asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of money which will be made available to cushion a loss resulting from the equality legislation in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Meath and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
90.
Since 17 November 1986 men and women claiming benefit, assistance or pension under the Social Welfare Acts are treated equally. Up to 15 November 1986 a married man claiming a social welfare payment automatically got an increase of benefit for his wife and children living with him but a married woman could only get an increase of benefit for her husband and children in very restricted circumstances.
Since 17 November 1986 the definition of dependancy has been changed to make it the same for men and women thus removing the discrimination which had heretofore existed against married women. A spouse will be regarded as a dependant of the other spouse only where he or she is being wholly or mainly maintained by that person and spouse entitled to social welfare payment in their own right or with earnings in excess of £50 a week will not be regarded as dependants.
The persons concerned were both in receipt of disability benefit at the personal rate of £41.10. The husband was also in receipt of an increase of £26.60 in respect of an adult dependant.
Since 17 November 1986 his wife is no longer regarded as an adult dependant and consequently he is not entitled to an increase in respect of her. A temporary payment of £20 a week will issue to him to compensate for the loss of his adult dependant allowance. This payment will continue to issue for the duration of the claim or for 52 weeks whichever is the lesser period. His weekly rate of payment is £61.10.
His wife will continue to receive payment at the maximum personal rate of £41.10. This rate was increased by £4.80 a week under the first phase of equality of treatment introduced last May.
91.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason married persons who are in receipt of AnCO training allowances are not eligible for family income supplement even though their income would qualify them for such payments.
It is a basic condition for receipt of family income supplement that a person must be engaged in remunerative full-time employment as an employee. Participants in AnCO training courses do not fulfil this condition and are accordingly ineligible for the supplement.
92.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the old age pension payments of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 have been reduced so dramatically; and when full payment will be restored.
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 have been changed.
Under the new arrangements an increase in pension in respect of an adult dependant is now payable to men and women on an equal basis. The spouse of the claimant is not regarded as an adult dependant if he or she is in receipt of an independent income of more than £50 per week gross or is in receipt of social welfare benefit or assistance payment in his or her own right.
The spouse of the person concerned is in receipt of disability benefit in her own right at £41.10 per week and the increase in her husband's pension in respect of her therefore ceased with effect from 21 November 1986. This rate of disability benefit was increased by almost £5 a week under the first phase of equal treatment earlier this year.
The rate of pension at present in payment to the pensioner concerned is £53.45 per week. In addition he has been awarded the special transitional payment of £20 per week.
93.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a reduced amount of unemployment assistance is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has two dependent children.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned she was assessed with means of £23 weekly, derived from the benefit of mortgage repayments made by her husband.
She is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £31.60 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in her case of £54.60 less means of £23.
If the person concerned is of the opinion that her circumstances have changed since the last investigation of her means it is open to her to apply for a review of her case. A form for this purpose may be obtained from her local office.
94.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive a dependant's allowance.
The person concerned claimed a dependant's allowance on her disability benefit claim in respect of her husband and two children.
In accordance with the provisions of the equality legislation payment of benefit in respect of her two children has been authorised at half rate.
Investigations are necessary to establish her husband's circumstances and when these are completed payment of an increase in respect of her husband together with payment at the full rate in respect of her two children will be considered.
95.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to the person concerned and on its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay.
96.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will expedite a decision regarding an application for maximum unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £27.25, derived from the value of board and lodgings on his father's holding.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and an appeals officer, on 2 May 1986, assessed him with means of £25 weekly.
He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £10.50 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £35.50 less means of £25.
The person concerned made a supplementary claim on 11 November 1986 and his papers have been referred to a 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 assessment of means.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of this assessment.
97.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is entitled to maternity benefit.
There is no trace of a claim for maternity benefit from the person concerned.
A claim form for maternity benefit has been forwarded to her for completion and when it is returned her claim will be decided without delay.