asked the Minister for Social Welfare the percentage of those examined by the Department's medical referees who had their invalidity pension claims disallowed on medical grounds as a result, for each of the years from 1980 to 1987 and the first six months of 1988.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefit.
77.
The number of invalidity pensioners found capable of work following examination by the Department's statutorily appointed medical referees are as follows: 1980, 20; 1981, 20; 1982, 10; 1983, 6; 1984, 7; 1985, 9; 1986, 11; 1987, 31; 1988 (June), 50.
Separate figures of the numbers of invalidity pension cases referred for examination have not been kept so it is not possible to give percentages as requested. However, it is estimated that in 1987 some 1,500 cases were referred for examination and approximately 750 in the first six months of 1988, which would result in disallowance percentage rates of some 2% in 1987, and 6% in the first half of this year.
78.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of short-term unemployment assistance recipients with dependants who benefited under the urban fuel scheme in the winter 1986-1987; and the numbers of such people estimated by his Department to be losing out this winter and last winter since their exclusion from the fuel scheme's coverage.
It is estimated that some 5,000 short term unemployment assistance claimants with dependants were in receipt of a weekly fuel voucher at the end of the 1986/87 fuel season under the former Urban Fuel Scheme.
A national fuel scheme with uniform criteria throughout the whole country was introduced last year, and at the same time the scheme was extended to include 30,000 long term unemployed who were previously excluded.
The urban fuel scheme, which operated in 17 urban areas only, was replaced from October 1987 by the national fuel scheme which operates nationally. Unemployment assistance applicants in receipt of the short-term rate are not eligible for a fuel allowance under the national fuel scheme. However, in order to safeguard the position of existing recipients, a "saver clause" was introduced whereby all existing entitlements were preserved unless circumstances had changed. Those who had qualified at the end of the 1986/87 fuel season for a fuel voucher under the urban fuel scheme but who did not satisfy the conditions of the national fuel scheme, were thus entitled to receive the allowance in the 1987/88 and current fuel seasons under this saver clause. No statistics are available about how many of the 5,000 applicants in question are still in receipt of unemployment assistance. Nor is it known as regards those still in receipt of unemployment assistance, how many of them have had a relevant change of circumstances but the number would be minimal.
79.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare in respect of the first week of October 1987 and the first week of April 1988: (a) the number signing on the live register of unemployed (b) the number of these not receiving any payment from his Department (c) the number receiving short-term unemployment assistance (d) the number of adult and child dependants of those receiving short-term unemployment assistance (e) the number receiving unemployment benefit (f) the number of adult and child dependants of those receiving unemployment benefit (g) the number receiving reduced rates of unemployment benefit (h) the number receiving pay-related benefit with unemployment benefit (i) the average weekly amount received in pay-related benefit paid with unemployment benefit (j) the number receiving long term unemployment assistance and (k) the number of adult and child dependants of those receiving long-term unemployment assistance.
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table which is being circulated in the Official Report.
TABLE
Unemployment Statistics, October 1987 and April 1988
|
October 1987 |
April 1988 |
|
|
(a) The number signing on the Live Register of unemployed |
240,195 |
247,823 |
|
(b) The number of these not receiving any payment from this Department |
13,540 |
14,508 |
|
(c) The number receiving short-term Unemployment Assistance |
29,439 |
29,332 |
|
(d) *The number of adult dependantsThe number of child dependants of those receiving short-term Unemployment Assistance |
10,48633,181 |
10,43333,060 |
|
(e) The number receiving Unemployment Benefit |
79,459 |
86,651 |
|
(f) *The number of adult dependantsThe number of child dependants of those receiving Unemployment Benefit |
21,69179,394 |
24,34188,659 |
|
(g) The number receiving reduced rates of Unemployment Benefit |
27,913 |
28,339 |
|
(h) The number receiving Pay-Related Benefit with Unemployment Benefit |
34,145 |
38,616 |
|
(i) The average weekly amount received in Pay-Related Benefit paid with Unemployment Benefit |
£14.80 |
£11.90 |
|
(j) The number receiving long-term Unemployment Assistance |
117,756 |
117,331 |
|
(k) *The number of adult dependantsThe number of child dependants of those receiving long-term Unemployment Assistance |
41,944132,726 |
41,734132,243 |
Sources
*Unpublished CSO Statistics.
Unpublished Department of Social Welfare Statistics.
Note: The figures for dependants of long-term and short-term Unemployment Assistance are estimates derived from the Live Register Dependency Analysis. The figures for child dependants include full-rate and half-rate payments.
80.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare in view of the fact that, a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 has been granted an invalidity pension back-dated to June 1987, if a free fuel allowance for the winter season 1987-1988 will be paid to him retrospectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned has been awarded a fuel allowance under the national fuel scheme for the duration of the current heating season which began on 20 October 1988. The fuel allowance is designed to cover current heating needs and is not normally payable for earlier periods. Nevertheless, in the particular circumstances of this case, it has been decided that payment may be made for the 1987-1988 fuel season. Payment will issue shortly to the person concerned.
81.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 29 July 1988 after which date payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who considered him to be capable of work.
He indicated that he wished to appeal against this decision and he was examined by another medical referee on 17 November 1988 who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He is being advised of the position and issued with a form on which to set out the grounds for appeal if he wishes his case to be submitted to an appeals officer.