asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider paying the full amount of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
44.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £1.70 weekly, derived from the profit from his holding. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance at £61.25 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £62.95 less means of £1.70.
He recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arising from contentions made by him in support of his appeal, the papers were returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries are completed his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination, 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.
45.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider increasing the amount of unemployment assistance being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Following investigation of his claim for unemployment assistance, the means of the person concerned were assessed at £35.90 weekly derived from the benefit from his wife's earnings. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance at £31.15 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £67.05 less means of £35.90.
On 30 November 1985 he appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. However, arising from contentions made in the appeal, the appeals officer required further information and this necessitated the return of the applicant's papers to the social welfare officer. When his inquiries are completed the case will be returned to the appeals officer for determination at the earliest available date. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to the person concerned will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
46.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is dependent on an applicant being the holder of a qualification certificate and to obtain a qualification certificate a person must satisfy certain conditions, including an assessment of means. An applicant for unemployment assistance must also satisfy the statutory conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work.
The person concerned applied for a qualification certificate on 15 August 1985 and the case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of means. When the social welfare officer's report was submitted to a deciding officer that officer requested further information before giving a decision and this necessitated the return of the papers to the social welfare officer.
When the inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, the means of the person concerned will be assessed and her entitlement to unemployment assistance determined. The delay in this case is regretted.
47.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the claim for unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be heard.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance cannot be determined until investigations regarding his means have been carried out. Despite several visits by a social welfare officer for the purpose of carrying out the investigations, the person concerned was not available for interview.
Arrangements have been made to afford the applicant a further opportunity to make himself available for interview and if he co-operates the inquiries will be completed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the means assessed against him. It is understood that the person concerned is at present in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
48.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is dependent on an applicant being the holder of a qualification certificate and to obtain a qualification certificate a person must satisfy certain conditions, including an assessment of means. The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of her means. The social welfare officer has interviewed the person concerned but cannot complete his report until certain particulars of her home circumstances are clarified. The social welfare officer intends to interview the person concerned shortly and when the inquiries are completed, her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the amount of means assessed against her.
49.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with nil means. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance at the appropriate maximum weekly rate payable in his case of £72.25. All arrears due were paid to him on 21 January 1986 and further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
50.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the maximum rate of disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The maximum rate of disability benefit is not being paid to the person concerned from 6 January 1986 because, according to the records of the Department, he has only 34 credited contributions in the 1984-85 contribution year which governs his claim from that date. If he had any contributions paid in respect of weeks of insurable employment in this year he should forward evidence to this effect and the position will be reviewed.
51.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the maximum rate of unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 30 January 1985 and was assessed with nil means. He was paid at the maximum rate of unemployment assistance, payable in his case, since then and is at present in receipt of £31.75 weekly. Weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
52.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish particulars of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He failed to supply full particulars of his capital. He appealed against the disallowance but an appeals officer also disallowed his claim on the grounds that he failed to furnish particulars of his means. He was notified of the appeals officer's decision on 6 December 1985.
The person concerned then applied for a review of his means and the case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. 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.
53.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 21 October 1983 and payment was issued to 22 October 1984 based on her contribution record in the 1981-82 contribution year. She was not entitled to payment of benefit from 23 October 1984 as according to the records of the Department she had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the 1982-83 and the 1983-84 contribution years which governed her claim from that date. She has 52 credited contributions in the 1984-85 contribution year which governs her claim from 6 January 1986 and accordingly she is qualified for payment of benefit from that date. Payment was not issued however as she has not submitted medical evidence of incapacity for work since 3 January 1986. If she has been incapable of work since 3 January 1986 she should forward medical certificates to the Department where her claim will be dealt with without delay.
54.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason maternity benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed maternity benefit under the general scheme on 24 April 1985 in respect of her confinement expected on 25 May 1985. She was not paid benefit as the Department's records indicated at the time that she had insufficient contributions paid or credited in either 1983-84 or 1984-85, the contribution years which governed her claim. The claimant was asked to supply any additional relevant information which might affect her entitlement, but no further correspondence was received from her.
It has now been established that she has sufficient credited contributions in the 1984-85 contribution year to qualify her for payment of maternity benefit. A cheque for £447 which represents benefit due for the period 15 April 1985 to 6 June 1985 issued to her on Wednesday 5 February 1986.
55.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason free telephone rental has not been granted to persons (details supplied) in County Wexford.
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. One of the persons concerned applied for the allowance in 1980. He resided with his wife and he was requested at that time to supply medical evidence confirming that his wife was incapacitated as required by the scheme. He failed to supply the necessary evidence and, accordingly, his application was rejected and he was notified of the decision at that time. His wife is now in receipt of a qualifying payment. In order that his case can be reviewed he has been asked to supply comprehensive medical evidence in respect of either himself or his wife. On receipt of the required medical evidence in the Department an early decision will be given in the case and he will be notified of the outcome.
56.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford was disallowed her claim for unemployment assistance as she has proved her search for work having seven letters from employers.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the conditions that a claimant must be available for employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 30 September 1985 but following the completion of inquiries her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work. She appealed against the disallowance and at an oral hearing on 12 December 1985 she was given an opportunity to present her case but the appeals officer also decided that she was not available for employment. She was notified of this decision on 16 December 1985.
57.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position regarding the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry against the decision to grant him only £11.10 per week unemployment assistance; and the cause of the delay in dealing with this appeal.
The person concerned appealed on 13 December 1985 against the means assessment on his unemployment assistance claim 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, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, the case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination of means. The rate of unemployment assistance payable will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer. The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £11.10 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £31.75 less means of £20.65. His means are derived from self-employment and from a share in a holding.
58.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made with regard to an appeal in respect of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish particulars of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He failed to furnish details of his means derived from street trading. He appealed against the disallowance and indicated a willingness to co-operate with the social welfare officer in the disclosure of his means, and the papers, were, accordingly, returned to the social welfare officer.
The inquiries were recently completed and the case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer will give a decision on the appeal at the earliest possible date. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
59.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the amount of payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following investigation of her unemployment assistance claim, the means of the person concerned were assessed at £12.35 weekly, derived from the value of board and lodgings on her parents' holding. She is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £19.40 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in her case of £31.75 less means of £12.35. She has not appealed against the means assessment to date, and it is open to her to do so. A form for this purpose may be obtained at her local employment office. Weekly payments of £19.40 will continue to be made as they become due.
60.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a daughter of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath, has been removed from his invalidity pension allowance even though documentary evidence has been submitted showing that she will be in full time second level education until June 1987; and the means which now remain to him to enable him to continue to care for this dependent daughter.
A child dependant for invalidity pension purposes is a child under the age of 18 years who is normally residing with the pensioner. The daughter of the person concerned attained that age on 25 January 1986 and an increase in respect of her is not payable since 30 January 1986, that is, the Thursday following her 18th birthday. The rate of invalidity pension at present in payment to the person concerned is £96.65 per week, that is the maximum rate payable to a married man under 66 years who has two qualified children. The person concerned should contact the local community welfare officer at the nearest health centre in connection with the question of any help which may be available from the regional health board.