asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
43.
Following a review the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that, by failing to furnish particulars of his means, he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance and arising from contentions raised in support of his appeal his papers were referred to the social welfare officer for further inquiries.
These inquiries have now been completed and his case is being submitted to an appeals officer for determination as soon as possible. The person concerned will then be informed of the outcome of the appeal and of his entitlement to unemployment assistance.
44.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is aware of the fact that an applicant for unemployment benefit (details supplied) in County Galway was refused because she was a married woman, although she was actively seeking employment and had letters to prove this; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 6 February 1984 but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment by virtue of the fact that she had made no efforts to obtain work. She was last employed in 1980. She did not appeal against the disallowance although she was advised of her right to do so.
She continued to sign the unemployed register and her case was reviewed in October 1984. However, the deciding officer did not consider that there was sufficient evidence to warrant a revision of the earlier decision and she was, accordingly, still not considered to be available for employment. The person concerned is being requested again to furnish particulars of her efforts to obtain employment and when these are received her claim will again be reviewed.
45.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an application for a contributory old age pension by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of a contributory old age pension under the Social Welfare Acts 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 show that the person concerned had 48 reckonable contributions from January to November 1953 and that contributions in respect of his employment from December 1953 were paid at the reduced rate applicable to permanent and pensionable public servants. This reduced rate does not include any element of cover in respect of contributory old age pension and, consequently, such contributions are not reckonable for the purposes of this pension. The 48 reckonable contributions paid in respect of him in 1953 is equal to a yearly average of only one over the relevant period which, in this case, is from 5 January 1953 to 5 April 1986. Therefore, he does not qualify for a contributory old age pension.
46.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is entitled to pay-related benefit; and if so, at what rate and when this will be paid.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat rate unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the weekly sum of pay-related benefit, flat rate unemployment benefit and income tax rebate may not exceed 85 per cent of the average net weekly earnings of a claimant.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 3 March 1986 but the local office is still awaiting details of his earnings in the period 6 April 1985 to November 1985, when he last worked, in order to establish the 85 per cent limit applicable in his case. He was requested on several occasions to furnish a P45 showing details of his earnings in the relevant period but to date he has failed to supply this information. When he furnishes a Form P45 or a statement from his previous employer regarding his earnings in the relevant period his entitlement to pay-related benefit will be determined. In the meantime, weekly payments of £85 flat rate unemployment benefit will continue to be made as they become due.
47.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and the reason for the delay in this case.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 1 April 1986 and following completion of inquiries to determine if he fulfilled this condition his claim was allowed at the maximum appropriate weekly flat rate benefit payable in his case of £39.50. Arrears of flat rate benefit due on the claim were paid to him last week.
His entitlement to pay-related benefit has also been established at £17.60 weekly and arrears of pay-related benefit will be paid to him this week. Further weekly payments of £57.10 will continue to be made as they become due.
48.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and the reason for the delay in deciding this case.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit up to 11 December 1985 when he had drawn his maximum entitlement of 390 days benefit. To requalify for unemployment benefit he requires at least a further 13 weeks contributions paid at the appropriate class providing cover against unemployment. Weeks of employment since the date on which he received 156 days of unemployment benefit may count for this purpose. The person concerned did not satisfy this condition and claimed unemployment assistance on 12 December 1985.
Following an investigation of means in connection with his unemployment assistance claim he was assessed with means of £59.05 weekly, derived from the value of capital and from a pension from previous employment. His means, accordingly, exceeded the maximum weekly rate of unemployment assistance of £33.80 payable in his case and his claim was disallowed. He was notified of the disallowance on 19 December 1985.
If the person concerned is of the opinion that his financial circumstances have changed since the last investigation of his means it is open to him to apply for a review of his case. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local employment office.
49.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made with regard to an application for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from profit from his holding, exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance and arising from contentions raised by him in support of his appeal the case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries were completed his case was submitted to an appeals officer for determination.
The appeals officer requested that further inquiries be made before making a decision on the case. These latest inquiries have now been completed and his means will be determined by an appeals officer as soon as possible. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.
50.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a single woman's allowance has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if she will arrange to have the matter reinvestigated with a view to having the full amount of allowance restored.
Following a reinvestigation of the claim for single woman's allowance of the person concerned her weekly means assessment, derived from the value of board and lodgings on her brother's holding, were increased from £11.63 to £24.03. This resulted in a reduction in the weekly allowance payable to her from £25.65 to £13.65.
She appealed against the revised means assessment on 12 May 1985 and her case is being referred to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity. She will be notified of the outcome of the appeal.
51.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Galway is entitled to an increase in his unemployment assistance.
Following investigation of his unemployment assistance claim in August 1984 the means of the person concerned were assessed at £11.50 weekly derived from profit from his holding. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £73.15, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £84.65 less means of £11.50.
If he considers that his means have changed since the last investigation it is open to him to apply for a review. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local employment office. In the meantime further weekly payments of £73.15 will continue to be made as they become due.
52.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will be allowed to claim an adult dependence allowance.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from benefit from his father's holding exceeded the statutory limit with effect from 12 February 1986. He appealed against the disallowance and an appeals officer also decided that his means exceeded the statutory limit. He was notified accordingly and he subsequently ceased to sign at his local office.
The person concerned did not lodge a claim for an adult dependant increase in respect of his wife. However, it is open to him to make an application at his local employment office for retrospective payment in respect of his wife from the date of his marriage to 11 February 1986. His entitlement to an increase will be determined in the light of such an application.