asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card was withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; the amount by which her income is alleged to have exceeded the guidelines for receipt of a medical card; the reason a special concession could not be made to this applicant with regard to the availability of special medication and appliances for those who have had similar surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
46.
The question of eligibility for a medical card in individual cases is determined solely by the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board. Accordingly in this instance, the Deputy's question has been referred to the chief executive officer, North-Western Health Board, with a request that he examine the matter and reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
47.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the unemployment assistance received by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 was reduced recently from £71 to £39; and if it is intended to reduce it further from 17 November in line with regulations on social welfare equality.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, he was assessed with means of £32.35 weekly, effective from 22 October 1986, derived from benefit from his wife's earnings. He is, accordingly, currently in receipt of unemployment assistance of £39.50 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case, of £71.85 less means of £32.35.
The Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 1985, provides for equal treatment for men and women in matters of social welfare. It includes a revised definition of the term "adult dependant" and gives men and women an equal right to claim increases for child dependants. In accordance with regulations under the Act, a claimant's spouse who is in insurable employment and earning more than £50 weekly will not be admitted as a dependant of the claimant and the increase in respect of child dependants will be paid at half the appropriate rate. Where an adult dependant allowance is not payable, half of the joint means of the claimant and spouse will be assessed against the claimant.
The person concerned is a married man claiming increases of unemployment assistance in respect of an adult dependant and one child dependant. In a reply to a questionnaire issued by the Department to enable his entitlement under the new provisions to be determined from 19 November 1986, he has indicated that his wife is insurably employed and earning more than £50 weekly. Accordingly, from 19 November, he will not be entitled to an adult dependant allowance and he will be entitled to half the child dependant rate only. Half of their joint means will be assessed against him. His weekly rate of payment from 19 November will be £24.85, comprising his personal rate of £36.70 and a child dependant increase of £4.35, less half the joint means, £16.20.
49.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath who is signing at Mullingar employment exchange.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must have at least 26 contributions paid or credited at the appropriate rate in the contribution year which governs the claim. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 7 August 1986. His claim was disallowed on the grounds that he had insufficient contributions paid or credited during the contribution year 6 April 1984 to 5 April 1985 which governed his claim. According to the records of the Department he had 18 Class A contributions and three credited contributions, a total of 21, in that period.
He claimed unemployment assistance and his claim was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. Inquiries were recently completed and it has been established that he is entitled to unemployment assistance of £1.60 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £56.95, less means of £55.35. His means are derived from his wife's earnings and from the profit from his holding. All arrears of unemployment assistance due will be paid to him next week.
50.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when increased payments of unemployment assistance will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, he has been assessed with means of £33 weekly, derived from the value of board and lodgings on his father's holding for the period 6 June 1986 to 28 September 1986. On 29 September 1986, his father's holding was transferred to him and his claim has be disallowed from that date on the grounds that his means, derived from the profit from his holding, exceed the statutory limit.
The assessment entitles him to unemployment assistance from 6 June 1986 at £25.35 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable to a married person and his wife of £58.35 less means of £33. This rate was increased to £28.30 from 9 July 1986 in accordance with increases awarded in the 1986 budget. Arrears for the period 6 June 1986 to 28 September 1986 will be paid to him this week. He is not entitled to unemployment assistance from 29 September 1986. If the person concerned is dissatisfied 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 at his local office.
51.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork, has not had his pension book returned to him.
The person concerned was in receipt of an old age contributory pension which included an increase for an adult dependant in respect of his wife. A supplementary book containing orders payable at £5.55 per week was issued to him to cover the increase in the rate of adult dependant's allowance which is payable when the dependant reaches age 66.
His wife was awarded an old age contributory pension in her own right from 9 May 1986. He was asked to return his pension books for adjustment as his entitlement to an allowance for his wife ceased when she was awarded her own pension. He returned his increased rate pension book but did not return the supplementary book even when he was further requested to do so on 30 May 1986 and 10 June 1986. Instead he cashed the orders in this book together with his revised personal rate book. Since he is not entitled to any increase in pension in respect of his wife the supplementary book was not renewed when the general issue of new pension books took place at the end of September 1986. An Post has been asked to confirm the total number of orders at £5.55 which were cashed by him. He will be required to repay the amount involved.
52.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is aware of the acute distress caused to persons (details supplied) in County Limerick at the disclosure that their family means will be considerably reduced following the implementation of the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 1985, if she is aware that both parties suffer from acute medical illnesses; the proposals, if any, she has to remedy their situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Arising from the EC directive on equal treatment for men and women in social welfare matters, the conditions under which a person can be regarded as an adult dependant for social welfare purposes are being changed. Under the new arrangements an increase in pension in respect of an adult dependant will be payable to men and women on an equal basis. The spouse of a claimant will not be regarded as an adult dependant, however, if he or she is in receipt of an independent income of more than £50 per week or is in receipt of a social welfare benefit or assistance payment in his or her own right.
The spouse of the pensioner concerned is in receipt of disability benefit at £41.10 weekly in her own right and the increase in her husband's pension in respect of her will, therefore, cease with effect from 20 November 1986. The pensioner will, however, be allowed a special payment of £10 per week. This will continue to be paid to him for up to 52 weeks or until his spouse ceases to claim disability benefit, whichever is the earlier.
In any case where the withdrawal of the increase for an adult dependant would impose severe hardship because of, for example, high rent or mortgage payment, the person concerned may qualify for a supplementary welfare allowance. Any application for this allowance should be made to the local community welfare officer.