asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost of extending benefits such as free travel, free television licence, free electricity allowance, free telephone rental allowance and free fuel allowances to those in receipt of retirement pensions.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
99.
Recipients of retirement pension aged 66 and over are currently entitled to free travel, free television licence, free electricity allowance, free telephone rental allowance and free fuel allowance if they satisfy the living alone conditions specified for each scheme. The cost of extending these schemes on the same basis to retirement pensioners aged 65 years would be about £1.5 million per annum.
100.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will make a decision in relation to an appeal against refusal of invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in Limerick.
Invalidity pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 16 September 1985. He was examined on 23 February 1989 by a medical referee who did not consider him to be permanently incapable of work and asked to have him referred for a further examination in four months. A deciding officer decided that he was not therefore entitled to invalidity pension.
As the person concerned was dissatisfied with this decision, arrangements are being made to have him examined by a different medical referee. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
101.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17 has been found not available for or genuinely seeking work, despite her work record of 20 years as a cleaner and the evidence she producerd to show she was currently seeking work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was made redundant in May 1987 and, since that time, she was paid either unemployment benefit or disability benefit for various periods until she was considered to be capable of work by a medical referee of the Department. She then renewed her claim to unemployment benefit but payment has disallowed by a deciding officer on 24 February 1989 on the grounds that she was not genuinely seeking employment. She appealed against the disallowance. An appeals officer, on the basis of the evidence available to him, also decided that she was not genuinely seeking work.
She made a further claim on 21 April 1989, and inquiries are being made at present in connection with this claim. When these inquiries are completed, her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined. The husband of the person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance and is paid an adult dependant allowance in respect of her.
102.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the disability benefit appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who was informed in a letter from his Department on 6 April 1989 that she would be advised of a further examination.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 9 March 1989 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to disallow payment and so arrangements have been made to have her examined by a different medical referee on 25 May 1989. She will be notified shortly of the time and place of examination. Her entitlement to payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report.
103.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the cancellation of an old age pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; if a pension was deemed payable when it was first applied for two years ago when the person concerned was a landowner then also; the way in which means of £44.50 can be calculated given the small number of stock on the small farm concerned; the reason for cancellation of the pension book without prior written notification; if he will undertake to review the decision forthwith given the hardship involved; and if he will restore the pension to the person concerned.
The person concerned was originally awarded an old age pension of £26.15 with effect from 14 January 1981. This was the appropriate rate of pension at that time for a married couple, with weekly means of £8.65. The pensioner's wife died on 30 March 1983.
Pension of £24.50 per week is now in payment. This is the rate of pension payable to a person whose weekly means are between £28 and £30. In this case the means, derived from a holding, are assessed at £30 per week.
As part of a routine review of the case the person concerned was visited by the local social welfare officer on 25 January 1989 and 10 March 1989. The weekly means assessment was reviewed, and revised means of £30 per week applied. The increase in weekly means was due to a significant increase in stock on the pensioner's holding, since the original means assessment in March 1981.
The person concerned was notified of the revised decision on his pension entitlement on 2 May 1989. His pension order book had expired in the normal course on 21 April and the renewal book was issued at the revised rate of pension payable from 28 April 1989. If the person concerned is not satisfied with the revised decision, it is open to him to appeal within 21 days.
104.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the disability benefit claim of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who forwarded certificates from his doctor and the hospital in December 1988, confirming his disability.
The person concerned appealed a decision to disallow payment of disability benefit after he had been found capable of work by a medical referee. His case was submitted to an appeals officer who has made a summary decision in the case and has allowed the appeal. Payment is being restored immediately. Arrears of benefit, less advances of other social welfare payments, if any, made to the person, will be paid as soon as possible.
105.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will justify the reason means were assessed at a rate of £44.23 per week against a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
Following investigation, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 7 September 1988 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 the disallowance on 25 September 1988. On 18 January 1989, an appeals officer assessed his means at £44.23 per week with effect from 7 September 1988. The means assessed against him are derived from the value of benefit and privilege on his father's holding. As this assessment exceeds the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case of £40.70 he is not entitled to payment.
He has since made a further claim for unemployment assistance and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for re-investigation of means. These inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and his case will then be submitted to a deciding officer for assessment of his means. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of this assessment.
106.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has had his rate of disability benefit payment reduced; and if he will be considered for an invalidity pension in view of his permanent incapacity to work.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 21 April 1987 and is currently in receipt of this payment at the weekly rate of £102.30 which is the maximum rate payable to a married person with three dependent children. Payments are issued in response to medical certificates which the person is required to submit weekly.
The claimant recently submitted a medical certificate covering three days only, the 19 to 21 April, and a cheque for £51.20 was issued in respect of that period. He subsequently submitted a medical certificate to the period 28 April and payment at the full weekly rate was issued on that certificate. Weekly payments will continue as medical certificates are received.
An application form for invalidity pension was issued to the person concerned on 5 May 1989. When this completed form is returned to the Department his entitlement to invalidity pension will be determined.