(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made with regard to an application for unemployment assistance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
110.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned his means were assessed at 10p weekly, derived from the value of capital. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance of £66.95 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £67.05 less means of 10p. All arrears, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced to him pending a decision on his claim, were paid last week and weekly payments of £66.95 will continue to be made as they become due.
111.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an invalidity pension has not yet been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary and when this will be granted.
Invalidity pension has been awarded to the person concerned from 31 January 1985. A pension book payable from 10 April 1986 will be issued to the designated post office of payment and arrears in respect of the period from 31 January 1985 to 9 April 1986, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by payable order.
112.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who is married with five children, has 38 acres which are in receivership, who signed on 9 December, has only been in receipt of £50 since that time and has now been reduced to £49.60.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the letting value of his land, exceeded the statutory limit in his case.
He appealed against the assessment and arising from contentions made in support of his appeal the papers were returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. Where these inquiries were completed a deciding officer revised the previous decision and assessed his means at £44.20 weekly, with effect from 9 September 1985.
All arrears due arising from the revised decision were paid and the person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance of £49.80 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £94 less means of £44.20. If the person concerned is dissatisfied with the revised means assessment it is open to him to appeal and have his means determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained from his local office.
113.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of money paid in subsidised rent allowances for families of people living in rented accommodation in the northern area of the Southern Health Board, the breakdown of the amounts received of the number of people who qualified; the amounts of money paid; the amount paid in rent allowance to people in rented accommodation who are also mortgage holders; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
It is assumed that the Deputy is looking for the statistics which are relevant to the Cork north community care area. The payment of supplements, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, towards rent or mortgage interest payments is a matter for determination by the health board on the merits of each individual case. Details of individual cases are not held in the Department.
The latest statistical returns from the health board concerned, which relate to the last week of September 1985, show that 27 rent supplements and two mortgage interest supplements totalling £161.25 and £76.40, respectively, were paid in the Cork north community care area in that week. There were no cases where supplements were paid to persons in rented accommodation who are also mortgage holders. The latter type of situation would be rare and would probably only arise where persons had to leave their own accommodation temporarily owing to some emergency.
114.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7, who lives alone, was refused a rent allowance.
Under the provision of the supplementary welfare allowances scheme the determination as to whether a rent supplement should be paid in any particular case is a matter for the health board. It is understood from the Eastern Health Board that the person concerned applied for a rent supplement on 28 January 1986. She was advised that before a decision could be made on her application she should first apply to Dublin Corporation for inclusion in the housing list and then return to the community welfare officer at her local health centre for a decision on her application for a rent supplement. The person concerned has not to date returned to the health centre.
115.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is aware of the severe financial circumstances of a person (details supplied) in County Galway whose unemployment assistance was cancelled in May 1985; that his only income at present is from four cattle which he has on his land; and if an immediate decision can be taken to restore his unemployment assistance to him.
Following reinvestigation, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived mainly from the beneficial occupation of his mother's holding, exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him but an appeals officer also decided that his means exceeded the maximum rate payable.
The person concerned made a supplementary application for unemployment assistance on 29 January 1986 and his papers were referred to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation of his means.
When these inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, his means will be reassesed by a deciding officer and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
If the person concerned is then dissatisfied with the decision of the deciding officer, it will be open to him to appeal and have his means determined by an appeals officer.
116.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Galway against her decision in connection with his unemployment assistance.
The unemployment assistance claim, dated 11 June 1984, of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the profit from his holding, exceeded the statutory limit. He was informed of the disallowance and ceased signing at his local office on 29 January 1985. According to the records of the Department the person concerned did not appeal against the disallowance of his claim.
He re-applied for unemployment assistance on 4 December 1985 and his papers were referred to a social welfare officer for re-investigation. When these inquiries, which it is anticipated will be completed shortly, are completed, the means of the person concerned will be assessed by a deciding officer and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly. If he is then dissatisfied with the decision of the deciding officer, it will be open to him to appeal and have his means determined by an appeals officer.
