asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11, will receive his unemployment benefit entitlements based on his PRSI contributions, and if his former employer has yet made the returns necessary to enable this to be done.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
34.
According to the Department's records the person concerned has no contributions paid on his behalf prior to his claim for unemployment benefit on 27 May 1985. However, the apparent non-payment of contributions by his employer is at present under investigation and when these inquiries are completed, his entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed. The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 27 May 1985 and is at present in receipt of payment at £16.40 which is the maximum rate applicable to a single man with means of £16.35 assessed against him. Weekly payments of unemployment assistance will continue to be made until all inquiries have been completed regarding his entitlement to unemployment benefit.
35.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance wil be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
An application for a free electricty allowance received from the person concerned has been approved and the ESB have been instructed to apply the allowance to her electricity account from the July-August 1985 billing period onwards.
36.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the maximum rate of unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford and the reason he has not been paid it to date.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 4 November 1985 and his claim was allowed at £65.10 weekly, being the maximum flat rate unemployment benefit for a man with an adult dependant. He is a postal applicant and a voucher, for encashment at his local post office, in respect of payment to week ending 12 November 1985 issued to him on 14 November 1985, and further weekly payments at the appropriate rate have been made to date. In addition, the person concerned qualifies for pay-related benefit from 25 November 1985, at £33.70 weekly. Combined weekly payments of £98.80 will continue to be made as they become due.
37.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Cork in relation to his unemployment assistance will be decided.
The appeal of the person concerned against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. His appeal is listed for oral hearing and will be dealt with at the first available opportunity.
38.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Galway has been cut from £91.85; the amount of assistance which it is now proposed to grant to the applicant; and if he will consider an immediate appeal against this reduction in view of the fact that the applicant has seven children under ten years of age.
Following a recent review of his unemployment assistance claim, the means of the person concerned were assessed at £67.30 weekly, derived from the profit from his holding. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £38.95 weekly being the appropriate rate in his case of £106.25 less means of £67.30. The person concerned has not, to date, appealed against the means assessment and it is open for him to do so. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local employment office. Weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
39.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must have at least 26 contributions paid or credited, at the appropriate rate, in the governing contribution year.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 10 April 1985. His claim was disallowed on the grounds that he had no contributions at the appropriate rate paid or credited during the contribution year 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984, which governed his entitlement to unemployment benefit from 10 April 1985. He then applied for a qualification certificate and on 16 August 1985 his claim was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means.
His claim was allowed at £22.25 weekly, being the appropriate rate in his case of £29.95 less means of £7.70 assessed against him from date of claim to 2 July 1985 and £24.05, the appropriate rate of £31.75, less means of £7.70, from 3 July 1985. All arrears due were issued to him last week and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
40.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance is payable to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that her means, derived from the value of board and lodging on her father's holding, exceeded the statutory limit. She appealed against this decision and arising out of contentions made by her in support of her appeal her case was referred to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were completed recently and her case has been submitted to an appeals officer for determination. Her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
41.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned has now been assessed, with effect from 27 August 1985, with means of £51.10 weekly, derived from the profit from his holding and from the value of capital. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance of £28.40 weekly, being the appropriate rate in his case of £79.50, less means of £51.10. He will be paid in respect of a current week, this week, and all arrears due to him will be paid next week.
42.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to disclose details of her means, she failed to show that her means did not exceed the statutory limit. She appealed against this decision and arising out of contentions made by her in support of her appeal her case was referred to the social welfare officer for further inquiries.
These inquiries are now complete and a deciding officer in a revised decision has assessed her, with effect from 10 July 1985, with means of £23.65 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in her parents' home. She is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £8.10 weekly, being the appropriate rate in her case of £31.75, less means of £23.65. All arrears due to her will be paid this week and weekly payments of £8.10 will continue to be made as they become due.
43.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if it has been decided to grant invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
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 the person concerned examined by a medical referee on 12 December 1985. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
44.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow has been suspended from unemployment assistance for six months; the reason he was not notified in advance of this suspension; the reason unemployment assistance was not granted to his wife and young family; the arrangements which have now been made by his Department for the maintenance of this family, whose youngest is three weeks old.
A person convicted of an offence under the Social Welfare Acts in respect of a claim for unemployment assistance is disqualified for the receipt of unemployment assistance for a period of six months immediately following the date of conviction. This penalty is specifically provided for by statute as being mandatory, apart from any penalty which a court may impose.
The person concerned was convicted of an offence on 8 October 1985 and accordingly he has been disqualified for the receipt of unemployment assistance for six months from 9 October 1985. If his means are insufficient to meet his needs he may apply for supplementary welfare allowance from the local community welfare officer.
45.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Meath is not entitled to 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 person concerned is in receipt of a qualifying payment, and resides with her daughter, her son-in-law and her granddaughter. Neither her daughter, or her son-in-law are from the information furnished, permanently incapacitated as required by the scheme. The allowance cannot, therefore, be granted in her case.