asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a reduced rate of unemployment assistance is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
121.
Mr. Cowen
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £9.85 weekly, derived from the benefit of board and lodging in his parents' home. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £21.90 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £31.75 less means of £9.85.
He appealed against the means assessment and an appeals officer also assessed his means at £9.85 weekly. He has been notified accordingly. Further weekly payments of £21.90 will continue to be made as they become due.
122.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
Arrears of invalidity pension were paid by payable order on 30 May 1986.
123.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the profit from his holding, exceeded the statutory limit. He was notified accordingly. If the person concerned is not satisfied 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.
124.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will make arrangements to pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must have at least 26 contributions paid or credited in the contribution year which governs the claim at a class which provides cover against unemployment.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit as a systematic short time worker from 25 November 1985. According to the Department's records he had 25 paid contributions and three credited contributions during the relevant contribution period 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984. However, inquiries had to be made to ascertain if his employment in that period was insurable at a contribution class which provided cover against unemployment.
These inquiries have now been completed and his claim has been allowed at the appropriate rate in his case of £35.35 weekly. He is a postal claimant and arrangements have been made to issue a payable order for encashment at his local post office this week in respect of arrears due. As the person concerned was employed on a systematic short time basis during the period of the claim he is not, therefore, entitled to pay-related benefit. He ceased to sign the unemployed register from 4 March 1986.
The person concerned made an application for unemployment assistance from 25 November 1985 pending the outcome of inquiries regarding his unemployment benefit claim but he subsequently requested that this claim be withdrawn.
125.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to pay an invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Invalidity pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incable of work. It has not been possible from the information supplied to trace the RSI number or insurance number of the claimant. If an RSI number or insurance number can be quoted, this will enable the claim to be identified and the information sought by the Deputy to be supplied.
126.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will expedite an early decision on the repeat claim for unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 30 November 1985 after he had drawn his maximum entitlement of 390 days unemployment benefit. Following investigation his unemployment assistance claim was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the value of board and lodging on his parents' holding, exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case.
The person concerned made a further claim from 26 May 1986 and his case has been referred to the social welfare officer for reinvestigation of his means. The investigation will be completed as soon as possible and his case will then be submitted to a deciding officer for determination of means. The person concerned will then be informed of his unemployment assistance entitlement as quickly as possible.
127.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
When the person concerned had drawn the maximum unemployment benefit entitlement of 390 days on 16 April 1986 he claimed unemployment assistance. Entitlement to unemployment assistance is dependent on a claimant being the holder of a qualification certificate and to obtain a qualification certificate a claimant must satisfy certain conditions including a means test.
The person concerned applied for a qualification certificate in December 1985 but the Social Welfare officer's report on the investigation of means in the case was lost in the post in transit to the local office. A duplicate application was completed in April 1986 and the social welfare officer completed his report recently.
The person concerned was assessed with nil means with effect from 17 April 1986. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the appropriate weekly rate payable in his case of £100.05 and payment at this rate commenced last week.
As the person concerned was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance, pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance claim, inquiries are being made to establish the amount advanced to him by the health board. When the relevant details are obtained a refund will be made to the health board out of arrears of unemployment assistance held and any balance will be paid to the person concerned.
Further weekly payments of £100.05 will continue to be made as they become due. The delay in this case is regretted.
128.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 5 February 1985, and has submitted medical certificates to 17 February 1986.
He is not entitled to benefit as according to the records of the Department he has less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment. He has 20 contributions paid.
He is currently in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance from the Mid-Western Health Board.
129.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following a reinvestigation of his means the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the profit from his holding, exceeded the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance and his case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. An oral hearing of his appeal is being arranged and the person concerned will be informed of the arrangements as soon as possible. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.
130.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is dependent on the claimant being the holder of a qualification certificate and to obtain a qualification certificate a person must satisfy certain conditions including a means test. A claimant who is in receipt of unemployment benefit is advised three months before he will have drawn the maximum entitlement to apply for a qualification certificate so that continuity of payment on transfer from unemployment benefit to unemployment assistance can be maintained.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit up to 5 March 1986 when he had drawn his maximum entitlement of 390 days. Although he had been advised to apply for a qualification certificate, he failed to do so until 14 March 1986.
Following an investigation of his case, he was assessed with nil means with effect from 14 March 1986. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the appropriate maximum weekly rate payable in his case of £84.65. Weekly payments will commence this week.
The person concerned was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance claim and inquiries are being made to find out the amount advanced by the health board. When the relevant details are obtained a refund will be made to the health board out of arrears of unemployment assistance held and any balance will be paid to the person concerned. Further payments of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £84.65 will continue to be made as they become due.
131.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the outcome of an appeal made by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny whose unemployment assistance was reduced by £10 per week.
Following investigation the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that, by failing to furnish details of her means, she failed to show that her means did not exceed the statutory limit. She appealed against the disallowance and the appeals officer assessed her with means of £10.50 weekly. She is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £21.70 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in her case of £31.75, less means of £10.05.
The person concerned asked for a review of her case on 7 April 1986 and her papers have been referred to the social welfare officer for reinvestigation of means. When these inquiries are completed her case will be submitted to a deciding officer for reassessment of means and her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of that assessment.
