asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the unemployment benefit appeal, submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary months ago, has been resolved.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
142.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit up to 1 October 1985, when he had drawn his maximum entitlement of 390 days benefit. In order to qualify for continued payment of benefit beyond that date he would require at least a further 13 weeks contributions paid at the appropriate class providing cover against unemployment. Weeks of employment since the date on which he received 156 days of unemployment benefit may count for this purpose.
The person concerned has been working part time during the period of his claim. While Class A rate contributions had been paid in respect of the employment, following investigation a deciding officer, in view of the part time nature of the employment, decided that it should have been insured at Class J rate contributions. Class J contributions are not reckonable for unemployment benefit purposes. He appealed against the decision ruling his employment insurable for Class J rate contributions but his appeal did not reach Dublin and appears to have been mislaid in postal transit. This only came to light recently. He has now completed a duplicate appeal which is being submitted to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.
143.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be paid unemployment benefit, which is overdue.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person 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 6 January 1986 to 1 March 1986. Inquiries had to be made to establish if he had sufficient contributions, paid or credited during the contribution year 6 April 1984 to 5 April 1985, which governed his claim. These inquiries were only recently completed and his claim to unemployment benefit has been allowed at the appropriate weekly rate, in his case, of £36.55. In addition he qualifies for pay-related benefit from 27 January 1986, at £23.35 weekly.
All arrears due, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to him pending the outcome of his claim to benefit, are awaiting collection by him at the Nenagh office of the Department. A letter to this effect has been issued to him.
144.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the invalidity pension of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly has been discontinued; and if she will have this pension restored as soon as possible.
The person concerned was examined on 25 September 1986 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. Accordingly, a deciding officer decided that he was not entitled to invalidity pension from 6 November 1986.
He has appealed against the decision and arrangements are being made to have him examined by a different medical referee and the continued payment of his invalidity pension will be reconsidered on the receipt of the medical referee's report.
145.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is prepared to have a person (details supplied) transferred from disability benefit to invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Invalidity pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work.
Arrangements are being made to have the person concerned examined by a medical referee on 2 December 1986. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
146.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange for the payment of a disability benefit cheque for the week 16 to 23 October to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 11 September 1986. Benefit was authorised from 15 September 1986, fourth day of incapacity, at the weekly rate of £87.60, the maximum rate payable to a married man with two dependant children. Pay-related benefit was issued from 2 October 1986, nineteenth day of incapacity, at the weekly rate of £23.17.
A cheque which issued on 29 October 1986, paying him from 17 October 1986 to 23 October 1986 has been cashed. However it may be that the cheque in question was not received by the person concerned. Accordingly a form of idemnity in respect of that cheque has been issued to him. He should return this form to the Department as soon as possible. Consideration will then be given to the issuing of a replacement cheque. All benefit payable has been issued to 6 November 1986, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
147.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the date on which a person (details supplied) in County Galway first applied for unemployment assistance; and the reason no payment has been made as yet.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 13 February 1986 and following investigation his claim was disallowed in June 1986 on the grounds that, by failing to furnish details of his means, he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. Following the receipt of fresh evidence from him subsequently his papers were returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. Completion of these inquiries has been delayed pending receipt of a statement regarding his bank account. However, it is expected that the investigation will be concluded shortly and the case will then be submitted to a deciding officer for assessment of means. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of that assessment.
148.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the failure of her Department to pay two weeks disability benefit for the period 8 to 22 August 1986 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary despite five written requests to her Department, one by way of registered letter, none of which were acknowledged; if she will accept that the person did not receive a communication from her Department requesting that he attend a meeting with a medical referee and, therefore, should not be penalised in respect of the benefit claimed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned failed to attend for examination by a medical referee of the Department on 5 September 1986 and, as a result, payment of disability benefit was disallowed for the statutory period of nine weeks with effect from 9 September 1986. The person concerned has submitted a final medical certificate which certifies that he was fit to resume work on 22 September 1986. The claimant was informed of the decision to disallow benefit on 18 September 1986. Two letters were received from the claimant stating that he did not receive the notification to attend the medical examination. The notification was issued to the address to which his cheques were issued and his explanation has not been accepted as showing good cause for his non-attendance for examination. He was again informed of the decision on 29 September 1986.
149.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is aware of the delay in having an appeal against the disallowance of unemployment assistance heard for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Following investigation, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, made in February 1985, was disallowed on the grounds that, by failing to furnish details of his means, he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance and an appeals officer, on 25 February 1986, also disallowed his claim. He again claimed unemployment assistance from 8 August 1986 and his papers were referred to the social welfare officer for investigation of means.
The social welfare officer has been experiencing difficulties in investigating his means, but it is expected that he will be in a position to finalise his report shortly. The case will then be submitted to a deciding officer for assessment of means. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of that assessment.