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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Jun 1986

Vol. 368 No. 1

Written Answers. - Eligibility for Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

126.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether her views on the practice in some health board areas whereby, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, when a person in receipt of a disability allowance applies for a rent allowance, the disability component over and above the basic rate of supplementary welfare allowance is deducted from the rent allowance he will be allocated.

128.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is aware that health boards, in deciding a rent allowance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, automatically reduce the amount of that rent allowance by the amount of income that person is receiving over the basic rate of supplementary welfare allowance; and her views on this practice.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 128 together.

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme provides weekly payments to persons whose means are not sufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. In addition to basic weekly payments the scheme provides by way of additions to the basic SWA payment for assistance in meeting additional needs which may not be met by the basic payment. In the case of rent, assistance can be provided towards rent payments in excess of £1.50 a week, the amount of the assistance in any particular case being a matter for the health board to determine, having regard to the circumstances.

Where a person is receiving a weekly payment other than basic suplementary welfare allowance, assistance towards rent payments can also be given. The amount of assistance in such cases is determined by the health board to be appropriate to meet the person's needs.

It has been the practice to calculate the amount of assistance towards rent in all cases in such a way as to ensure that the person should have, after payment of rent, a net weekly income not less than the basic level of supplementary welfare allowance less £1.50. This practice is considered to be a reasonable one. However, the whole area of rent supplementation and other aspects of the operation of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme are under review and the matter raised in the question is being examined in that context.

127.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is receiving a rent allowance from the Southern Health Board of only £4 when his rent is £10 when, under the provisions of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, he is entitled to claim a rent allowance of £8.50.

The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance of £32.75 a week. It is understood from the Southern Health Board that he is receiving an allowance of £5 weekly in respect of his rent. Having regard to the fact that the person's weekly payment of £10 includes heating and light as well as rent, the board considers that the allowance being paid is appropriate in respect of the rent element.

129.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a decision has yet been made on the unemployment assistance claim of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny which was lodged in her Department several months ago.

Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £19.20 weekly, derived from income from self-employment. He appealed against the means assessment and on 14 April 1986 an appeals officer also assessed him with means of £19.20 weekly.

He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £80.85 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £100.05 less means of £19.20. If the person concerned is of the opinion 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 from his local office.

130.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will reinvestigate the unemployment assistance claim of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny where an appeal has been lodged against the decision of her Department to refuse to grant such assistance.

Following investigation, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from income from self-employment and also from the benefit from his wife's earnings, exceeded the statutory limit.

He recently appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to submit his case to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest possible opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.

131.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was not paid disability benefit for the week commencing 20 May 1986.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 31 December 1985. Payment at the weekly rate of £39.50, the maximum rate appropriate to a single man, has been issued to 19 May 1986, the date of the latest medical certificate received.

He was also paid pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £7.84 from 21 January 1986, ninteenth day of incapacity. All benefit payable in respect of his claim has been issued to him.

He has been requested to forward medical evidence if he was ill and incapable of work, after 19 May 1986. Any arrears due will be issued on receipt of such evidence.

132.

Mr. Cowen

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an application for smallholder's dole will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and when a decision will be made.

Following an investigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed at £25.45 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 £6.30, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £31.75 less means of £25.45. Arrears of unemployment assistance due to him were paid at the end of April 1986.

He recently appealed against the means assessment and his case was referred to an appeals, officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity. The unemployment assistance entitlement of the person concerned will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal. In the meantime weekly payments of £6.30 will continue as they become due.

133.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is satisfied with the facilities that are available in the social welfare office in Killarney, County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

The Departments employment office in Killarney is run by a branch manager who is obliged by the terms of the contract of her employment to provide suitable office accommodation. The accommodation provided for the public at the office is considered to be generally adequate having regard to the number of persons who attend there. I am satisfied that the service being provided there is satisfactory.

134.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17 in receipt of social welfare assistance is entitled to any arrears arising out of a recent increase in the rate of payment of disabiliity benefit of £4.70 recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 8 April 1980. She was paid at the appropriate married woman's rate to 18 May 1986.

From 19 May 1986 the personal rate of disability benefit payable to married women was increased in accordance with the provisions of the Social Welfare Act 1986, from £34.70 to £39.50 a week thus bringing them into line with the rate payable to married men and single men and women. The person concerned has been in receipt of this higher rate since 19 May 1986 and therefore is not entitled to any arrears.

135.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17 in receipt of unemployment assistance was recently assessed with means of £55.90 per week from 22 January 1986; if she will give a breakdown of the manner in which such a high level of means was calculated; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £55.90 weekly with effect from 22 January 1986. His means are derived from benefit from his wife's earnings. The means were calculated by taking the net weekly earnings of the wife of £115.50 and deducting from it the standard allowance of £45 and rent payable of £14.60. The balance of £55.90 was assessed against the claimant as means.

He appealed against the means assessment and on 9 April 1986 an appeals officer also assessed him with means of £55.90. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £30.55 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £86.45 less means of £55.90. If the person concerned is of the opinion 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 can be obtained at his local office. In the meantime weekly payments of £30.55 will continue to be made as they become due.

136.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason social welfare payments have been withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22.

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 from 14 February 1986 and her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 17 April 1986. The appeals officer also decided that she was not available for work and she was notified accordingly. The person concerned ceased to sign the unemployed register after 22 April 1986.

137.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will reinvestigate the unemployment assistance claim of a person (details supplied) in County Laois.

Following a review of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned in February 1986, he was assessed with means of £31.20 weekly, derived from profit from his holding. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £0.55, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £31.75, less means of £31.20. The person concerned did not appeal against the means assessment but it is open to him to do so. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.

138.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will expedite an early decision on the unemployment assistance claim of a person (details supplied) in County Laois.

Entitlement to unemployment assistance is dependent on the claimant being the holder of a qualification certificate and in order to obtain a qualification certificate a person must satisfy certain conditions including an assessment of means.

The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was referred to the social welfare officer for investigation of means. His investigation will be completed as soon as possible and his case will then be submitted to a deciding officer for assessment of means. The unemployment assistance entitlement of the person concerned will be determined in the light of the means assessment.

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