117.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will expedite a decision in respect of an application for unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
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 4 November 1985 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of means.
The inquiries, which were necessarily very extensive in this case, have now been completed and arrangements are being made to submit the case 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.
118.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when sickness benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is not qualified for benefit as regulations provide that where a claimant has no contributions paid or credited for any 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 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 years 1967 to 1976 and has not had 26 weeks of insurable employment since that time.
The person concerned now states that he was insurably employed in 1974 and 1975 and the matter is currently being investigated. When the investigations have been completed his entitlement to benefit will be reviewed without delay. 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.
119.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the refusal of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 9 December 1985 but her claim was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 13 March 1986. The appeals officer allowed her appeal.
However, she did not satisfy the contribution condition of having 26 contributions paid or credited during the contribution period 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984 which governed entitlement on her claim from 9 December 1985 to 5 January 1986 and, accordingly, her claim was disallowed. A new benefit year commenced on 6 January 1986 and as she satisfies the contribution condition for entitlement to unemployment benefit from that date her claim has been allowed at the weekly rate of £34.70. All arrears due from 6 January 1986 will be paid this week and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
120.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with nil means and is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £31.75 weekly, the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case. All arrears due were paid last week and weekly payments of £31.75 will continue to be made as they become due.
121.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit due to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will be paid.
All arrears of benefit payable to the person concerned, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the Midland Health Board, were issued to him on 12 March 1986.
122.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned his means were assessed at nil. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the appropriate maximum weekly rate of £33.80. All arrears due, and a current week's entitlement, were paid to him last week and further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
123.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Meath is receiving only £81 per week.
The rate of unemployment benefit payable to an applicant is reduced after 156 days of benefit have been drawn if he does not satisfy the contribution condition of having 280 paid contributions in a seven year period. In addition, any two periods of interruption of employment not separated by more than 13 weeks are regarded as linked and are treated as one period of interruption of employment. A link can also occur between a period of incapacity, where a person is in receipt of disability benefit and a period of unemployment.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit from 22 November 1984 to 17 August 1985. He claimed unemployment benefit again on 27 January 1986 and this claim was linked to his previous unemployment benefit claim as he had been in receipt of disability benefit from 8 November 1985 to 4 January 1986 and the periods of employment between the end of the first unemployment benefit claim and the commencement of disability benefit, and between the end of the disability benefit claim and 27 January 1986, were for less than 13 weeks.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit at the maximum rate, until 25 May 1985 when he had drawn 156 days of benefit. He did not fulfil the contribution condition of having 280 paid contributions in a seven year period and, accordingly, the weekly rate of unemployment benefit was reduced from 26 May 1985. The unemployment benefit claim from 27 January 1986 is linked with the earlier claim and, accordingly, payments are being made at the appropriate reduced weekly rate, which in this case is £81.10, from that date. The person concerned had insufficient earnings during the relevant income tax period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983 to give entitlement to pay-related benefit. Further weekly payments of £81.10 will continue as they become due.
124.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has been refused to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the benefit of board and lodging on his parents' holding, exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case.
He appealed on 6 March 1986 against the amount of means assessed against him and his case has been submitted 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 appeals officer's decision.
125.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 is on a reduced rate of special unemployment benefit which means that he cannot qualify for unemployment assistance and is debarred from qualifying for the 2.5 day part employment scheme of the Department of Labour; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The rate of unemployment benefit payable is reduced after 156 days of benefit where an applicant does not satisfy the contribution condition of having 280 paid contributions in a seven year period prior to the date of claim. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 8 February 1985 and was in receipt of the maximum appropriate rate of 156 days of benefit until 21 August 1985. He did not satisfy the contribution condition for further payment at the maximum rate and accordingly his weekly rate of unemployment benefit was reduced to £32.75 from 22 August 1985.
