asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will reinvestigate the amount of unemployment assistance being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been out of work for several months and is receiving a reduced amount of unemployment assistance.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
38.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed, with effect from 17 December 1985, with means of £19.20 weekly derived from self-employment as a painter. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £80.85 weekly, being the appropriate maximum weekly rate payable in his case of £100.05 less means of £19.20. He has not to date appealed against the means assessment and it is open to him to do so. A form for this purpose can be obtained from his local office.
39.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan was refused unemployment benefit and when a decision will be made on her claim.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 25 November 1985, but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed, on 22 January 1986, against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have her case submitted to an appeals officer for determination, at the earliest available opportunity. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
40.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be paid unemployment assistance.
Following a review, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the profit from his holding, exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance of his claim and the case was referred to an appeals officer for determination of means. The appeals officer, however, required further information before giving a decision and the papers were returned to the social welfare officer for the necessary inquiries. On completion of the inquiries the papers will be returned to the appeals officer for determination of means and the entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome.
41.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the appeal for a rent subsidy by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 has not been granted.
It is understood from the Eastern Health Board, who are responsible for the administration of the supplementary welfare allowances scheme in the Dublin area, that an allowance of £45 weekly was granted to the person concerned in March 1985 as assistance towards the mortgage repayments on her house. At the same time she was advised to seek accomodation which would be less expensive and more suitable to her circumstances.
As the person concerned made no effort to seek alternative accommodation the board withdrew the allowance in September 1985. It was open to her to appeal against the board's decision but she did not do so.
42.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the outcome of the appeal made by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 who is only in receipt of £19 per week unemployment assistance.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, he was assessed with means of £41 weekly derived from benefit from his wife's earnings. He appealed against this decision and an appeals officer on 22 October 1985 also assessed him with means of £41 and he has been notified accordingly. The person concerned is, accordingly, in receipt of £19.15 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £60.15 less means of £41. If he considers that his means have changed it is open to him to request a review. A form for this purpose can be obtained from his local office.
43.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance payments will be increased for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of his low income.
The person concerned reapplied for unemployment assistance on 15 January 1986 and his claim was authorised at £7.10 weekly, being the maximum appropriate rate payable in his case of £86.75 less means £79.65, derived from self-employment. The claim was put into payment on the basis of a qualification certificate issued to him in 1984. The person concerned was paid unemployment assistance of £3.54 the week following his application in respect of the period of three days due to him. He has since been in receipt of the full weekly rate of £7.10 His claim has been referred to a social welfare officer for a review of his means and the rate of unemployment assistance payable will be reviewed in the light of the outcome.
44.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is dependent on an applicant being the holder of a qualification certificate and to obtain a qualification certificate an applicant must satisfy certain conditions, including an assessment of means. The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 30 September 1985 and his case was referred to the social welfare officer for investigation of means. The social welfare officer called on five occasions to his house but the person concerned was not available for interview and, accordingly, the investigation of means could not be undertaken. A further effort will be made to interview him. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will then be determined in the light of the amount of means assessed against him.
45.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the maximum farm income which a prescribed relative can have in order to qualify his elderly mother for a prescribed relative's allowance all other conditions being fulfilled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The conditions for receipt of prescribed relative allowance require that the pensioner must be so incapacitated as to require full time care and attention and that a prescribed relative must be residing with the pensioner for the purpose of providing that full time care and attention.
In the case of a prescribed relative who is engaged in farming, it has to be established if the level of activity on the farm is consistent with the provision of full time care and attention to the incapacitated pensioner. This is determined on the merit of the case having regard to the extent of the prescribed relative's involvement in the running of the farm and the level of the income arising from that activity is not a factor in determining entitlement to the allowance.
46.
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 14 September 1985 after which date benefit was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements were made to have him again examined by a different medical referee on 29 November 1985. He was unable to attend that examination and indicated that he was in hospital from 26 November 1985 to 2 December 1985. A further examination was arranged for 22 January 1986 but the person concerned was again unable to attend for examination on that day due to hospitalisation.
Following inquiries regarding the periods of his hospitalisation, it has been decided that payment of disability benefit should be restored from 26 November 1985, the date on which he first entered hospital following the disallowance of benefit. Arrears of benefit payable, less supplementary welfare allowance already advanced by the health board, have been issued to the person concerned.
The question of whether disability benefit is payable for the period from 16 September 1985 to 25 November 1985 is still under consideration. The case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination and the person concerned will be notified of the decision as soon as it comes to hand.
47.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason arrears of unemployment assistance were not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must have at least 26 contributions at the appropriate rate paid since entry into insurable employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 22 February 1985. According to the Department's records she had no contributions paid since date of entry into insurance and accordingly she is not entitled to payment of unemployment benefit. She was notified of the disallowance on 24 September 1985.
She then applied for unemployment assistance and her case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of means. The inquiries, which are not yet completed, will be completed as soon as possible, and the entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the means assessed against her. It is understood that the person concerned is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
48.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons employees of a firm (details supplied) in County Louth who were out on strike due to a trade dispute were refused payment of supplementary welfare allowance by the North Eastern Health Board for the week ending 23 January 1986.
It is understood from the North Eastern Health Board that in the week including 23 January 1986 supplementary welfare allowances were paid to a number of the employees concerned where the health board considered that payment was warranted having regard to the circumstances in each case. Other employees who made application for allowances were disallowed on grounds of means. It is open to any of the persons concerned who is dissatisfied with the decision of the health board in his case to appeal against the decision.