asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason persons in the category of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who is on disability benefit for two years are not being given a Christmas bonus; in the case of this particular person if he will expedite his application for an invalidity pension, if he will state which stage his application is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Social Welfare Benefits.
27.
The Christmas bonus applies to recipients of certain pensions and allowances only, and is not applicable to disability benefit claimants. As the person concerned is presently in receipt of disability benefit, he is not therefore entitled to the Christmas bonus. The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 10 November 1983 and is currently being paid at the weekly rate of £65.10 the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with no dependent children. Payment is issued at regular weekly intervals on receipt of monthly medical evidence and all benefit payable has been issued to date.
There is no record of an application being received from the person concerned for an invalidity pension. One of the conditions necessary for receipt of that pension is that a person must be permanently incapable of work. The person concerned has been referred for a medical examination by a medical referee of the Department. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed on receipt of the medical referee's report.
28.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
Following investigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed at £37.10 weekly, derived from the profit from his holding. His means exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him and accordingly his claim was disallowed.
He appealed against the disallowance, and the appeals officer also assessed his means at £37.10 weekly, and he was notified accordingly in February 1985. If he considers that his means have changed since the last investigation it is open to him to apply for a review. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local employment office.
29.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when employment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means of £36 weekly exceed the statutory limit in his case. His means are derived from value of board and lodging on his father's holding and from the value of capital. If he is dissatisfied, it is open to him to appeal against the amount of means assessed him. A form for this purpose can be obtained from his local office.
30.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who has appealed against the decision not to allow him unemployment assistance.
Following a recent review of his unemployment assistance claim, the person concerned was assessed with means of £78.05 weekly, derived from self-employment and from the value of capital. He is, accordingly, entitled from 3 July 1985 to unemployment assistance at £1.45 weekly, being the appropriate rate in his case of £79.50 less means of £78.05. He will be paid a current week this week and any arrears due will be paid when the amount of supplementary welfare allowance received by him pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance claim has been ascertained and recouped to his local health board.
He has recently requested a further review of his means and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. When these inquiries are completed the rate of unemployment assistance payable to the person concerned will be reviewed in the light of the social welfare officer's report.
31.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following investigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed at £50 weekly. The means exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him and, accordingly, his claim was disallowed. He appealed against the disallowance and arising from contentions made by him in support of the appeal the case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. When the inquiries are completed the case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination of means and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer. It is understood that the person concerned is at present in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
32.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be given a decision on his appeal against the medical referee's decision last September in his disability benefit claim.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 12 September 1985 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He appealed against the disallowance and was examined by a different medical referee who found him to be incapable of work from that date. Accordingly payment of benefit was restored from 12 September 1985 and all benefit payable, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the Southern Health Board, has been issued to him.
33.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £28.75 weekly, being the appropriate rate in his case of £31.75 less means of £3. He is currently being paid on the basis of a previously held qualification certificate but his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for a fresh investigation into his means. When these inquiries are completed his rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the social welfare officer's report.
34.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Galway is in receipt of unemployment assistance; and, if not, the reason for the delay in making payment.
The person concerned exhausted his entitlement to 390 days unemployment benefit on 21 November 1985. He did not apply for a qualification certificate, for unemployment assistance purposes, until 29 October 1985 although advised to do so at an earlier date. The case was referred to the social welfare officer for investigation of his means. When the inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are finalised his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
35.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Galway is in receipt of unemployment assistance; and, if not, the reason for the delay in making payment.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £25.46 weekly, derived from self-employment, and from the value of capital. Accordingly, his claim to unemployment assistance was disallowed as his means exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him. He recently appealed against this decision and arrangements are being made to have his case submitted to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
36.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 who has arthritis of the spine and is waiting to go into the Mater Hospital was taken off disability benefit and if this will be rectified urgently.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 29 October after which date payment was disallowed following an 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 18 December 1985. Her claim to benefit will be reviewed when the report of the medical referee is received.
37.
(Limerick West): asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of pay-related benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Pay-related benefit is calculated on the basis of reckonable earnings during the relevant income tax year governing entitlement to his claim which was the period 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984. He had no reckonable earnings during this period and accordingly, he is not entitled to pay-related benefit. Flat rate unemployment benefit at the rate of £39.50 weekly has been paid to him since the commencement of his claim.
38.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in issuing a certificate as to the amount of disability benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
A request for details of disability benefit paid to the person concerned was received in the Department on 28 November 1985 and the information required was issued to him on 17 December 1985. The end of year increase in the volume of work was responsible for the delay in responding to the request.
39.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason arrears of unemployment assistance in respect of a dependant was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limeick.
A postal order for £122.45, being arrears in respect of an adult dependant due for the period 11 September 1985 to 26 November 1985, was issued to the person concerned on 4 December 1985. Payments of unemployment assistance at the appropriate weekly rate of £58.35 will continue to be made as they become due.