The social employment scheme is designed for the long term unemployed and is confined to persons in receipt of unemployment assistance who have been unemployed for at least 12 months. If the person mentioned by the Deputy qualifies for unemployment assistance when he has completed his 390 days unemployment benefit he may then apply for a place in the social employment scheme. The rates of social welfare benefits are kept under continuous review and will be increased in July next year under the Social Welfare Bill at present before the Oireachtas.
126.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether there is justification in using different definitions of average income for the purpose of calculating restrictions on pay-related benefit under disability benefit and under unemployment benefit: i.e. under disability benefit the restriction is based on income in the 1984-85 year and under unemployment benefit it is based on the income since April 1985.
Pay-related benefit is payable with disability benefit, maternity allowance, unemployment benefit, and with injury benefit where there is an underlying title to disability benefit. It is normally calculated on a person's reckonable weekly earnings in the relevant income tax year which is the last complete income tax year before the year in which the claim commences. For a person whose claim commences in 1986 the relevant income tax year is the 1984-85 income tax year.
Where pay-related benefit is payable other than with unemployment benefit the combined total of pay-related benefit and flat rate benefit may not exceed 75 per cent of a person's reckonable weekly earnings in the relevant income tax year. Details of these earnings are readily available in that they are used in calculating the level of pay-related benefit. More recent details would not normally be available in these cases.
In the case of unemployment benefit recipients, the total of flat rate benefit, pay-related benefit and income tax rebates is limited to 85 per cent of average net weekly earnings in the current year, or one-fiftieth of the earnings ceiling for pay-related benefit, whichever is the lesser. The different limit in the case of unemployment benefit can be applied without unduly delaying the processing of claims because the necessary documentary evidence is normally available when persons become unemployed: e.g., the P.45 document giving details of immediate past earnings which a person gets from his employer when leaving employment. Such up-to-date earnings information could not, however, be obtained from other claimants without causing undue delays in payments of their benefit.
127.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare did not receive his unemployment assistance.
Following re-investigation, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, assessed at £78.45 weekly, and which were derived from self-employment and from capital exceeded the statutory limit in his case. If he is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him, it is open to him to appeal and have his means determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose can be obtained at his local office.
128.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the date of the last insurable contributions credited to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
According to the records of the Department the person concerned commenced insurable employment on 29 September 1970. Details of her contribution record are as shown below.
|
Contribution Year |
Contributions |
|
|
Paid |
Credited |
|
|
1970-71 |
33 |
12 |
|
1971-72 |
4 |
|
|
1972-73 |
34 |
129.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of contributions made by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 and the rate of unemployment payment which he is receiving.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 25 November 1985 and his claim was authorised at £65.10 weekly, which is the maximum rate payable to a married man. He is not entitled to pay-related benefit as he has insufficient earnings during the relevant income tax period 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984.
In the contribution period 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984, which governs entitlement on claims made in 1985, the record of the person concerned shows eight paid contributions and 41 credited contributions.
130.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the restoration of single parent's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is suffering severe hardship as a result of the cessation of her allowance.
The claim of the person concerned to unmarried mother's allowance was terminated on the grounds that she and another person were living together as man and wife. She has appealed against the termination.
Her appeal has been referred to an appeals officer for consideration and as soon as a hearing of her case is arranged she will be notified of the date and place at which to attend. In the meantime she is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance at her local health centre.
131.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 31 January 1983 to 2 May 1984 and received his maximum entitlement of 390 days payment.
He again claimed unemployment benefit on 4 November 1985 and inquiries had to be made to establish whether he had at least 13 contributions paid at the appropriate class to requalify for unemployment benefit, since the date on which he received 156 days unemployment benefit.
The person concerned is a landholder who did not satisfy the additional contribution condition of having 78 contributions paid in a three year period and, accordingly, inquiries also had to be made to establish that he satisfied the condition that the income from his holding did not exceed £2 daily.
