asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who is presently in receipt of disability benefit will receive approval for an invalidity pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
92.
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 11 March 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. The person concerned was notified on 5 June 1987 of this decision and of his right of appeal.
93.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit will be renewed to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and in view of medical evidence available from his own doctor if all arrears of payment will be made.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 21 April 1987 after which date payment was disallowed 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 on 28 May 1987 who considered him to be incapable of work from 22 April 1987. Accordingly, benefit has been restored from that date and any arrears payable will be issued to him shortly.
94.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that an invalidity pension is paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12.
Invalidity pension has been awarded to the person concerned from 7 May 1987. A pension book payable from 30 July 1987 will be issued to the designated post office of payment and arrears in respect of the period from 7 May 1987 to 29 July 1987, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by payable order.
95.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will confirm that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 is entitled to unemployment assistance despite having being refused by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Section 146 (1) (e) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981, as inserted by section 13 of the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 1985, provides that, in assessing the means of a person who is one of a married couple for unemployment assistance purposes, the means of that person shall include the estimated value of their household which is derived from all income earned by the claimant's spouse. This amount is calculated by reference to the net income of the spouse and a further deduction of £45 a week from the net income is also made, as an allowance for expenses incurred by the spouse in earning the income.
In the case of the person concerned, her husband's net earnings are £8,151 per annum. The deduction of £45 a week (£2,340 per annum) from this results in a means assessment of £5,811 per annum. As this assessment exceeds the statutory limit in her case of £4,784 per annum, her unemployment assistance has been disallowed. She appealed against the disallowance on 5 June 1987 and her case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity.