asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be considered for an invalidity pension; if so if he will be put on monthly certificates of disability benefit on an interim basis; and if so, when and the way in which this will be done.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
52.
Invalidity pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work.
Arrangements are being made to have the person concerned examined by a medical referee. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
The person concerned has now been transferred to the system whereby future disability benefit will be issued at weekly intervals on receipt of monthly medical certificates while he remains unfit for work. To do this a cheque amounting to £89.05 for the period 16 May 1987 to 30 May 1987 was issued to the person concerned on 19 May 1987 bringing the payment of his disability benefit into line with the payments of recipients on the automatic payment system. His next payment of disability benefit will be £41.10. This cheque will be issued on 25 May 1987 and will cover payment for the period 1 June 1987 to 6 June 1987.
53.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be considered for an invalidity pension; and if so when.
Invalidity pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work.
The person concerned had in fact been examined in connection with his disability benefit claim on 11 December 1986 by a medical referee who reported that he did not consider him to be permanently incapable of work and asked to have him referred for a further examination in nine months. On the basis of this examination it was decided that he was not entitled to invalidity pension and he was notified to that effect.
In view of the matters raised in the question, arrangements are now being made to have him re-examined by a medical referee. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of that examination.
54.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the exact details of the means as assessed against a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the fact that his unemployment assistance was reduced by £2.90 per week over the past few years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The weekly means of £2.90 assessed against the person concerned are derived from the estimated letting value of land.
He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £32.60 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £35.50 less means of £2.90.
Following a recent review of his case he was again assessed with means of £2.90. He has now appealed against this assessment and his case is being submitted to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity.
55.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total amount paid in (i) unemployment benefit, (ii) disability benefit and (iii) all other benefits in the years 1984, 1985 and 1986.
The information requested by the Deputy is given in the following table.
Expenditure on Social Welfare Schemes, 1984-1986.
|
Scheme |
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
|
£000 |
£000 |
£000 |
|
|
Unemployment Benefit |
219,619 |
235,070 |
239,500 |
|
Disability Benefit |
183,529 |
211,310 |
223,900 |
|
Other Social Insurance and Occupational Injuries Insurance Schemes |
|||
|
Invalidity Pension |
64,652 |
71,150 |
86,160 |
|
Maternity Allowance |
8,792 |
9,630 |
17,220 |
|
Widow's (Contributory) Pension |
183,459 |
197,465 |
210,710 |
|
Orphan's (Contributory) Allowance |
1,285 |
1,265 |
1,320 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
12,857 |
13,940 |
15,050 |
|
Old Age (Contributory) Pension |
225,563 |
239,750 |
251,060 |
|
Retirement Pension |
100,852 |
111,840 |
123,370 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
14,797 |
18,110 |
23,350 |
|
Death Grant |
795 |
860 |
890 |
|
Pay-Related Benefit |
64,178 |
69,130 |
59,620 |
|
Injury Benefit |
6,580 |
7,139 |
7,650 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
14,890 |
15,363 |
15,920 |
|
Death Benefit |
1,606 |
1,714 |
1,780 |
|
Workmen's Compensation Supplements |
50 |
50 |
45 |
|
Medical Care |
55 |
69 |
70 |
|
Social Assistance Payments |
|||
|
Old Age (Non-Contributory) Pension |
264,078 |
273,492 |
283,900 |
|
Children's Allowances (now Child Benefit) |
172,195 |
171,561 |
205,453 |
|
Unemployment Assistance |
291,770 |
351,458 |
391,538 |
|
Widows & Orphans (Non-Con) Pension |
33,193 |
36,411 |
39,525 |
|
Social Assistance Allowance (a) |
41,646 |
51,115 |
57,213 |
|
Miscellaneous Grants (b) |
80,978 |
92,209 |
123,185 |
|
Rent Allowance |
1,144 |
1,121 |
1,042 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
63 |
2,211 |
3,020 |
(a) Social assistance allowances comprise deserted wives' allowance, unmarried mothers' allowance, single women's allowances and prisoners' wives' allowances.
(b) Miscellaneous grants comprise payments (1) to local authorities in respect of school meals, fuel scheme and footwear scheme; (2) in respect of the provision of free travel, free electricity allowance, free television licences, free telephone rental, free bottled gas; (3) to health boards towards the cost of the supplementary welfare allowances scheme and the fuel scheme; and (4) in respect of the Social Welfare Tribunal.