asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be given an oral hearing regarding his disability benefit.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
69.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 25 November 1985 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 6 January 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.
70.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will return an old age pension book to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Following a reinvestigation of the old age pension entitlements of the person concerned it was decided by a deciding officer on 19 May 1986, that he is entitled to an old age pension at the maximum weekly rate of £66.10 which includes £22.10 in respect of an adult dependant from 28 February 1986.
The appropriate pension book payable from 30 May 1986 issued on 19 June 1986, and a payable order covering arrears of pension due for the period 28 February 1986, to 29 May 1986, issued on 27 June 1986.
71.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will expedite restoration of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Following the disallowance of an earlier claim by the person concerned on the grounds that his means, derived from profit from his holding, exceeded the statutory limit he made a further claim for unemployment assistance in October 1985. His papers were referred to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation of means.
This investigation, which proved to be protracted, has now been completed and arrangements are being made to submit his case to a deciding officer for assessment of means at the earliest possible opportunity. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the means assessment.
72.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not in receipt of 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 person must satisfy certain conditions including an assessment of means.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 27 January 1986 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of means. His investigation was recently completed and the person concerned was assessed with means of £22.15 weekly, derived from the value of capital. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance of £10.60 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £32.75 less means of £22.15.
All arrears of unemployment assistance due on his claim from 27 January 1986 will be paid to him this week and further weekly payments of £10.60 will continue to be made as they become due.
73.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the outcome of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in respect of her claim for disability benefit.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 12 February 1986 when payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed the decision to disallow benefit and was examined by a different medical referee on 8 May 1986 who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
Her appeal was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer decided that she was incapable of work within the meaning of the Social Welfare Acts during the period from 13 February 1986 to 6 June 1986 (the date of the latest medical certificate before him at the time) and is entitled to be paid disability benefit in respect of that period. All arrears of benefit payable were issued to her on 1 July 1986.
74.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will restore the maximum amount of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim for 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.
75.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for the delay in the scope section in having her contribution record reviewed.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must have at least 26 contributions at a class which provides cover against unemployment, paid or credited, in the governing contribution year.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit on her claim from 21 February 1985 is governed by her contribution record during the contribution period 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984. According to the Department's records she had a combined total of only 25 paid and credited contributions at a class which provides cover against unemployment during that period. She did have further contributions paid on her behalf during the relevant contribution period in respect of part-time employment but these were not at a class which provides cover against unemployment.
The matter was referred to scope section to determine whether a contribution class which provides cover against unemployment should have been applicable to her part-time employment.
The papers were referred to a social welfare officer and the delay which occurred in the case was as a result of the extensive inquiries that had to be made by him in view of the fact that the employer concerned had ceased trading. However, the inquiries have now been completed and the case has been referred to scope section for a decision at the earliest possible opportunity. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit from 21 February 1985 will be determined in the light of the decision by scope section. The person concerned continues to sign the unemployed register for credited contribution purposes.
76.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will return a single women's allowance book to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Following a review of the claim for single women's allowance of the person concerned her weekly means assessment, derived from profit from land and the value of capital, was increased from £16.81 to £18.58. Accordingly, the allowance payable to her from 19 June 1986 was reduced by £2 a week to £19.65.
The allowance order book payable from 19 June 1986 was sent to her local post office on 18 June 1986 and she was notified in writing that the book could be collected there.
77.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will expedite an appeal for increased unemployment assistance on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Following investigation of his unemployment assistance claim in October 1984, the means of the person concerned were assessed at £22.60 weekly, derived from profit from his holding, the value of capital and from a pension which he is receiving. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £54.35 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £76.95 less means of £22.60.
He recently applied for a review of his case and his papers were referred to the social welfare officer for reinvestigation of means. These inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and his case will then be submitted to a deciding officer for reassessment of means at the earliest opportunity.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the reassessment of means.
78.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange for an invalidity pension, which has been awarded to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 to issue this week as the person concerned is in very poor financial circumstances.
The person concerned has been awarded an invalidity pension from 3 October 1985. A pension book payable from 24 July 1986 will be issued to the designated post office of payment. Arrears in respect of the period from 3 October 1985 to 23 July 1986 less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period will be paid by payable order.
A pension book cannot be issued from an earlier date in view of the general renewal of existing invalidity pensions which is at present underway.