asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan applied for unemployment assistance; the reason for the delay in processing his application; and when a decision will be made.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
81.
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 person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 7 August 1985 and his case was referred to the social welfare officer for investigation of his means. The inquiries in this case, which were very extensive, were recently completed and arrangements are being made to refer the papers to a deciding officer for assessment of means.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the means assessed against him. The delay in this case is regretted.
82.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an application for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Inquiries regarding the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, which were protracted, were recently completed and the claim was referred to a deciding officer for assessment of means. The deciding officer, however, required further information before giving a decision and this necessitated the return of the papers to the social welfare officer.
When these inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, his means will be assessed and the entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly. The delay in this case is regretted.
83.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an application for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
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, in his case. He was notified of this decision on 6 January 1986. He has not, to date, appealed against the disallowance and it is open to him to do so. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
84.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an appeal for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £7.70 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his brother's holding. He appealed against the decision and an appeals officer also assessed his means at £7.70 weekly, and he was notified of the decision on 17 July 1985.
He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £26.10 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £33.80 less means of £7.70. Further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
85.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in awarding unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until an investigation of his means was completed by the social welfare officer. These inquiries were recently completed and the applicant was assessed with means of £24.15 weekly derived from the benefit of board and lodging on his parents holding.
He was, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance of £7.60 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £31.75 less means of £24.15. The person concerned ceased signing on 20 January 1986 and all arrears due were paid on 6 February 1986. He was issued with an appeal form to enable him to appeal against the assessment of means but to date he has not returned it to his local office.
86.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of unemployment assistance which has been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance in January 1986 and the case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of means. Before the inquiries could be completed the applicant phoned the social welfare officer stating that she was leaving the area and going to Dublin and that she would reapply at an exchange in Dublin.
She signed at an exchange in Dublin on 10 February 1986 and arrangements are being made to refer her case to a social welfare officer for investigation of her claim. When these inquiries are completed the means of the person concerned will be assessed and her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
87.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons for the delay in paying a non-contributory old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan.
It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is not entitled to old age pension as he does not fulfil the statutory conditions as to means. The assessment of his means consisting of the weekly value of a holding (the transfer of which has not been accepted for old age pension purposes) and capital (the disposal of a large part of which has not been accepted for old age pension purposes) exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension.
88.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a reduced amount of a non-contributory old age pension is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will arrange to have her case reinvestigated with a view to having maximum rate of pension paid.
The person concerned is in receipt of old age pension at the reduced weekly rate of £34. This is the rate to which she is entitled having regard to the assessment of her means consisting of half the weekly value of income from a holding. If the person concerned feels her circumstances have changed it is open to her to apply for an increase in pension by notifying this Department to that effect and her case will be reinvestigated.
89.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when it is proposed to introduce the special signing on scheme for those people who are unemployed and over 55 years of age, as promised in the national plan, Building on Reality, 1985-87.
The introduction of the new signing arrangements for unemployment assistance applicants aged 55 and over who have been unemployed for at least 15 months has been held up because certain of the staff interests involved have not to date agreed the necessary administrative procedures. The arrangements will commence as soon as this matter has been resolved.
90.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary was disallowed disability benefit.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 20 January 1986 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
She appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have her examined by a different medical referee at an early date. Her entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
91.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is subject to the conditions that a person must be fully available for work. The person concerned, a third level full time student, claimed unemployment assistance during the Christmas break from her course of studies from 17 December 1985 to 13 January 1986. Her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for full time employment. She appealed against the disallowance and her case was referred to an appeals officer for consideration. The appeals officer also decided that she was not available for work. She was notified of the decision on 7 February 1986.
92.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the appeal for unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly has been refused; the basis on which his means have been assessed; and if he will give details thereof.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the benefit from his wife's earnings and from the value of capital, exceeded the statutory limit.