All these extensive inquiries were recently completed and his claim for unemployment benefit has been allowed at the appropriate rate of £39.50 weekly. He is a postal applicant and arrangements have been made for the payment this week of all arrears due less unemployment assistance paid to him pending the outcome of inquiries. Further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
132.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the maximum rate of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived mainly from the profit from his holding, exceed the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case.
He appealed on 3 March 1986 against the amount of the means assessed against him, and arising from contentions made by him in support of his appeal his papers have been returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries.
When these inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, the case will be submitted 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 appeals officer's decision.
133.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will investigate the possibility of approving dental benefit for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if she will indicate the number of contributions required by the applicant; and when he will reach the qualifying number of contributions.
A claim to dental benefit was received from the person concerned on 17 February 1986. The contribution conditions for the receipt of dental benefit require persons over 23 years of age to have 156 reckonable employment contributions paid since entry into insurance and to have had 26 reckonable employment contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. The governing contribution year for claims made in 1986 is the 1984-85 year, from 6 April 1984 to 5 April 1985. According to the Department's available records the claimant had no contributions paid or credited in this period.
He has not yet responded to a request of 21 February 1986 for details of his employment, if any, in the 1984-85 contribution year. When this information comes to hand his claim will be processed without delay.
134.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position of an unemployment assistance appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if she will ensure that some payment is made even at a reduced rate.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that her means, derived from benefit received from her parents, exceeded the maximum rate payable in her case.
According to the Department's records the person concerned did not appeal against this decision and it is open to her to do so. A form for this purpose may be obtained at her local office. The person concerned ceased to sign at her local office on 17 December 1985.
135.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position of a claim for unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if she will ensure that payment even at a reduced rate will be issued to the person.
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. An applicant for unemployment assistance must also satisfy the statutory conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work. Following extensive investigations into the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, her means were recently assessed at nil from 15 August 1985 to 7 October 1985.
She is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the appropriate maximum weekly rate of £31.75 for that period and arrangements have been made with her local office for payment of all arrears due, this week. Apparently the person concerned became full time self-employed from 8 October 1985 and further inquiries are necessary regarding her means and her availability for work from then onwards. When the inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, her entitlement to further unemployment assistance will be determined.
136.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded unemployment benefit payments in view of her appeal enclosing documentation which proves her availability for work.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for employment.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 3 January 1986 and, on the basis of the information available, her claim was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that she was not available for employment.
She appealed against the disallowance and her case has been submitted to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity. She continues to sign the unemployed register and her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
137.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the exact entitlement of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is claiming for unemployment benefit due to the fact she is on short time working; if she is entitled to any arrears; if a balancing statement will be issued to her in view of the erratic payments in the recent past; her correct rate of payment; and if her current benefits are exhaustible or if her current PRSI payments are adequate to maintain her in benefit.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the number of days worked by systematic short time workers and the number of days in respect of which unemployment benefit is payable may not exceed five. The person concerned is engaged in systematic short time employment on three days each week and her entitlement to unemployment benefit is therefore restricted to two days of payment.
However, due to an error on the claimant's part, she certified her weekly signing dockets incorrectly and declared herself as being employed on only two days weekly and was, accordingly, paid unemployment benefit for three days a week up to 14 December 1985. When at that stage, it was discovered that she was employed for three days weekly, her entitlement to unemployment benefit was reduced to two days weekly.
A person who has drawn unemployment benefit for the duration of maximum entitlement cannot requalify for benefit until she has a further 13 weeks of employment which is insurable at a contribution class which provides cover against unemployment. Any weeks of appropriate insurable employment after 156 days benefit have been drawn are counted for this purpose.
The person concerned received her maximum entitlement of 312 days unemployment benefit on 27 February 1986 and requalified for a further period of 312 days benefit from 1 March 1986 on the basis of contributions paid, while working short time, from the 157th day of the previous claim.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment benefit in respect of two days each week, at the maximum appropriate daily rate of £6.94 and further payments will continue to be made as they become due.
