asked the Minister for Social Welfare when she expects the further inquiries by a social welfare officer on the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly against the decision to limit his unemployment assistance payments will be finalised; and when the final decision from the appeals officer as a result of these further inquiries will be completed.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
148.
Mr. Cowen
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, he was assessed with means of £21.80 weekly derived from the benefit of board and lodging in his parents' home. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £10.95 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate of £32.75 less means of £21.80.
He appealed against this decision on 6 January 1986 and arising from contentions made in support of the appeals his papers were referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were completed recently and his case has been submitted 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 appeals officer's decision.
149.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be taken on the urgent appeal lodged by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry against the decision to reduce his unemployment assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £16.45 weekly, derived from the benefit of board and lodging on his mother's holding.
He appealed against this decision and an appeals officer, on 24 February 1986, assessed him with means of £13.70 weekly, with effect from 11 December 1985. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance of £70.95 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £84.65 less means of £13.70. All arrears arising from the reduction in the means assessment were paid last week and weekly payments of £70.95 will continue to be made as they become due.
150.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for unemployment assistance will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Entitlement to employment 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 application of the person concerned for a qualification certificate was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish full details of his means as requested by the social welfare officer he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. According to the Department's records the person concerned has not, to date, appealed against the decision, but it is open to him to do so. A form for this purpose has recently been issued to him by his local office.
151.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for unemployment assistance will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £76.90 weekly, derived from self-employment. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £9.85 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £86.75 less means of £76.90.
He appealed on 24 February 1986 against the amount of means assessed against him and arising from contentions made in support of his appeal the papers were returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries 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 appeals officer's decision.
152.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been reduced to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Following a recent re-investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £52.45 weekly. His means are derived from the value of capital and from self-employment. The income from his self-employment has increased substantially since the last investigation.
He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance of £41.55 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £94.00 less means of £52.45.
He recently appealed against the means assessment and his case was submitted 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 appeals officer's decision.
153.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when sanction will issue for entitlement to free electricity and television allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
An application for a free electricity allowance from the person concerned, which was received on 26 February 1986, was approved on 6 March 1986 and the applicant was notified accordingly at that time. The ESB was instructed to apply the allowance to his electricity account from the March-April 1986 billing period onwards.
Persons approved for a free electricity allowance are also entitled to a free television licence which may be obtained on application at their local post office.
154.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the issue of last September's children's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned claimed that the September 1985 order was missing from one of her children's allowance books. The paid orders from that book had to be traced before her claim could be considered. These only came to hand recently and include the order reported missing. Photostat copies of the paid orders have been sent to her for inspection. If she still maintains that she did not receive payment on all of these orders the matter will be further investigated on hearing from her.
155.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the rate of pension has been decreased in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
In the case of the couple concerned, the wife was in receipt of a non-contributory old age pension at the weekly rate of £38, the rate appropriate to the assessment of her means consisting of half the weekly value of a holding.
Her husband subsequently qualified for a contributory old age pension from 20 December 1985, at the weekly rate of £86.60, which includes an adult dependant allowance of £38.35 in respect of his wife. This adult dependant allowance is more favourable than her personal rate of pension and as both cannot be paid concurrently, her old age pension was withdrawn to allow the higher rate payment to apply in their case.
156.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present situation regarding the entitlement to a contributory old age pension for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will return her birth and marriage certificates.
The person concerned claimed a contributory old age pension on 15 January and has been awarded the pension at the maximum personal rate with effect from 24 January 1986. The local social welfare officer has been asked to investigate her entitlement to a living alone allowance. She is, at present in receipt of a widow's pension and arrangements are being made to have this withdrawn. A contributory old age pension book will then be issued to the designated post office for collection by her.
Arrears of contributory old age pension from 24 January 1986, less the amount of widow's pension paid after that date, will be issued direct to her by payable order as soon as possible.
Her birth and marriage certificates have been returned to her.
157.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 24 November 1983 and is currently being paid at the weekly rate of £93.70, the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with three dependent children.
The records of the Department show that payment has been issued at regular weekly intervals on receipt of medical evidence and all benefit payable has been issued to date.