asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appeals officer will call to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
173.
The person concerned was assessed with weekly means of £59.25, derived from profit from his holding, in July 1984. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance at £7.80 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £67.05 less means of £59.25. He appealed against the means assessment and an appeals officer, on 14 January 1985, also assessed his means at £59.25 weekly. He was informed of this decision.
If the person concerned is now of the opinion that his circumstances have changed in that he is incurring additional expenses in operating his farm, it is open to him to request a review of his means. A form for this purpose may be obtained from his local office.
174.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to pay arrears of disability benefit and a transfer to invalidity benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 6 June 1984 to date. He was paid from 6 June 1984 to 8 June 1985, after which date his entitlement to benefit was exhausted as he had under 156 contributions paid on his behalf, since entry into insurable employment. However, it has now been established that he has in fact 156 contributions recorded on his behalf, and is therefore entitled to continuous payment of benefit.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of disabled persons maintenance allowance, which will cease with effect from 17 July 1986. Disability benefit will be issued from that date at the maximum rate payable to a single man. Arrears of benefit are being withheld pending receipt of details of supplementary welfare allowance paid by the Southern Health Board. An application form for invalidity pension has been issued on 30 June 1986, to the person concerned.
175.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an appeal made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway regarding unemployment assistance.
Following a review of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £102.50 weekly, derived from the profit from his holding and from the value of capital. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £3.75 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £106.25 less means of £102.50.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case was submitted to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer has decided to grant the person concerned an oral hearing of his case and this was arranged to take place in the employment exchange, Galway, on 1 July 1986 at 11 o'clock. The person concerned has been notified accordingly.
His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal hearing.
176.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the amount of disability benefit being received by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick is the correct amount.
The person concerned is in receipt of disability benefit at the weekly rate of £59.40, the maximum rate appropriate to a single man with two dependent children.
He is not entitled to pay-related benefit as the amount of disability benefit payable in his case exceeds 75 per cent of his average reckonable weekly earnings in the 1984-85 tax year which governs his claim.
177.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an extension of unemployment benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned is a married woman and she was in receipt of unemployment benefit up to 26 December 1984 when she had drawn her maximum entitlement of 312 days benefit. In order to requalify for unemployment benefit she requires at least a further 13 weeks contributions paid at the appropriate class providing cover against unemployment. Weeks of employment since the date on which she received 156 days of unemployment benefit may count for this purpose. However, as she had no insurable employment after 156 days of her benefit claim she does not requalify for payment of benefit.
In accordance with the equality provisions implemented under the Social Welfare Act, 1986, the maximum duration of unemployment benefit payable to married women was increased from 312 to 390 days with effect from 15 May 1986. This applied to both new claims from 15 May 1986 and also to claims on which the previous maximum of 312 days had not been drawn by that date. Also under transitional arrangements a claimant, who had drawn 312 days benefit in the three-month period from 14 February 1986 to 14 May 1986 and continued to prove unemployment, was entitled to payment of benefit from 15 May 1986 to the date on which she would normally have completed 390 days on her claim. However, as the person concerned had drawn her 312 days entitlement on 26 December 1984 she is not entitled to additional payment from 15 May 1986. She has continued to sign the unemployed register since 27 December 1984 for credited contribution purposes.