asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will expedite an appeal in respect of unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits
41.
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 in the matter will be made if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the person concerned to be identified.
42.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary is not on an invalidity pension as he has been on disability benefit now for a number of years; and when will he be put on this pension.
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.
43.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance payments will be increased for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of the fact that he has no other income.
The person concerned applied on 2 April 1986 for a review of his means and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation. When the inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, his means will be assessed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him reviewed accordingly.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £12.15 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £33.80 less means of £21.65. Further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
44.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is not entitled to maternity benefit in view of the levels of contributions in the relevant year and the level of credits in the subsequent year; and if she will reconsider her case.
The person concerned claimed maternity benefit under the general scheme on 3 January 1986 in respect of her confinement expected on 16 February 1986. The Department's records indicated that she had insufficient contributions paid or credited in 1984-85, the contribution year which governed her claim. Her claim was, therefore, rejected.
The insurance contribution record for 1984-85 is the only year which can be used for claims due to commence on or after the 6 January 1986. The claim of the person concerned was due to commence on 13 January 1986 and no other contribution year could be considered in deciding her claim.
45.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance payments will be reinstated for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of the fact that all the necessary details of her parent's incomes have been furnished to her Department and that there is no failure to reveal all the details required.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that by failing to furnish particulars of her means she failed to show that her means did not exceed the statutory limit. She failed to supply particulars of her mother's earnings. She appealed against this decision and also changed address. The papers were referred to a social welfare officer for investigation but she was not available for interview when the social welfare officer called to the address given by her. She has now been requested to submit details of her present address. When she does so, the investigation will be finalised and her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the outcome.
46.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will explain the reason for the inordinate delay in the payment of unemployment assistance or unemployment benefit applied for in August 1985 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the delay involved; when payment will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned has been in continuous receipt of unemployment assistance since 14 November 1985. Following the investigation of her unemployment assistance claim, her means were assessed by a deciding officer at £13.10 weekly, derived mainly from a British widows pension. She is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £19.65 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in her case of £32.75, less means of £13.10. All arrears due were paid to her.
She appealed against the means assessment, but in January 1986 an appeals officer also assessed her means at £13.10 weekly. The person concerned also claimed unemployment benefit on 20 August 1985. She was employed in the United Kingdom during the governing contribution period 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984 and EC Regulations allow for the aggregation of United Kingdom and Irish insurance records for unemployment benefit purposes, provided the last history of insurable employment is in the country of claim.
The person concerned has had employment in this country since her return from the United Kingdom. When the Department of Health and Social Security furnished details of her United Kingdom record an investigation was initiated to determine whether the employment in this country was insurable at a contribution class which provides cover against unemployment.
When these inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, the question of applying the provisions of the EC Regulations to her unemployment benefit claim will be examined without delay. The delay in determining the entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit is regretted.
47.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will consider reducing the repayments being made by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly in respect of deductions from his unemployment assistance, currently at £10 per week, down to £5 per week.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit for a total of 348 days and unemployment assistance for a total of 29 days between 28 November 1983 and 5 April 1985, while he was working. As a result he was paid unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit amounting to £2,358.83 and unemployment assistance amounting to £42.35 to which he was not entitled. He is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the long term weekly rate of £33.80. Recovery of the overpayment commenced on 25 March 1986 by weekly deductions of £10 from his current entitlement which is not considered to be unreasonable in view of the large amount of the overpayment. In view of the representations made in this case, however, the amount of the weekly deductions have been reduced to £5 from the current week.
48.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who is in receipt of a deserted wife's allowance should be in receipt of a free travel pass.
The free travel scheme applies to all persons aged 66 years and over, to blind persons aged 18 and over and to persons in receipt of an invalidity pension or a disabled persons maintenance allowance from a health board. The person concerned is not yet 66 years of age and is not in receipt of an allowance or pension which would entitle her to free travel. A free travel pass cannot, therefore, be issued to her at present.