asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a free fuel allowance has not been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will review this decision.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
81.
The national fuel scheme applies to persons in receipt of long term social welfare or health board payments who are living alone or only with persons who come within certain categories.
The person concerned is in receipt of invalidity pension. He lives with his wife who is in receipt of disability benefit which is not a qualifying payment for the receipt of the fuel allowance. His wife, therefore, as she is in receipt of disability benefit in her own right, is not his dependant for the purposes of the fuel scheme and his application for an allowance under the scheme had to be refused.
82.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare who has a dependent husband and two dependent children has received a reduced payment of disability benefit.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit in respect of the period from 14 September 1988 to 19 September 1988. She was awarded benefit at the weekly rate of £58.85, the maximum rate appropriate to a woman with three dependent children where her husband is in receipt of a social welfare payment in his own right.
No benefit is paid for the first three days of a period of incapacity and so she received a cheque for £19.60 in respect of 17 and 19 September 1988. Sundays are not counted for the purposes of paying benefit so no payment was due for 18 September 1988.