132.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the long delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 6 March 1985 and following an investigation of means by a social welfare officer his claim was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from profit from his holding, exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance of his claim and following an oral hearing of the case on 22 November 1985 an appeals officer also decided that his means exceeded the statutory limit.
The person concerned requested a review of his case on 20 January 1986 and he was again interviewed by the social welfare officer on 13 February 1986. Certain information required by the social welfare officer in order to complete his report was only recently supplied. The papers were then submitted to a deciding officer for determination of means. However, the deciding officer required further information before making a decision in the case. The inquiries will be completed by a social welfare officer at the earliest possible date and the entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will then be determined as soon as possible.
133.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a decision has yet been made on the appeal made by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny regarding a reduction in his unemployment assistance.
The person concerned last signed as unemployed on 7 January 1986. At that time he was in receipt of unemployment assistance at £13.40 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case of £31.75 less means of £18.35, derived from the value of board and lodgings in his parents' home.
He had earlier appealed against the means assessment, and the case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. At the request of the appeals officer a letter was issued to him regarding how his means were assessed and he was advised that he was being afforded a further opportunity of submitting a written statement of the facts and contentions on which he relied in support of his appeal.
When the relevant statement was submitted his case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were completed recently and his case has been resubmitted to the appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity.
The entitlement of the person concerned to a higher payment of unemployment assistance during the periods for which he proved unemployment from 23 October 1985 to 7 January 1986 will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.
134.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the result of an appeal made by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny whose unemployment assistance was reduced from £30 to £15 per week.
Following a review of her unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed at £18.35 weekly, derived from the value of board and lodgings in her parents' home. She is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £15.45 weekly being the maximum appropriate rate payable in her case of £33.80 less means of £18.35. She appealed against the means assessment and her case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. However, the appeals officer required further information before making a decision in the case and the papers were returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries.
These inquiries were recently completed and the case has been resubmitted to the appeals officer for determination of means at the earliest possible date. The unemployment assistance entitlement of the person concerned will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.
135.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Disability benefit was paid to the person concerned from 30 May 1983 to 21 May 1986. Invalidity pension was awarded from 6 March 1986 and put into payment from 22 May 1986. Arrears of invalidity pension in respect of the period from 6 March 1986 to 21 May 1986, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, were paid by payable order on 30 May 1986. There are no arrears of disability benefit due.
136.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who has had his unemployment assistance revoked since 21 May 1986; the reason this has happened; and if she will make a statement on the matter in view of the fact that this person now has no income.
The person concerned was paid unemployment assistance up to 20 May 1986 on the basis of a qualification certificate showing weekly means of £19.65 derived from the benefit of board and lodgings in his parents' home. Following a review his claim was disallowed from 21 May 1986 on the grounds that, by failing to furnish full particulars of his means, he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.
He recently appealed against the disallowance of his claim and his papers have been referred to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest possible date. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.
137.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will give details of the assessment of means against a person (details supplied) in County Kerry by the deciding officer and the appeals officer on his application for unemployment assistance.
The means of the person concerned were assessed with effect from 11 March 1985 at £38.20 weekly derived from the profit from his holding and from the value of capital. In calculating the means, the deciding officer took into consideration the gross income of the farm at £5,345 per annum less expenses amounting to £3,560 per annum incurred in earning that income. The net income from the farm was calculated, therefore, at £1,785 per annum and in addition the value of his capital calculated in accordance with the statutory provisions amounted to £203.74. The means of the person concerned were accordingly assessed at £1,988.74 per annum, or £38.20 per week.
The means of the person concerned exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case and, accordingly, his claim was disallowed. If he considers that his circumstances have changed since the last investigation of 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 office.
138.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position regarding the application of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for unemployment assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
When the person concerned had drawn his maximum unemployment benefit entitlement of 390 days on 13 February 1986 he applied for unemployment assistance. His means for unemployment assistance purpose were assessed at £14.40 weekly, derived from the value of board and lodgings on his parents' holding. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £19.40 being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £33.80, less means of £14.40.
He appealed against the means assessment and an appeals officer also assessed his means at £14.40 weekly. He was notified accordingly. Further weekly payments of £19.40 will continue to be made as they become due.
139.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive unemployment assistance.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned in June 1985 was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the value of board and lodgings on his parents' holding, exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case. He appealed against the disallowance and the appeals officer also decided that his means exceeded the rate of unemployment assistance payable.
He applied for a review of his claim in February 1986 and following a reinvestigation of his means his claim was again disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the value of board and lodgings on his parents' holding, exceeded the maximum rate payable in his case. He has not to date appealed against the disallowance although it is open to him to do so. A form for this purpose may be obtained from his local office. The person concerned ceased to sign the unemployed register with effect from 14 May 1986.
140.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payment of unemployment benefit will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 21 March 1986 and his claim was allowed at the appropriate weekly rate payable in his case of £83.55.
Following a review of his case his claim was disallowed from 7 May 1986 on the grounds that he was not considered to be available for and genuinely seeking employment.
He appealed against the disallowance and his case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.