asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
69.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 25 January 1988 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He appealed against the disallowance and was examined by another medical referee who found him to be incapable of work from 25 January 1988. Accordingly payment of benefit was restored on 28 March 1988 with effect from 25 January 1988.
He claimed unemployment assistance for the period of his appeal. Arrears of disability benefit from 25 January 1988 to 26 March 1988 have been held to offset the unemployment assistance received by him and the balance, which amounts to £132.40, will issue to him on 29 April 1988.
70.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason sick benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose doctor has certified him as unfit for work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 22 February 1988 after which date payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who considered him to be capable of work. He appealed against this decision and was examined on 6 April 1988 by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He was informed of the result of this examination and was supplied with a form on which to set out the grounds for appeal if he wished to have his case referred to an appeals officer for determination. His case will be reviewed on receipt of this form.
71.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the average weekly payment as of mid-September 1982 to 1987 for each year; the projected average for mid-September 1988 for disability benefit both flat rate and pay related; unemployment benefit both flat rate and pay related and unemployment assistance both live register and smallholders; and the average number of recipients for each category for each year.
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following tables. Projections for mid-September 1988 are not available. However, the latest information available for 1988 is given.
TABLE 1
Average Weekly Payment at Mid-September, 1982-1987 (£)
|
1982 |
1983 |
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
1988 Feb.* |
|
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Disability Benefit |
|||||||
|
Flat-Rate |
43.00 |
47.30 |
51.50 |
52.83 |
55.71 |
56.97 |
58.50 |
|
Pay-Related |
26.74 |
22.06 |
21.31 |
21.08 |
22.53 |
16.84 |
14.70 |
|
Unemployment Benefit |
|||||||
|
Flat-Rate |
44.74 |
47.10 |
49.66 |
52.35 |
53.94 |
53.74 |
53.60 |
|
Pay-Related |
21.10 |
16.45 |
16.75 |
17.08 |
17.41 |
14.64 |
12.40 |
|
Unemployment Assistance |
|||||||
|
Live Register |
40.60 |
43.25 |
48.33 |
51.59 |
54.22 |
53.53 |
53.00 |
|
Smallholder |
33.50 |
35.87 |
41.33 |
44.80 |
45.47 |
45.52 |
46.10 |
*The personal rates of unemployment assistance will increase by 11 per cent from July 1988 and child dependant rates will increase by 6 per cent. All other rates of payment will be increased by 3 per cent.
TABLE 2
Average Number of Recipients
|
1982 |
1983 |
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
|
|
Disability Benefit |
||||||
|
Flat-Rate |
69,152 |
69,195 |
72,399 |
77,171 |
80,372 |
76,973 |
|
Pay-Related |
20,015 |
18,073 |
16,989 |
17,686 |
17,663 |
15,052 |
|
Unemployment Benefit |
||||||
|
Flat-Rate |
76,770 |
92,309 |
88,490 |
88,211 |
85,801 |
83,848 |
|
Pay-Related |
42,824 |
52,572 |
46,498 |
44,749 |
40,243 |
38,509 |
|
Unemployment Assistance |
||||||
|
Live Register |
67,136 |
84,144 |
105,899 |
118,496 |
124,955 |
136,174 |
|
Smallholder |
20,451 |
19,787 |
17,650 |
16,511 |
15,570 |
15,573 |
Note: The unemployment figures above represent people actually paid as distinct from people registered as unemployed.