asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appropriate refund of health contributions will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath, as he is a medical card holder.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
122.
It has been established that the person concerned is not the holder of a current medical card. He does not therefore qualify either for the reduced rate of PRSI applicable to the holder of a medical card or for any refund of health contributions. PRSI contributions are being deducted at Class H1, which is the correct rate in this case. His wife holds a medical card in her own name, but that does not affect the rate of PRSI contributions payable by her husband.
123.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan was refused small farmer's unemployment assistance; and when a decision will be made on his appeal.
In order to qualify for unemployment benefit a claimant engaged in a subsidiary employment must satisfy a special condition which requires him to have at least 78 paid contributions in a three year period before the date of claim or, alternatively, the remuneration or profit from the subsidiary employment must not exceed £2 a day. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 7 January 1986 and his claim was disallowed on the grounds that he was a landholder who did not satisfy this special condition.
He appealed against the disallowance on 15 April 1986 and arrangements have been made to have his case determined by an appeals officer at the earliest available opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
In the meantime he is in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £56.85 being the appropriate maximum weekly rate payable in his case of £72.25 less means of £15.40.
124.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive disability benefit for the past six weeks.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 8 February 1983 and she is currently paid to 24 May 1986. There was a delay because of an administrative error in issuing payment after 9 April 1986, however this has since been rectified and arrangements have now been made for payments to be issued to her weekly, on receipt of monthly certificates in the Department.
125.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason payment of pay-related benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick has ceased; the rate of disability benefit which he now will be entitled to; and the length of time for which he will be entitled to it.
Pay-related benefit is payable for a period of sixty two and a half weeks only, and the person concerned exhausted his entitlement to this benefit on 10 May 1986. He is currently entitled to disability benefit at the weekly rate of £65.10 the maximum rate appropriate to a married man. However, he incurred an overpayment of £183.15 on a previous claim and this amount is being recovered by weekly deductions of £4 from his current entitlement. A balance of £6.50 is still outstanding.
Payment of disability benefit will continue to be issued to the person concerned while he remains medically incapable of work and all benefit payable in respect of his claim has been issued to date.
126.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in regard to a claim for unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
It has not been possible to trace a claim to 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.
127.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance up to 24 December 1985. It came to light at that time that he was involved in fishing and payment was suspended pending the outcome of investigations. The inquiries regarding his fishing activities and the sale of a house are not yet completed. However, the social welfare officer involved in the investigations expects to complete his inquiries shortly.
The means of the person concerned will then be assessed by a deciding officer and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of that assessment. The delay in concluding the investigations is regretted.
Question No. 128 taken with No. 13.
129.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an invalidity pension has not yet been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary as he has been on disability benefit for some time; and when this will be granted.
Invalidity pension has been awarded from 27 February 1986. A pension book payable from 5 June 1986 will be issued to the designated post office of payment. Arrears in respect of the period from 27 February 1986 to 4 June 1986, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by payable order.
130.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free telephone rental allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Louth who made application in February 1986.
An application for a free telephone rental allowance from the person concerned has been approved with effect from 13 February 1986, and she has been notified accordingly. Telecom Éireann are aware of the decision and will arrange to apply the allowance to her telephone account.
131.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive unemployment benefit, as he has been unemployed for seven weeks.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must have at least 26 contributions, paid or credited, in the governing contribution year.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 14 April 1986. Inquiries had to be made to establish if he had sufficient contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year 6 April 1984 to 5 April 1985. These inquiries were recently completed and his claim to unemployment benefit has been allowed at the maximum rate appropriate in his case of £39.50 weekly flat rate unemployment benefit.
He is a postal claimant and a payable order for encashment at his local post office issued to him last week paying all arrears of unemployment benefit due. Weekly payments of £39.50 will continue to be made as they become due. His entitlement to pay-related benefit, which is normally payable on a claim after three weeks, is being examined at present.
132.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an unemployment assistance appeal will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that, by failing to furnish full particulars of his home circumstances, he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. These particulars are necessary in order to determine the value of the benefit of board and lodgings accruing to him.
He appealed against the disallowance and his case has been returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries as he indicated in his appeal a willingness to disclose the necessary information. When the inquiries are completed, his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination. The person concerned will be informed of the outcome of the appeal and of the decision on his entitlement to unemployment assistance as quickly as possible.
133.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will begin to receive unemployment assistance.
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. If he now wishes to co-operate in the disclosure of his means it is open to him to inform his local office. His case will then be returned to the social welfare officer for reinvestigation and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of those inquiries.
134.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be paid disability benefit.
The person concerned is not qualified for disability benefit as regulations provide that where a claimant has no contributions paid or credited for any two consecutive contribution years preceding his claim, he cannot qualify for payment of disability benefit, or the award of credited contributions in respect of periods of incapacity for work, until he has a further 26 weeks of insurable employment for which the appropriate contributions have been paid.
According to the records of the Department, the person concerned had no contributions paid or credited in the years 1959 to 1962 and has not had 26 weeks of insurable employment since that time.
If his means are insufficient to meet his needs he may be entitled to supplementary welfare allowance and in this regard he should contact his local community welfare officer.
135.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she would ensure that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 is restored to the maximum rate of unemployment assistance in view of the fact that he is single, lives alone and has very high outgoings.
Following reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim in December 1985, the means assessment of the person concerned were reduced from £10.50 to £7.75 weekly. His means are derived from the value of capital. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £27.20 being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £34.95 less means of £7.75.
If the person concerned considers that his means have changed since the last investigation, it is open to him to apply for a review of his means. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local employment office. In the meantime, further weekly payments of £27.20 will continue to be made as they become due.
136.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is being paid the correct rate of disability benefit; and if all payments due to date have been made.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 4 July 1985. Payment was authorised from 8 July 1985, fourth day of incapacity, at the weekly rate of £39.50, the maximum rate appropriate to a single person. Payment has been issued to 8 May 1986 the date of the latest medical certificate received.
She has also been paid pay-related benefit from 25 July 1985, 19th day of incapacity. She is currently being paid £10.59 pay-related benefit, the appropriate phase 3 rate. All benefit payable in respect of her claim has been issued to her.
137.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose doctor certified him unfit for work from October 1985 to May 1986; if she can reconsider the opinion of the medical referee and that of the family doctor; and if she will now make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 1 March 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 the disallowance of benefit and was examined by a different medical referee on 1 May 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.
138.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who was off work due to illness, receives disability benefit and that same is paid for the entire period.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 March 1986 to 19 March 1986 and was paid at the weekly rate of £39.50, the maximum rate appropriate to a single man. Due to an administrative error, which is regretted, the two cheques which issued to the person concerned were issued to an incorrect address. Replacement cheques have been issued to the correct address and all benefit payable to the person concerned has now been issued.