asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she has any plans to redress the unfair situation whereby a widower (details supplied) in County Westmeath on social security no longer qualifies for allowances for his two daughters even though they are both in third level education and his financial burdens are becoming intolerable.
Written Answers - Social Welfare Benefits.
46.
The person concerned has been in receipt of old age contributory pension at maximum rate since 29 July 1983. Originally he was in receipt of increases for two qualified children.
There is no provision in the regulations under which payment of increases for children could continue in payment to a person in receipt of old age contributory pension after the children have reached age 18. The increases were accordingly withdrawn when the children reached 18 years of age in September 1984 and March 1986 respectively. There are no proposals to amend the regulations at the present time.
47.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange for an early decision in the unemployment assistance appeal lodged by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned recently appealed against the means assessment on his unemployment assistance claim and arising from contentions made by him in support of his appeal, it was necessary to return the papers to the social welfare officer for further inquiries.
When the inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination of means and the person concerned will be informed of the outcome as quickly as possible. He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £34.75 weekly being the maximum appropriate rate payable in his case of £79.50 less means of £44.75. Further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
48.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding an unemployment assistance application made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim, the means of the person concerned were assessed at £36 weekly, derived from the beneficial occupation of a holding. His means exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case and, accordingly, his claim was disallowed.
He recently appealed against the disallowance of his claim and he is being afforded an opportunity of submitting a written statement of the facts and contentions on which he relies in support of his appeal.
When a reply is received from him, his papers will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination of means, at the earliest available opportunity. The person concerned will be informed of the outcome of the appeal as quickly as possible. He last signed at his local office on 10 September 1985.
49.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan has not received an invalidity pension book.
The person concerned was notified on 12 March 1986 that an invalidity pension book payable from 27 March 1986 has been sent to the designated post office of payment, where it may be collected by her agent. A payable order for arrears of pension due will be issued shortly to the claimant.
50.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a copy land certificate was received in her Department on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the date on which the copy land certificate was received; and the reason a decision has not been made on the applicant's old age pension claim as yet.
It has been decided by a deciding officer that the person concerned is not entitled to old age pension on the grounds that he failed to fully disclose his means.
A copy of the land certificate was received in this Department on 30 January 1986 but it is not the information requested by the social welfare officer. Other information requested has still not been provided.
An appeal has been lodged against the decision and the appeals officer has requested further information from the social welfare officer. When this information comes to hand the case will be referred back to the appeals officer for determination and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome without delay.
51.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a report has been returned by a local officer of her Department regarding the entitlement of a person (details supplied) in County Galway for a free electricity allowance.
From the information furnished in the local officer's report referred to by the Deputy, the person concerned is residing with his son who does not come within the excepted categories for satisfying the living alone condition of the free electricity allowance scheme. The allowance cannot therefore be reapplied in his case.
52.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the change of circumstances of a person (details supplied) in County Galway, his unemployment assistance rate can be increased.
The person concerned reported a change of address to his local office on 8 April 1986 and arrangements have been made to refer his case to the social welfare officer for reinvestigation of his means. 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 will be reviewed accordingly.
He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £9.25 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £32.75 less means of £23.50. Further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
53.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if in view of the circumstances of a person (details supplied) in County Galway his application for disability benefit could be reinvestigated.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed for the statutory period of six weeks from 30 January 1986 as he failed to attend for examination by a medical referee of the Department on 14 January 1986. However, his explanation for failure to attend for examination has been accepted and payment has been restored from 31 March 1986. Any arrears payable in respect of the period from 30 January to 29 March 1986 will be issued immediately on the receipt of details of supplementary welfare allowance advanced to him by the Western Health Board.
Arrangements have been made to have the person concerned examined by a medical referee on 17 April 1986.
54.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal on unemployment assistance will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Following investigation of his unemployment assistance claim, the means of the person concerned were assessed at £35.85 weekly, derived from self-employment. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £36.40 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £72.25 less means of £35.85.
He recently appealed against the means asessment and, arising from contentions made by him in support of his appeal, the case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. When the inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, his papers will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination of means, and the person concerned will be informed of the outcome as quickly as possible. Further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.