asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) is only in receipt of a total of £39.40 for herself and a dependent child, a combination of unemployment benefit of £25 and social assistance allowance of £14.40.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
61.
The person concerned has been in receipt of social assistance allowance since November 1983. Her current weekly allowance is £14.40 being the appropriate maximum rate of £54.40 payable to a claimant with one child dependant, less means of £40 derived from earnings from employment.
The person concerned worked intermittently since July 1984 on a systematic short time basis and also on a week on-week off basis up to February 1986 when she became wholly unemployed. She was paid unemployment benefit during periods of unemployment since July 1984 at half the personal rate which is the appropriate rate payable to a claimant who is in receipt of the maximum rate of social assistance allowance. As she was not however in receipt of the maximum rate of social assistance allowance she was being paid benefit at a somewhat lower rate than she was properly entitled to.
Following a review, her unemployment benefit claim has been rerated at the current weekly rate of £41.30 which is the appropriate rate payable in her case. She is also in receipt of £9.11 weekly pay-related benefit. Arrears of unemployment benefit due to her from July 1984 will be paid to her this week. Further combined payments of unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit of £50.41 will continue to be made to her as they become due.
In the meantime, she will also continue to receive payment of social assistance allowance at the weekly rate of £14.40. However, as the person concerned is now wholly unemployed her financial circumstances have changed and, therefore, her case is being referred to a social welfare officer for a reinvestigation of her means. The inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and her entitlement to social assistance allowance will be reviewed in the light of the reassessment of means.
62.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to have an oral hearing for 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 expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance of benefit and was examined by a different medical referee on 25 April 1986 who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
His appeal has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of his claim as soon as possible. It is not yet possible to give a specific date for the hearing due to the volume of appeals on hand. However, the person concerned will be notified as soon as the final arrangements have been completed.