asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has not qualified for a disability benefit pension.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
73.
The person concerned was in receipt of invalidity pension from 8 June 1978 to 20 January 1988.
On 6 January 1988 he was awarded a blind pension with effect from 6 November 1987. A pension book was issued payable from 22 January 1988.
The provisions of the Social Welfare Overlapping Benefit Regulations state that invalidity pension and blind pension cannot be paid in respect of the same period. To offset this problem the person concerned was advised to transfer to disability benefit, with which he could also receive his blind pension. Invalidity pension ceased to be payable from 20 January 1988 and payment of disability benefit commenced on 21 January 1988.
74.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the appeal against disallowance of disability benefit in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 16 January 1988 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 arrangements have been made to have him examined by a different medical referee as soon as possible. His entitlement to benefit will then be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report.
75.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of changes he has made by order for the periods February 1987 to December 1987 and December 1987 to date; and the effect each order will have on benefits and regulations.
The following table lists the regulations made by me and their effects since I assumed office on 10 March 1987.
|
Regulations |
Effect |
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S.I. No. 106 of 1987 Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, 1987 |
These Regulations fixed the earnings floor for payment of voluntary contributions at £4,750 with effect from the 1986-87 income tax year. |
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The Regulations also prescribed the income tax year to be used in determining whether the amount of maternity allowance payable to a woman under the maternity allowance scheme for women in employment exceeds 70 per cent of her weekly earnings. The Regulations also ensured a minimum weekly benefit of £76 under that scheme. |
|
|
S.I. No. 107 of 1987 Social Welfare (Reduced Rates of Disability Benefit and Unemployment Benefit) Regulations |
These Regulations provided for an increase from 26 to 39 in the number of paid or credited contributions required in the relevant contribution year to qualify for disability benefit and unemployment benefit. |
|
They also provided in the context of the increase from 156 to 208 in the number of paid contributions required for disability benefit, that the arrangements for taking account of contributions paid under the National Health Insurance Acts could continue to apply. |
|
|
S.I. No. 152 of 1987 Social Welfare (Rent Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations, 1987 |
These Regulations increased the qualifying limits for receipt of a Rent Allowance in line with the general increases in social welfare payments from July 1987. |
|
S.I. No. 188 of 1987 Social Welfare (Pay-Related Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations, 1987 |
These Regulations provided for rounding to the nearest 10p the weekly rate of pay-related benefit for periods less than one week. |
|
S.I. No. 189 of 1987 Social Welfare (Amendment of Miscellaneous Social Insurance Provisions) (No. 2) Regulations, 1987 |
These Regulations provided for increases in the scale of reduced rates of disability benefit and unemployment benefit, old age contributory pensions, widows contributory pensions, retirement pensions and deserted wife's benefit from July 1987 where a claimant has not sufficient contributions for receipt of the full rate of benefit. |
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They also provided for increases in certain benefit rates under the occupational injuries scheme. |
|
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S.I. No. 250 of 1987 Social Welfare (Treatment Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations, 1987 |
These Regulations provided for an increase from 156 to 208 in the number of paid contributions required for receipt of Treatment Benefit and for an increase from 26 to 39 in the number of paid or credited contributions required in the governing contribution year. |
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S.I. No. 269 of 1987 Social Welfare (Treatment Benefit) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 1987 |
These Regulations extended entitlement to Treatment Benefit to dependent spouses of insured workers with effect from 19 October 1987. |
|
S.I. No. 281 of 1987 Social Welfare (Supplementary Welfare Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations, 1987 |
These Regulations provided for an increase from £1.50 to £3 in the threshold figure for rent payments under the supplementary welfare allowances schemes. |
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They also provided for an increase from £5 to £10 in the amount which can be paid without the consent of the Minister. |
|
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S.I. No. 290 of 1987 Social Welfare (Preservation of Rights) (Amendment) Regulations, 1987 |
These Regulations provided that the transitional payments being made to persons whose social welfare payments were reduced as a consequence of the equal treatment provisions would continue up to 4 January 1988. |
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S.I. No. 293 of 1987 Social Welfare (Temporary Provisions) Regulations, 1987 |
These Regulations provided for the payment of the Christmas bonus to long-term social welfare recipients in December 1987. |
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S.I. No. 344 of 1987 Social Welfare (Overlapping Benefits) (Amendment) Regulations, 1987 |
These Regulations provided that from January 1988 new claimants to disability benefit, maternity allowance and unemployability supplement who are also in receipt of widow's pension, deserted wife's payments, unmarried mother's allowance, prisoners wife's allowance and related payments are no longer entitled to receive half rate payment of disability benefit, maternity allowance or unemployability supplement in addition. |
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S.I. No. 351 of 1987 Social Welfare (Preservation of Rights) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations, 1987 |
These Regulations provided for the continuation of the Equal Treatment transitional payments up to April 1988. |
76.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Meath was disqualified for sick payments and lost two appeals; when a review will take place; if this fails, what this person is expected to live on; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned received disability benefit from 13 February 1986. Payment of benefit was disallowed from 3 November 1987 following an examination by a medical referee who considered the claimant to be capable of work. She appealed against this decision and was examined by a different medical referee on 4 January 1988 who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
The claimant's case has been referred to an appeals officer who may decide her case summarily. Should the appeals officer consider that an oral hearing is necessary she will be notified of the time and place fixed for the hearing when the final arrangements have been completed.
If the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet her needs, she should apply to her community welfare officer with a view to claiming supplementary welfare allowance.