asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 is only paid £14 per week supplementary welfare allowance when previous to his recent eight months employment he was receiving £28 per week unemployment assistance; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that he is being asked for an independent specialist's report of his medical condition before he will be considered for full supplementary welfare allowance; his views on whether a person in these circumstances could be expected to afford the cost of a specialist; if, in view of this, he will arrange that full supplementary welfare allowance be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
99.
It is understood from the Eastern Health Board, which is responsible for administering the scheme in his area, that the person concerned is receiving supplementary welfare allowance of £14.60 per week. This represents the maximum weekly rate of £34 appropriate to his case less weekly means of £19.40 deriving from the value of board and lodging in his parent's home.
The reduction in his entitlement was due to an increase in the assessment of his means in the light of the improvement in the household circumstances; his father's net income has increased significantly since the previous assessment of his means and his brother, who also resides in the household, is now employed and is no longer dependent on their father.
It is understood that the specialist's report, referred to by the Deputy, is required for the purpose of assessing the person's long term health situation and his possible entitlement to a disabled person's maintenance allowance. As he is apparently the holder of a medical card, he would not be expected to pay for the medical examination himself.
100.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment of moneys due from 2 January, 1987 to 19 February 1987; and the reason for this extraordinary delay.
Prior to January 1988, where a claimant had 39 but less than 208 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment, payment of disability benefit was limited to 52 weeks. Payment of disability benefit could only be made for a continuous period greater than 52 weeks where the person had at least 208 such contributions paid.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 5 July 1986. According to the records of the Department, the claimant only has a total of 144 contributions paid since her entry into insurable employment. As a result, she exhausted her 52 weeks entitlement to benefit on 6 July 1987.
Because of an administrative error, the person concerned was incorrectly considered to have exhausted her entitlement to benefit on 10 January 1987 and payment was disallowed from that date. She was subsequently admitted from 18 February 1987 as an adult dependant on her husband's invalidity pension. This increase on her husband's pension in respect of the person concerned and five dependent children has continued to be issued to date.
The arrears of disability benefit payable from 10 January 1987 to 6 July 1987 were withheld to offset against the adult dependant and full child dependant allowances paid on her husband's pension. An adjustment cheque for £873.85 will shortly issue to the person concerned.
To requalify for disability benefit, the person concerned requires at least a further 13 weeks of insurable employment for which contributions at the appropriate rate have been paid.
101.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a free electricity allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin was removed having regard to the fact that she has an invalid son living with her and also the fact that she requires the help of another relative; and if he will have the case reviewed in the light of the special circumstances of the case.
One of the conditions for receipt of a free electricity allowance is that an eligible person must be living alone or with certain excepted persons. The allowance was withdrawn from the person concerned as one of her sons, with whom she resides, is in receipt of unemployment assistance and does not therefore come within the excepted categories for satisfying the "living alone" condition of the scheme.
102.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has appealed the decision to refuse him disability benefit.
The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit from April 1986 to 23 September 1987 when payment of benefit was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. Following an appeal against the disallowance he was examined by a different medical referee who found him incapable of work from 24 September 1987.
All arrears of benefit payable have been issued less the amount of unemployment benefit paid to the claimant during the period of disallowance.
103.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit has been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 2 December 1987. There was some initial delay in putting benefit into payment due to the uneven receipt of correct medical certificates but payments at the maximum weekly rate of £42.30 have been issued to 27 February 1988, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
The person concerned has also been paid pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £4.38.