asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan has not received disability benefit.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
58.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 28 June 1985 and she is currently paid to 18 April 1986, the date of the latest medical certificate received. She was awarded a contributory widow's pension from 28 March 1986 and consequently was only entitled to payment of disability benefit at half the single rate from that date. There was a delay in issuing payment for the period 22 March 1986 to 11 April 1986 while the necessary adjustment was being made.
59.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the maximum rate of unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following a reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed at £5.75 weekly, derived from the use of land. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £86.60 being the appropriate maximum rate in his case of £92.35 less means of £5.75.
The person concerned appealed against the means assessment and the appeals officer also assessed his means at £5.75 weekly. He was notified of the decision of the appeals officer. Weekly payments of £86.60 will continue to be made as they become due.
60.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be put on the long term rate of unemployment assistance in view of his desperate income circumstances.
The person concerned had drawn unemployment assistance for 390 days on 18 March 1986 and, accordingly, became entitled to payment at the long term rate from 19 March 1986. He has been in receipt of the maximum appropriate weekly rate of £33.80 from that date. Prior to 19 March 1986 he was in receipt of unemployment assistance at the appropriate rate of £31.75 weekly.
61.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an oral appeal hearing will be granted for persons (details supplied) in County Wexford further to an unemployment benefit appeal as they recently lost a High Court action to obtain their employment; and if she will ensure that the low income of the people concerned will be taken into account and that this will be expedited.
Oral hearings of the unemployment benefit appeals of the persons concerned have been arranged for 1 May 1986. The claimants will be informed of the outcome of their appeals and of the decisions on their entitlement to unemployment benefit as quickly as possible.
62.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if full arrears have been issued to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is in receipt of unemployment assistance payments.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £4.50 weekly derived from the value of capital. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance of £27.25 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate in his case of £31.75 less means of £4.50. All arrears due were paid in full and weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
63.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded unemployment assistance payments; if so, when; and when inquiries will be completed in this regard.
Following reinvestigation, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance and an appeals officer on 15 April 1986 also decided that his means exceeded the statutory limit. He was informed of the appeals officer's decision on 29 April 1986. The person concerned has not been in contact with his local office since 28 January 1986.
64.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance payments will be increased for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of his recent request for a review of his circumstances.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance of £74 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate in his case of £94 less means of £20.
He applied for a review of his means on 14 April 1986 and his papers have been referred to the social welfare officer for reinvestigation of his means. These inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and his case will then be submitted to a deciding officer for reassessment of his means. He will then be notified of the decision on his entitlement to unemployment assistance.
65.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in regard to a claim for unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned recently reapplied for unemployment assistance and his case was referred to the social welfare officer for investigation of his means. The inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and his case will be submitted to a deciding officer for an assessment of his means. He will then be notified of the decision on his entitlement to unemployment assistance.
66.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will increase the present rate of unemployment assistance being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The person concerned recently applied for a review of his means and his papers were referred to a social welfare officer for an up-to-date report. When the inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, his means will be reassessed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed accordingly.
He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £22.25 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £106.25 less means of £84. Weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
67.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange for unemployment benefit or assistance to issue to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12, who is married with three children and who is out of work since 27 February 1986 but who has no income whatsoever; if she will ensure that this case is treated as urgent and ensure that payment due dates from 27 February 1986.
In order to qualify for unemployment benefit or assistance a claimant must be unemployed, capable of work, available for and genuinely seeking work.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 2 April 1986. Inquiries are being made to ascertain the reason he left his employment and whether he is available for work. These inquiries will be completed shortly and his entitlement to unemployment benefit will then be determined. In the meantime if the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet his needs it is open to him to contact the local community welfare officer to claim supplementary welfare allowance.
68.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in holding an appeal case on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 22 February 1986, after which date payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who considered him to be capable of work.
He appealed against this decision and was examined by another medical referee on 25 April 1986, who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He was informed of the result of this examination and was supplied with a form on which to set out the grounds for appeal if he wished to have his case referred to an appeals officer for determination. His case will be reviewed on receipt of this form.
69.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will give a decision on an application for unemployment assistance from a person (details supplied) in County Galway who applied six months ago and who had a visit from the social welfare officer two months ago.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance up to June 1984 when he was disallowed because he failed to furnish details of his means. He reapplied in November 1985 and, following an investigation of his means, his claim was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the capital value of property and from the profit from his holding exceeded the statutory limit. The person concerned was informed of the decision and of his right to appeal.