asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
115.
Following re-investigation, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that, by failing to furnish details of his means, he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against this decision and in August 1988 an appeals officer also disallowed his claim. On 8 September the person concerned made a supplementary application and he was again disallowed on the same grounds. He appealed against this decision on 24 November 1988 and his case has been submitted to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.
116.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford has not received a free fuel allowance and a Christmas bonus in view of the fact that he has been unemployed since 1981, has been on disability benefit since November 1985 and has eight children under the age of 12.
The person concerned is in receipt of disability benefit since 4 December 1985. Payment is currently issuing at the weekly rate of £142.80, the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with eight dependent children.
The Christmas bonus and the national fuel allowance scheme apply only to recipients of certain pensions, allowances and long term unemployment assistance payments. They do not apply to persons in receipt of disability benefit.
117.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who was working for two years on a Social Employment Scheme and who paid PRSI in full has not been granted unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat-rate unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the weekly sum of pay-related benefit, flat-rate unemployment benefit and income tax rebate may not exceed 85 per cent of the average net weekly earnings of a claimant in the current tax year.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 24 August 1988 and his claim was authorised at the weekly flat-rate of £43.60, the appropriate maximum weekly flat-rate in his case.
On the basis of his income from 6 April 1988, to the date of his claim on 24 August 1988, the 85 per cent limit was calculated at £43.30. As the rate of unemployment benefit payable in this case exceeds this figure, pay-related benefit is not payable.
118.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of persons in the country having PRSI numbers or qualification certificates at (a) the present time, (b) June, 1985 and (c) June, 1986; the total number of persons in receipt of (1) unemployment benefit and (2) unemployment assistance at (a) the present time, (b) June 1985 and (c) June 1986; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The information requested by the Deputy, in so far as it is available, is contained in the following table. The number of persons with qualification certificates is not available.
TABLE
|
(A) |
(B) |
(C) |
|
|
1986-87 |
1984-85 |
1985-86 |
|
|
Number of Persons with RSI Numbers* |
1,219,750 |
1,191,920 |
1,198,110 |
|
End November |
End June |
End June |
|
|
1988 |
1985 |
1986 |
|
|
Total Recipients of Unemployment Benefit |
72,475 |
87,862 |
85,902 |
|
Total Recipients of Unemployment Assistance |
145,986 |
128,777 |
134,474 |
*Refers to the position at April of each year.
Source: Central Statistics Office, Live Register Monthly Statement. Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services 1987.
119.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has been unemployed since 20 December 1987 but has received no unemployment benefit/assistance since that date because he believed that having availed of the Enterprise Allowance Scheme he was no longer entitled to unemployment benefit/assistance; that his appeal for retrospective payment has failed; and if he will make arrangements for retrospective payment of an adult dependant allowance of the disability benefit claim of this person's spouse with effect from 20 December 1987 as she had to maintain this person totally since then and has had to borrow £1,800 from a credit union to supplement her weekly disability benefit payment of £52.50.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 24 October 1988 and his claim was allowed at the appropriate rate applicable in his case from that date. He applied for permission to sign retrospectively as unemployed from December 1987 to 22 October 1988, but permission was not granted as he had not shown good cause for his failure to prove unemployment.
The spouse of the person concerned has not submitted any claim for adult dependant's allowance in respect of her husband, but if she does so, her circumstances will be investigated and a formal decision will be given on the matter.
120.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age contributory pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6 who qualifies for same.
The person concerned will reach 66 years of age, the age from which contributory old age pension may be payable, in October 1989. She has made an inquiry regarding her potential entitlement to this pension.
She has stated that she was employed from 1953 to 1970 but has not been able to quote a social insurance number. So far, the Department have also been unable to trace a social insurance number and record in respect of her for that period.
The person concerned also stated that she resumed working in 1980. She has an RSI number, under which the Department have her contribution record for the period from the 1980-81 tax year.
To qualify for contributory old age pension, it is necessary, in addition to having the necessary contributions, to have entered insurance before age 56. In the case of the person concerned, entry to insurance in 1980 would not meet the latter condition.
The matter is still under investigation and the Department will be in touch with her again shortly.
121.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is currently in receipt of disability benefit will be considered for an invalidity pension; and if he will expedite the matter.
Invalidity pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work.
Arrangements are being made to have the person concerned examined by a medical referee. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.