asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will restore disability benefit without delay to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who has been disqualified from benefit because he could not attend for a hearing and who has submitted evidence that the doctor advised him not to attend due to his medical condition.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
109.
The person concerned failed to attend for examination by a medical referee of the Department on 13 October 1986 and as a result, payment of disability benefit was disallowed for the statutory period of nine weeks.
The claimant's explanation has not been accepted as showing good cause for his non-attendance for examination. Arrangements are now being made to have him examined by a medical referee at the earliest possible date and his claim to benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report.
110.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the letter dated 30 October 1986 sent to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12, setting out his social welfare entitlements under the EC directive for equal treatment for men and women is correct; and if so, if she will make a statement on the matter.
The invalidity pension in payment to the person concerned included an increase of £30.60 in respect of his wife as an adult dependant up to 19 November 1986. His wife is receiving disability benefit at the rate of £41.10 on her own record.
Up to now a married man claiming a social welfare payment automatically got extra benefit for his wife but a married woman could only get the extra benefit for her husband in limited circumstances. Men and women will now have an equal right to claim benefit for a spouse who is a dependant. However, an increase in respect of a spouse will not be paid where the spouse is also in receipt of a social welfare pension, benefit or allowance in his or her own right.
Accordingly, the person concerned is no longer entitled to the increase in his pension in respect of his wife but he will receive a special payment of £10 a week for a maximum of 52 weeks from 20 November 1986 in consideration of the loss of the adult dependant increase. The rate of invalidity pension in payment to the person concerned from 20 November 1986 will therefore be £57.10, that is, £47.10 personal rate plus the £10 extra payment referred to above.
111.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will ensure that unemployment assistance continues to be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who was born on 15 January 1939 and who has tried to obtain a birth certificate at various places without success, and is being threatened that she will be refused unemployment assistance as and from 18 November 1986 if she does not produce a birth certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 3 October 1978 and is at present in receipt of £36.70 per week. This is the appropriate maximum rate payable in her case as a long term unemployed person.
According to the Department's records the date of birth supplied by her in connection with her claim has not been verified. She has, therefore, been asked on a number of occasions to produce a birth certificate but to date she has failed to do so. It is understood, however, that a neighbour is at present assisting her in obtaining a birth certificate. Payments of unemployment assistance will continue to be made as they become due.
112.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will restore in full, disability benefit, together with any amounts already deducted, to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who has been informed by her Department that he failed to attend for examintion on 10 October 1986 and on 28 October 1986 as the person concerned did not receive notice of such examination on either occasion, if she will now arrange for an examination date to be fixed and the person concerned to be notified by registered post; 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 10 October 1986 and on 28 October 1986 and as a result, payment of disability benefit was disallowed for the statutory period of nine weeks. The claimant stated that he had not received the notifications to attend the medical examination. The notifications were 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 submitted a final certificate stating that he was fit to resume work on 10 November 1986.