asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will receive the arrears of two weeks disability benefit he is due and if he is entitled to pay-related benefit.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
41.
The arrears of disability benefit payable to the person concerned were issued to him on 15 January 1986. He is not entitled to pay-related benefit as the amount of disability benefit payable in his case exceeds 75 per cent of his average reckonable weekly earnings in the 1983-84 tax year which governs his claim. All benefit payable in respect of his claim has been issued to 29 January 1986, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
42.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received an increase in pay-related benefit.
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 22 August 1985 and payment of flat rate unemployment benefit has been made at the weekly rate of £138.90, being the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with nine child dependants. According to the Department's records, he is entitled to an income tax rebate of £36.91 weekly. The 85 per cent limit appropriate in his case has been calculated at £176.69 and as the combined total of flat rate unemployment benefit and income tax rebate amount to £175.81, the pay-related benefit to which he is entitled is limited to 88p. Further combined weekly payments of £139.78 will continue to be made as they become due.
43.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an increase in unemployment assistance will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned recently applied for a review of her means and the case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. When the inquiries are completed her means will be reassessed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable will be reviewed accordingly. She is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £27.70 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in her case of £33.80 less means of £6.10. Weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
44.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made with regard to the payment of unemployment assistance 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, derived from self-employment, and, accordingly, his claim was disallowed as the means assessed exceeded the statutory limit in his case. He appealed against the disallowance and an appeals officer reduce the assessment to £10 weekly from 19 August 1985. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance of £21.75 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £31.75 less means of £10.
Arrangements have been made with his local employment office to issue payment in respect of a current week, this week. The person concerned was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance pending a decision on his claim and when the amount to be refunded to the health board is known, any arrears due will be paid to him. Further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
45.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly for an increase of unemployment assistance will be heard with a view to increasing payment to the parent of nine young children who is suffering hardship at the moment because of the delay.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £28.85 weekly, derived from the profit from his holding. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £88.35 weekly being the appropriate maximum weekly rate payable in his case of £117.20 less means of £28.85. The person concerned has not to date appealed against the means assessment and it is open to him to do so. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office. Weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
46.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned recently applied for unemployment assistance and the case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. When the inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
47.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for unemployment benefit will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The appeal of the person concerned against the deciding officer's decision of 4 October 1985 to disallow her claim to unemployment benefit has been listed for oral hearing on 10 February 1986. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
48.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the maximum rate of unemployment assistance to be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following investigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed at £43.45 weekly derived from the profit from his holding and from the value of capital. The person concerned failed to account satisfactorily for the disposal of a substantial amount of capital and this capital is taken to be still in his possession. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £23.60 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £67.05 less means, £43.45. He has not appealed against the means assessment to date. If he wishes 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.
49.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in making payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim for unemployment benefit which refers to the person named in the details supplied. He is, however, in receipt of unemployment assistance at £18.55 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £58.35 less means of £39.80, derived from land.
He appealed against the means assessment and arising from contentions made by him in support of his appeal the case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. The inquiries, which are protracted, are not yet completed. When they are completed the case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination of means at the earliest available opportunity. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to the person concerned will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer. The delay in this case is regretted.