He recently appealed against the disallowance of his claim and the deciding officer decided to afford him a further opportunity to furnish additional evidence in support of his appeal. The case will be submitted shortly to an appeals officer who will determine the means of the person concerned, at the earliest available opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will then be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
93.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is subject to the condition that a person must be fully available for work. The person concerned, a third level full time student, claimed unemployment assistance during the Christmas break from her course of studies from 16 December 1985 to 13 January 1986. Her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for full time employment. She appealed against the disallowance and her case was referred to an appeals officer for consideration. The appeals officer also decided that she was not available for work. She was notified of the decision on 7 February 1986.
94.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a final decision will be made on the appeal of an applicant (details supplied) in County Offaly for unemployment assistance; and if he will confirm that an official will be sent out to re-assess his means, as a matter of urgency.
The person concerned appealed against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim 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 social welfare officer has interviewed the person concerned and requested further documentation, regarding his means, from him.
When this documentation is received by the social welfare officer he will complete his report and the case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination of means. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
95.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason payment of unemployment assistance has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly as he has been informed he will not be paid unemployment assistance for the next six months, despite the fact that he has paid all arrears due in respect of overpayment of social welfare payments to him.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim for unemployment assistance which refers to the person named in the details supplied. Further inquiries will be made if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the person concerned to be identified.
96.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the inordinate delay in providing much-needed unemployment assistance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary, who has a wife and four young children and has now no income from any source; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is subject to the condition that an applicant must be available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 18 November 1985. Following the completion of inquiries, his claim was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that he was not available for and genuinely seeking work.
He appealed on 28 January 1986 against the disallowance and his case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination, at the earliest available opportunity. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
97.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Where a person has less than 156 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment, entitlement to disability benefit is limited to 52 weeks.
According to the records of the Department the person concerned has only 103 contributions paid on his behalf since entry into insurance. He claimed disability benefit from 6 June 1984 and was paid to 8 June 1985 after which date his 52 weeks entitlement became exhausted. In order to requalify for disability benefit it will be necessary for him to have at least a further 13 weeks of insurable employment for which the appropriate contributions are paid.
98.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance from his local health board for the period that his claim for unemployment assistance was under investigation.
Following the completion of the investigation he was assessed with nil means, from 29 May 1985. The total amount of unemployment assistance due arising from this assessment from May to 12 November 1985, when he ceased to sign as unemployed, amounted to £1,680 and this was refunded to the health board in lieu of the supplementary welfare allowance advanced to him. There are, accordingly, no arrears of unemployment assistance payable to the person concerned.
99.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an application for unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following re-investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed, from 7 November 1985, with means of £9.60 weekly derived from the beneficial occupation of a holding. He was informed of this decision on 12 November 1985.
Accordingly, he is in receipt of unemployment assistance at £48.75 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £58.35 less means of £9.60. Weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
100.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for unemployment assistance will be decided on for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned appealed 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. The inquiries showed that his self-employment had ceased and a deciding officer revised a previous decision and assessed his means at nil, with effect from 27 March 1985.
He was, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the appropriate maximum weekly rate payable in his case of £81.85 from 27 March 1985, increased to £86.75 from 3 July 1985. Arrears due, amounting to £796.62 were paid to him on 3 December 1985, with his current week. The remainder of the arrears were refunded to the local health board in respect of the supplementary welfare allowance advanced to him. Further weekly payments of £86.75 will continue to be made as they become due.
101.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an application for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the profit on his holding, exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance of his claim and the appeals officer on 1 October 1985 assessed his means at £76.90 weekly, with effect from 10 April 1985.
He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance at £7.75 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £84.65 less means of £76.90. All arrears due were paid to him on 15 October 1985 and weekly payments of £7.75 will continue to be made as they become due.
102.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of people in receipt of unemployment benefit at the latest available date; and the total amount of money being paid in unemployment benefits at the latest available date.
The latest figures available for expenditure in respect of recipients of unemployment benefit are for week ended 17 January 1986. The total number of people in receipt of unemployment benefit amounted to 93,855 with a corresponding expenditure of £5.08 million.