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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Jun 1987

Vol. 373 No. 10

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

45.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will receive payment of disability benefit as he has been ill since 23 April 1987.

To qualify for payment of disability benefit a claimant must have 39 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment under the Social Welfare Acts.

The records of the Department show that the person concerned has only 31 paid social insurance contributions since entry into insurance. He was in receipt of unemployment assistance from 1968 to 1987 and was awarded credited contributions. Prior to that period, he apparently had some period of insurable employment in the United Kingdom but this cannot be taken into account under the EC regulation as he has not taken up employment since that time.

Accordingly, the person concerned does not qualify for payment of disability benefit. He should, however, continue to submit medical certificates while he remains incapable of work to preserve the continuity of his insurance record.

46.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when full up-to-date payments of disability benefit will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and the reason for the delay in payment of this.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 29 April 1986. Payment of benefit was issued for 52 weeks to 30 April 1987. Investigations were then necessary to establish if she had sufficient contributions in the 1985-86 year which governs her claim from that date, to qualify her for continued entitlement to benefit.

Following inquiries it was established that she had sufficient contributions paid and credited in the 1985-86 year and all benefit payable to 9 June 1987, the date of the latest medical certificate received, has been issued to her.

47.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who has applied for unemployment assistance.

Entitlement to unemployment assistance is subject to the condition that an applicant must be available for employment.

The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 19 November 1986. Her claim was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 5 June 1987. The appeals officer allowed her appeal and arrangements have been made to have arrears due, amounting to £3,188.82, paid at her local post office on Friday, 19 June 1987.

Further weekly payments of £106.85 will be made to her as they become due. This is the appropriate rate payable to a person whose weekly means have been assessed at £12.50 and who is claiming an increase in respect of an adult dependant and nine child dependants.

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