asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the electricity allowance of a person (details supplied) in County Louth has been disallowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
168.
One of the conditions for receipt of a free electricity allowance is that an eligible person must be living alone or only with persons who come within certain excepted categories. The person concerned is residing with his son who no longer comes within the excepted categories for satisfying the living alone condition of the scheme. The allowance which was applying to his electricity account, therefore had to be withdrawn. He was notified accordingly on 8 April 1987.
169.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 13 April 1987 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
She had not indicated to the Department that she wished to appeal the decision to disallow payment. However, the Deputy's question has now been taken as an indication that she wishes to appeal and arrangements will be made to have her examined by a different medical referee as soon as possible. Her entitlement to payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the result of the medical referee's examination.
170.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost of assessing an applicant for an old age pension; the cost to appeal same; and if he will make a statement on this matter.
The administration costs of the Department are not at present broken down in such a way as to enable the costs of applications under individual schemes to be made available. It is the intention to develope financial programmes in the future as resources permit which will enable this sort of information to be provided.
171.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Cork has qualified for disability benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was re-examined by a medical referee on 27 February 1987 to review his disablement benefit claim which was in payment on a provisional basis from August 1983. The extent of his disablement was reassessed at 10 per cent final for life from 7 March 1987 and he was awarded a disablement gratuity of £2,404 the amount appropriate to the assessment, with the option of accepting instead, if he so wished, a disablement pension of £6.29 a week for life.
It is open to him, if he is dissatisfied with the decision, to appeal against it. Otherwise payment of benefit will be arranged in the appropriate form. A provisional disablement gratuity of £57.25 was also awarded in respect of the period from 7 January 1987 to 6 March and payment of the gratuity has been made. No recent claim to disability benefit was received from him.
172.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who is in receipt of disability benefit will receive payment for her husband.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 23 July 1985 and is currently in receipt of disability benefit at the weekly rate of £41.10.
The Deputy informed the Department that she wished to claim an adult dependant allowance in respect of her husband. She was asked to complete a form giving full details of her husband's income. While the person concerned has furnished some details regarding her husband's position, the case has been referred to an inspector of the Department for investigation as additional information is necessary to enable a decision to be made on her claim. The matter is still under investigation. Upon receipt of the inspector's report, further consideration will be given to her claim.
All benefit payable in respect of her claim has been issued on receipt of medical evidence to 2 May 1987, the date of the latest medical evidence received.
173.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 is entitled to an Irish old age pension or part pension, given the circumstances of her case.
There is no trace in the records of my Department of an application for old age pension from the person concerned.
On the information supplied by the Deputy and in the absence of any other income, it would appear that the person concerned would be entitled to a reduced rate non-contributory old age pension, provided the condition as to age is fulfilled. If she wishes her entitlement to be investigated she should complete an application form, which can be obtained at any post office, and return it to this Department.
If the person concerned was insurably employed in Ireland since 6 July 1953, it would be open to her to apply for a contributory old age pension or retirement pension, the form for which is also available at any post office.
174.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the outcome of an appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny regarding the disallowance of disability benefit.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 31 January 1987 after which date payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who considered him to be capable of work.
He appealed against this decision and was examined by another medical referee on 16 April 1987 who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He was informed of the result of this examination and was supplied with a form on which to set out the grounds for appeal if he wished to have his case referred to an appeals officer for determination. His case will be reviewed on receipt of this form.
175.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in having unemployment benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 28 January 1987. The claim was received in the Department on 16 March 1987. She was not entitled to benefit at the commencement of her claim as according to the records of the Department she had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment.
She subsequently submitted details of her employment record for 1986-87 confirming that she has sufficient contributions paid to qualify for payment of benefit. All benefit payable to 2 March 1987, the date before she was certified fit to resume work, has now been issued to the person concerned.
176.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in having arrears of an invalidity pension paid to a person, (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The delay in the issue of arrears of invalidity pension to the person concerned was due to the fact that the amount of the arrears could not be determined until the position of the claimant's daughter, for whom he initially did not claim an increase of invalidity pension, had been clarified.
All arrears due, including an increase of benefit in respect of the additional child dependant, will be issued to the person concerned on 1 May 1987.
177.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who is three years older than her husband and will be 66 on 18 June 1987, does not qualify for a contributory old age pension based on her husband's stamps as he is not yet 66 years and at the same time qualify for a non-contributory pension as half of her husband's salary is apportioned to her which puts her over the means test limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The contributory old age pension scheme provides for the payment of a contributory pension to the actual contributor only, on reaching age 66, subject to the contribution conditions being satisfied. Retirement pension is payable to qualified contributors at age 65.
These pensions are not payable to the wives of contributors. They are only payable to the actual contributors when they reach the qualifying age and subject to the contribution conditions being satisfied. Increases in these pensions are payable to the pensioners in respect of dependent wives and children.
The person concerned applied for a non-contributory old age pension. The claim was refused on the ground that her means consisting of half the weekly value of her husband's earnings, exceed the statutory limit of £48 weekly. If her means position changes at any time after she reaches age 66, it is open to her to re-apply for this pension.
178.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proposals, if any, he has to amend legislation regarding allowances for deserted husbands and those who have to stay at home to look after children.
Deserted husbands who are unemployed may qualify for unemployment benefit or assistance, including increases for child dependants, provided that they satisfy the qualifying conditions. Furthermore, such persons may also qualify for an increase in payment in respect of a person who has care of any child dependants. This allowance is also available to recipients of disability and injury benefit, invalidity, retirement and old age contributory pensions.
The provision of allowances for deserted husbands on the same lines as the existing schemes for deserted wives would have very significant financial and other implications. This matter is being reviewed in the context of the examination of the whole area of financial support for single parent families generally in the light of the recommendations made by the Commission on Social Welfare.
179.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting approval for disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and when payment will issue.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 27 September 1986 following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He appealed against the disallowance and was examined by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. His case was then referred to an appeals officer who upheld the decision to disallow payment of disability benefit from 27 September 1986 to 2 March 1987, the date of the latest certificate before him. The decision of the appeals officer is final and may only be altered in the light of new facts or fresh evidence.
180.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 received a reduced rate only of disability benefit.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 7 January 1986. Payment was issued from 10 January 1986, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum weekly rate payable to a single man. From 8 January 1987, the entitlement to benefit of the person concerned depended on his insurance record in the 1985-86 contribution year. He has 34 contributions recorded on his behalf during this year, which entitles him to payment of benefit at the reduced rate of £38 per week. He would need a minimum of 48 contributions to qualify for payment of benefit at the maximum rate.
He was also paid pay-related benefit from 28 January 1986, ninteenth day of incapacity, to 9 April 1987, when his 62½ week entitlement to this benefit was exhausted. All benefit payable has been issued to the person concerned to 2 May 1987.