asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Louth against the decision not to allow his disability benefit will be heard.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
62.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 7 May 1988 after which date payment was disallowed following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance of benefit and was examined by a different medical referee on 21 June 1988 who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He submitted notice of appeal on 8 July 1988 and indicated that he would submit further medical evidence which he did on two separate dates in July and August.
The medical evidence was submitted to the medical adviser for his opinion and the case was submitted to the chief appeals officer on 14 September 1988. The appeals officer proposes to hold an oral hearing on his appeal as soon as possible and he will be informed of the date as soon as it is scheduled.
63.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the refusal of a free fuel voucher to a person (details supplied) in County Louth who is in receipt of unemployment assistance.
Persons in receipt of the longterm rate of unemployment assistance are entitled to a weekly fuel allowance under the national fuel scheme provided that they (a) live alone or (b) reside only with a qualified adult dependant or child dependant. A qualified dependant for this purpose is a person in respect of whom an adult or child dependant allowance is payable. No fuel allowance is payable where any person other than qualified dependants are residing with the claimant.
The person concerned is in receipt of long-term unemployment assistance and qualified for a fuel allowance during the 1987-88 fuel season. Payment of the child dependant allowance in respect of his eldest child was discontinued in August 1988 when the child attained 18 years of age. As he is not a qualified dependant and is still residing with the household, the person concerned does not fulfil the conditions of entitlement to a fuel allowance under the national fuel scheme.
64.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of arrears of invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and when arrears will issue to this person.
Arrears of invalidity pension for the period 7 May 1987 to 7 September 1988 will be issued to the person concerned by payable order within the next ten days. The delay in the issue of these arrears was due to the fact that the person concerned omitted to claim for a qualified child dependant on his application for the pension.
65.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the application for disability benefit made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 7 May 1988 after which date payment was disallowed following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance of benefit and on 26 July he was examined by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
A notice of appeal dated 19 August 1988 was received in the Department on 6 September 1988 and he submitted further medical evidence later in September 1988.
The medical evidence was referred to the medical adviser for his opinion and the case was then submitted to the chief appeals officer on 5 October 1988. The appeals officer proposes to hold an oral hearing on the appeal as soon as possible. The claimant will be informed of the date of the hearing as soon as it is scheduled.