asked the Minister for Social Welfare if arrangements can now be made urgently to pay children's benefit to a deserted husband (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
132.
The person concerned was receiving invalidity pension at an amount which included an increase for his wife and increases for three children. His entitlement was in the course of review under the equal treatment provision (which involved reducing the child allowances to half their normal rate) when he notified the Department that in fact his wife had left him. Consequently he is no longer entitled to an increase of pension for her but he is now entitled to the full child dependant increases for his children.
He was requested on 20 November 1986 to return the £15.75 child allowance book. When this book is received a replacement book at the full rate for three child dependants at £31.50 rate will be issued to the designated post office of payment.
133.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the refusal of free telephone rental allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
To qualify for a free telephone rental allowance a person must be in receipt of one of a number of specified social welfare type payments. The person concerned is in receipt of a United States social security pension, which is not a qualifying pension under this scheme. He is therefore not entitled to a free telephone rental allowance and his application was rejected. He was notified to this effect on 24 November 1986.
134.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payment of disability benefit will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 6 August 1985 and payment of benefit was issued to 1 November 1986. The claimant was in legal custody from 10 October 1986, however, and consequently he incurred an overpayment in respect of the period from 10 October 1986 to 1 November 1986. Payment was accordingly suspended from 3 November 1986 following this discovery. The claimant was granted a temporary release from 5 November 1986 and is eligible for payment of disability benefit as he is not now in legal custody.
However, he submitted only one medical certificate dated 7 November 1986 indicating that he was incapable of work. Further medical evidence is necessary to establish the duration of incapacity before any payment can be made. He was requested to submit medical evidence of incapacity subsequent to 7 November 1986. As the circumstances of his spouse have not been determined payment will issue at the personal rate of £41.10 with an increase of £18.65 (half the normal rate of benefit for four child dependants). When these details are received his claim will be dealt with without delay.
The claimant applied for supplementary welfare allowance on a number of occasions during the period from 24 March 1986 to 18 October 1986 and as he was paid disability benefit in respect of this period an overpayment was incurred. Deductions will be made from his disability benefit to recover both overpayments.
135.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of social welfare disability benefit of £2,442.04 due to a person (details supplied) in County Louth for the period 26 February 1982 to 11 November 1983 will be paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 23 February 1982. Where a person has less than 156 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment, entitlement to disability benefit is limited to 52 weeks. According to the records of the Department the person concerned had less than 156 contributions paid and payment of disability benefit was suspended from 5 March 1983.
It has been discovered that the claimant has two insurance numbers, however, and that he has in excess of 156 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment and consequently he qualifies for continuous payment of disability benefit. The person concerned was not entitled to payment of benefit from 26 February 1982 to 1 January 1983 as he was awarded pre-entry credits on the basis that he was not previously insurably employed. He has 25 paid contributions and no credited contributions in the 1980-81 governing contribution year and consequently he incurred an over-payment of £2,442.04 in respect of this period.
The claimant applied for supplementary welfare allowance and a total of £4,932.00 advanced to him. Arrears of benefit payable £11,454.33 less the overpayment of £2,442.04 and less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced to him were issued to the person concerned on 6 October 1986 and 7 October 1986. The claimant is currently paid to 6 December 1986.
136.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will pay a family income supplement to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The latest claim for family income supplement by the person concerned was disallowed on the ground that his weekly income exceeded the limit of £100 for family with one child. The claimant was notified of the decision on 7 November 1986.
137.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a payment for March 1986 under the occupational injuries scheme will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned was issued a cheque for £123.60 on 3 April 1986 in payment of disablement benefit in respect of the period from 4 April 1986 to 1 May 1986. The cheque was returned undelivered in October and a replacement cheque was issued to him on 29 October 1986.
138.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 5 November 1986. His claim has been authorised and arrears of benefit due to him will be paid next week.
139.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in having replacement cheques issued in respect of disability benefit claims for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 4 July 1985. On 23 December 1985 he notified the Department that he did not receive payment for the period 16 December 1985 to 28 December 1985 and a replacement cheque was issued to him on 10 February 1986.
The original cheque was returned to the Department cashed and endorsed with the claimant's signature. Consequently an overpayment was incurred and weekly deductions were made from his disability benefit payment until he submitted a final certificate stating that he was fit to resume work on 7 August 1986. There is still an amount outstanding which will be deducted from any future claim. On 27 March 1986 the claimant reported non-receipt of a cheque for the period 24 March 1986 to 5 April 1986. This cheque was fraudulently cashed and a replacement cheque was issued to him on 29 April 1986.