrears of £9.60 weekly which will be paid to him this week and weekly payments of £21.20, being the appropriate rate in his case of £84.65 less means of £63.45, will continue to be made as they become due.
178.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for disability benefit will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 29 August 1985 after which date payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance of benefit and was examined by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. His case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of his claim as soon as possible.
179.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the refusal of his Department to pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick as she has been sending in medical certificates since 1978 and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Where a person has less than 156 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment, entitlement to disability benefit is limited to 52 weeks. According to the records of the Department the person concerned has only 90 contributions paid on her behalf since entry into insurance. She claimed disability benefit from 29 April 1983 to 6 July 1983 and from 2 August 1983 to date. Her 52 week entitlement to payment of benefit became exhausted on 29 May 1984. In order to requalify for disability benefit it will be necessary for her to have at least a further 13 weeks of insurable employment for which the appropriate contributions are paid.
180.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must have at least 26 contributions paid at a class which provides cover against unemployment. According to the Department's records the person concerned entered insurable employment on 2 December 1983 and has only 14 contributions at the appropriate class paid on her behalf up to the date she claimed unemployment benefit on 26 August 1985. However, inquiries are being made to establish whether her employment with the Southern Health Board from June 1984 to May 1985 was insurable at a contribution class providing cover against unemployment. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined in the light of the outcome of this investigation.
181.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether pay-related unemployment benefit is still due to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry arising from his redundancy from his previous employment.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat rate unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the weekly sum of pay-related benefit, flat rate unemployment benefit and income tax rebate may not exceed 85 per cent of the net average weekly earnings of a claimant.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 2 December 1978 and payment of flat rate unemployment benefit was made at the weekly rate of £49 being the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with seven child dependants. The 85 per cent limit applicable to him was calculated at £44.24 and as the rate of flat rate unemployment benefit exceeded this figure no pay-related benefit was payable. He continued to sign as unemployed and he exhausted his entitlement to unemployment benefit on 4 March 1980. He then claimed unemployment assistance and was in receipt of payment until 27 April 1985 when he returned to work.
He made a repeat application for unemployment benefit on 9 September 1985 and re-qualified for a further period of unemployment benefit. Payment was made at the weekly rate of £111.10, being the appropriate maximum rate payable to a married man with five child dependants. Weekly payments will continue as they become due. The person concerned is not entitled to pay-related benefit as he had no earnings in the relevant income tax period 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984 which determined entitlement on his current claim.
182.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare is not being paid unemployment benefit.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must have at least 26 contributions, paid or credited, in the governing contribution year. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 20 August 1985. Inquiries were necessary to establish whether he fulfilled the condition of having 26 contributions paid or credited in the relevant period 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984. These inquiries were recently completed and his claim was allowed at the appropriate weekly rate in his case of £39.50. Arrears of £506.95 due to him were paid on 22 November 1985 and further weekly payments of £39.50 will continue to be made as they become due.
183.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will establish if a retired teacher (details supplied) in County Galway is entitled to free telephone rental, free electricity, and TV allowance.
The person concerned is in receipt of a teacher's retirement pension from the Department of Education, which is not a qualifying payment under the free schemes. The allowances referred to by the Deputy cannot therefore be granted in this case.
184.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a children's allowance book belonging to a person (details supplied) in County Cork which was returned to his Department at its request three weeks ago was not returned yet; and when it will be reissued.
The allowance book in question, which was recalled for inspection, has been returned to the claimant. The allowance for November 1985 had been cashed before the book was forwarded to the Department and payment of the allowance, which is next due on 3 December 1985, will not, therefore, be interrupted.