asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has had unemployment assistance reduced when she moved house from one corporation housing estate to another, both in Wexford town.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
69.
The rate of unemployment assistance payable to claimants residing in urban areas is higher than that which is payable to those residing in other areas. The urban rate is also payable to a claimant who resides outside an urban area in a house owned by the corporation or council of an urban area.
The person concerned was being paid at the higher rate until 4 December 1987 when she moved to her present address. The lower non-urban rate of unemployment assistance was paid to her from that date on the basis that her new address is outside the corporation area.
It has now been established that, although she resides outside the corporation area, she does reside in a house owned by the corporation and accordingly she is entitled to the higher rate of assistance. All arrears due will be paid to her this week.
Any inconvenience caused to the person concerned is regretted.
70.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will immediately correct an error regarding a free telephone rental allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was approved for a free telephone rental allowance on 15 September 1987 and Telecom Éireann were notified accordingly, at that time.
The appropriate allowance has not been applied to her telephone account due, it is understood, to arrears of work in Telecom Éireann which the company have undertaken to clear as soon as possible.
The company have confirmed that the appropriate adjustment will be made, in the case of the person concerned, on her next telephone account.
71.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny are not receiving the full rate of old age noncontributory pension; and if he will furnish details of the means of £32.75 assessed against them.
A deciding officer decided on 30 November 1987 that the persons concerned are each entitled to old age pension at the weekly rate of £19.10 from 18 September 1987. This is the rate to which they are entitled having regard to the assessment of their means, consisting of half the weekly value of the wife's occupational pension and capital. The detail of the calculation is as follows:
|
£ |
|
|
VEC teacher's pension, yearly value |
2,896.14 |
|
Capital,£4,837.85, yearly value |
510.28 |
|
Total means |
3,406.42 |
|
Moiety |
1,703.21 |
|
Weekly means |
32.75 |
An appeal has been lodged against the decisions and the cases have been referred to an appeals officer for determination. The persons concerned will be notified of the outcome without delay.
72.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 an urgent appeal will be heard to review the decision to disallow payment of disability benefit to this person.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 4 January 1988 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have him examined by a different medical referee at an early date.
His entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.