asked the Minister for Social Welfare if it has yet been decided to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
43.
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 but due to an oversight the papers were not referred to the social welfare officer for investigation of means until 6 December 1985.
It is anticipated that these inquiries will be completed shortly and the papers will then be referred to a deciding officer for an 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.
44.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will issue a certificate in respect of the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Details of the payments made to the person concerned in respect of his disability benefit entitlement were issued to him on 17 February 1986. The details were again issued to him on 26 February 1986.
45.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is not in receipt of death benefit for her husband's burial.
The person concerned applied for a death grant on 2 December 1985. She did not qualify for payment of the grant under the RSI No. quoted and she was requested on 11 December 1985 to supply additional information so that the insurance record could be fully traced. She supplied the required information on 13 February 1986 and a cheque for £100, the maximum grant payable, issued to her on 21 February 1986.
46.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not been paid arrears of unemployment assistance.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, she was assessed with nil means, with effect from 27 September 1985. She is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the appropriate maximum rate of £32.75 weekly. The person concerned last signed as unemployed on 5 November 1985 and when she contacts her local office, the arrears due will then be paid.
47.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was refused disability benefit; and when a decision will be made on his appeal.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 1 February 1986.
He is not qualified for benefit as regulations provide that where a claimant has no contributions paid or credited for two consecutive contribution years preceding his claim, he cannot qualify for payment of disability benefit, or the award of credited contributions in respect of periods of unemployment or of incapacity for work, until he has a further 26 weeks of insurable employment for which the appropriate contributions have been paid.
According to the records of the Department, the person concerned had no contributions paid or credited in the two years 1980-81 and 1981-82 and has not had 26 weeks of insurable employment since that time. Consequently, credited contributions could not be allowed in respect of his periods of unemployment since then. He has been requested to furnish details of any insurable employment he may have had since 1980 and on receipt of this information his claim will be reviewed. In the meantime, if his means are insufficient to meet his needs he may be entitled to supplementary welfare allowance and in this regard he should contact his local community welfare officer.
48.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive free telephone rental.
An application for a free telephone rental allowance was received from the person concerned on 23 January 1986. The application was approved and the claimant was notified accordingly on 4 February 1986. Telecom Éireann have been advised of the decision in the case and will arrange to apply the allowance from the date on which she is provided with telephone service.
49.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 8 July 1985 after which date payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance of benefit and was examined by a different medical referee on 22 October 1985 who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. His appeal has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of his claim on 10 March 1986.
50.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
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 9 December 1985 and his claim was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation.
The inquiries have recently been completed and arrangements are being made to refer his papers to a deciding officer for assessment of his means. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the means assessed against him. It is understood that the person concerned is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
51.
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 claimed disability benefit from 25 April 1985 and was paid up to 25 January 1986 when benefit was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
The person concerned has not, however, appealed against the decision or submitted any medical evidence subsequent to the date of disallowance. Before he can appeal the decision he would need to obtain medical evidence of incapacity for work from that date.
52.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for employment.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 15 November 1985. Following the completion of inquiries his claim was disallowed for a period of six weeks from his last date of employment on 14 November 1985 on the grounds that he left his employment voluntarily, without just cause.
Following the expiry of the six weeks disqualification, the claim was reviewed and as it was considered that he did not fulfil the condition of being available for employment from 26 December 1985, his claim was disallowed from that date.
He appealed against the disallowances on 19 February 1986 and arrangements are being made to refer his case to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
53.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
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 11 November 1985 following a period in employment. Inquiries had to be made to establish that she fulfilled the condition of being available for employment before her entitlement to unemployment assistance could be determined.
These inquiries were recently completed and her claim was allowed at £29.20 weekly, being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in her case of £31.75 less means of £2.55 weekly. Her means are derived from the value of board and lodgings in her parent's home. She is a postal applicant and a voucher for encashment at her local post office, in respect of all arrears due, issued to her on 20 February 1986. Further weekly payments of £29.20 will be made as they become due.