138.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of additional contributions needed by a person (details supplied) in Country Cork in his claim for a contributory old age pension.
The person concerned submitted a claim for contributory old age pension on 7 August 1985. One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of this pension requires a person to have a yearly average of at least 20 reckonable contributions over the period from the beginning of the 1953 contribution year or from his year of entry into insurance, whichever is the later, to the end of the last complete contribution year before reaching pension age. The Department's records showed that the person concerned had a total of 619 reckonable contributions in the relevant period which, in his case, is from 5 January 1953 to 5 April 1985. This is equal to a yearly average of only 19 and is not sufficient to qualify for a contributory old age pension. He was notified accordingly. He would need to have a further 21 reckonable contributions to qualify.
He is last recorded as having credited contributions in 1965. He has claimed that he was employed up to 1966. The local social welfare officer was asked to investigate this claim and a final decision will be made when the officer's report is received. In the meantime, his entitlement to an old age non-contributory pension is being examined.
139.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will not receive unemployment assistance.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £26.90 weekly, derived from the value of board and lodging on his parents' holding. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £4.85 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £31.75 less means of £26.90.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him, but an appeals officer also assessed his means at £26.90 weekly. Further weekly payments of £4.85 will continue to be made as they become due. If the person concerned feels that his circumstances have changed it is open to him to apply for a review of his means. A form for this purpose may be obtained from his local office.
140.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry was refused an oral hearing regarding his pension entitlement.
The person concerned transferred his holding to his son who is employed and lives a considerable distance away. He is not, therefore, in a position to work the holding, the transfer of which, in the circumstances, is not acceptable for pension purposes.
Before giving his decision on the appeal in this case, the appeals officer requested further inquiries. These established that the pensioner's son had not returned to work the holding and, in the circumstances, the appeals officer also held that the transfer was not acceptable for pension purposes. He accordingly decided that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the weekly rate of £32 from 30 July 1985, which is the rate appropriate to the assessment of his means consisting of half the weekly value of the holding and capital.
The appeals officer was of the opinion that this case was of such a nature that it could properly be determined without an oral hearing and, in accordance with the regulations, he dispensed with a hearing and determined the case summarily.
141.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason free telephone rental has not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
To qualify for a free telephone rental allowance a person in receipt of a qualifying pension 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. In this case both the person concerned and his wife are in receipt of qualifying payments and either one can therefore qualify for the allowance provided the other is permanently incapacitated as above.
An application for the allowance was received on 4 February 1986. However, no medical evidence was furnished in support of the application and a decision could not be made in the case. Accordingly, the applicant was requested to furnish comprehensive medical evidence and when this is received an early decision will be given and he will be notified of the outcome.
142.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was not in receipt of unemployment benefit for the week ending 28 January 1986; and the reason for the failure of her Department to continue payment even though certificates were issued.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 26 November 1984 and is currently being paid at the weekly rate of £38.05 the reduced rate appropriate to a single woman who had 45 contributions in the 1983-84 year which governs her claim.
The records of the Department show that payment appears to have been issued on receipt of medical evidence and all benefit payable has been issued to 22 February 1986, the date of the latest medical certificate received. Further payments of disability benefit will be issued to her on receipt of weekly medical certificates.
A list of all cheques which were issued to her since December 1985 has been sent to the person concerned. If she has not received any of these cheques she should provide details of all cheques not received by her to the Department.
143.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an application for an invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will be decided upon.
A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to the person concerned and on its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay.
144.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a person (details supplied) in County Galway is in receipt of unemployment assistance at the full rate.
Following re-investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £5.10 weekly, derived from the value of board and lodgings on his father's holding. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £57.85 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £62.95 less means of £5.10.
The person concerned has not to date appealed against the means assessment or requested to have his means reviewed, and it is open to him to do so. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office. Further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.