asked the Minister for Social Welfare when full unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
66.
The person concerned is in receipt of disability benefit. Payment of benefit has now been authorised from 12 November 1986, at the weekly rate of £120.65 being the rate appropriate to a man with a dependent wife and six children. When the claim was first made, payment was authorised at the weekly rate of £41.10, the rate appropriate to a single person, as his claim did not give particulars regarding the circumstances of his wife and children. His claim was also put into payment from 22 November due to a clerical error in not linking the claim with his earlier claim to unemployment assistance.
The person concerned claimed supplementary welfare allowance which was advanced to him by the health board. The advance will have to be recovered from the arrears of disability benefit payable to him, and urgent inquiries are being made to the health board to ascertain the full amount of supplementary welfare allowance involved. As soon as this information is to hand, the amount of outstanding arrears, if any, will be paid.
67.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment of an invalidity pension.
Invalidity pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work.
The person concerned was examined on 19 January 1987 by a medical referee who did not consider him to be permanently incapable of work and asked to have him referred for a further examination in six months. A deciding officer decided that he was not, therefore, entitled to invalidity pension.
68.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is assessed at £44.20 per week and the person receives only £30.20.
Following re-investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £44.20 weekly derived from profit from fishing. He is accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £30.20 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of 74.40 less means of £44.20.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and, arising from contentions raised by him in support of his appeal, his papers were referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and his case will then be submitted to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.
69.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford continues to be refused unemployment assistance despite the fact he has not worked in months.
Following re-investigation the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned 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, arising from contentions raised by him in support of his appeal, his papers were returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and his case will then be submitted to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.
70.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an oral hearing regarding disability benefit will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 9 December 1986 after which date payment was disallowed following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance of benefit and was examined by a different medical referee on 16 February 1987 who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
Her appeal was referred to an appeals officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing of her case but no date has yet been set for her appeal. She will be informed of the time and place fixed for any hearing when arrangements have been completed.
71.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the disability benefit of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been reduced.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 13 January 1986. Benefit issued up to 17 March 1987, at the weekly rate payable to a married man with one dependent child, whose wife is not working, and is not in receipt of any benefit or assistance.
Benefit was reduced after that date to the weekly rate of £42.70, because he was no longer entitled to an increase in benefit in respect of his wife, as she is in receipt of unemployment assistance in her own right. He is also only entitled to half the rate payable in respect of their child. His wife is also receiving half the child dependant allowance.
The person concerned is not entitled to any alleviation payments. These payments are only due to the claimants whose benefit was reduced on 17 November 1986, as a result of the implementation of equality legislation. All benefit payable to the person concerned has been issued to 24 March 1987, the date of the latest medical certificate received.