asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in regard to an application for a retirement pension for a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
114.
The person concerned submitted a claim for retirement pension on 7 February 1986. He reached retirement pension age of 65 years on 3 November 1985.
One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of a retirement pension under the Social Welfare Acts requires a person to have a yearly average of at least 24 reckonable contributions over the period from the beginning of the 1953 contribution year or from the 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 a total of 60 reckonable contributions in the relevant period, which in his case is from 5 January 1953 to 5 April 1985. This is equal to a yearly average of only one and is not sufficient to qualify for a retirement pension under the Social Welfare Acts. Neither will he qualify for an old age contributory pension at age 66. A yearly average of at least 20 reckonable contributions is required for this latter pension.
Where a person was also employed in another EC country his insurance in that country may be combined with his Irish record to enable him to qualify for a pro rata pension, calculated on the basis of the number of his Irish contributions in proportion to the combined total in the relevant period. The person concerned was employed in Great Britain and details of his British insurance record are awaited from the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. His entitlement to a pro rata pension will be determined when those details are received.
115.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan has been discriminated against in the matter of the allocation of a non-contributory old age pension.
The person concerned was awarded an old age pension at the weekly rate of £18 from 6 December 1985. This is the rate to which she is entitled having regard to the assessment of her means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding.
In 1976 her husband was awarded an old age pension at the maximum rate when he transferred the holding to their son. Since the death of his son, however, he is in beneficial occupation of the holding and he, too, is only entitled to a pension of £18 a week. Appeals against rates of pension in payment to the couple have been referred to an appeals officer and the pensioners will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
116.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan has been refused unemployment benefit.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must be available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 6 November 1985 and, on the basis of the information available, her claim was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that she was not available for and genuinely seeking work.
She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 15 April 1986. The appeals officer, however, also disallowed her appeal. She continues to sign the unemployed register and her claim will again be reviewed to ascertain whether she satisfies the statutory conditions from 16 April 1986, that is the day after the appeals officer's decision.
117.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an unemployment benefit appeal from a person (details supplied) in County Laois has been refused in view of the fact that she submitted evidence of her attempts to secure employment; and if she will now have her application reconsidered with a view to approval.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for and genuinely seeking employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 3 February 1986 but her claim was disallowed by a deciding officer who was of the opinion that, she was not available for and genuinely seeking work.
She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing on 22 April 1986 at which she was given an opportunity of presenting her case, but the appeals officer disallowed her appeal. She was notified of the decision. She continued to sign the unemployed register and further inquiries are now being made to establish if she satisfies the required conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit from 23 April 1986, that is the day following the appeals officer's decision. When these inquiries are completed her entitlement to unemployment benefit from 23 April 1986 will be determined.
118.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the conditions that a claimant must have not less than 26 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment and at least 26 contributions paid or credited in the contribution year governing the claim.
When the person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 24 March 1986, he supplied an incorrect Revenue and Social Insurance (RSI) number and consequently, it was not possible to ascertain whether he satisfied the relevant contribution conditions for the receipt of unemployment benefit. The RSI number furnished was that of his wife.
He has been requested to furnish his correct RSI number so that his contribution record can be checked. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will then be determined. In the meantime, if his means are insufficient to meet his needs, it is open to him to apply to the health board for supplementary welfare allowance.
119.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 5 May 1986 and her claim was allowed at the weekly rate of £34.70, being the appropriate maximum rate applicable to a married woman. This was increased to £39.50 weekly from 15 May 1986 in line with the increase in rates payable to married woman under the equal treatment provisions made operative by the Social Welfare Act 1986.
The person concerned is a postal applicant and an order paying arrears of benefit due to her will be issued this week for encashment at her local post office. Inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are being made regarding her earnings in the 1984-85 income tax year to ascertain if she is entitled to pay related benefit in addition to flat rate benefit. Pay-related benefit is normally not payable for the first three weeks of a claim.
120.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance payments will be increased for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford further to the recent appeal; and, if so, when and at what rate.
Following a reinvestigation of the means of the person concerned in connection with his unemployment assistance claim he continued to be assessed with means of £7.45 weekly derived from the benefit of board and lodgings in his parent's home. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £24.30 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £31.75, less means of £7.45.
If the person concerned is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him, it is open to him to appeal and have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained from his local office.