asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he intends issuing a free electricity allowance to persons (details supplied) in County Clare.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
95.
In order to qualify for a free electricty allowance, a person in receipt of a qualifying payment must reside entirely alone or only with persons who come within certain excepted categories.
The allowance was withdrawn from the persons concerned as their daughter, with whom they resided, did not come within the categories whose residence is accepted for the purposes of the "living alone" condition.
A recent review has confirmed, however, that the conditions of the scheme have been satisfied in this case since May 1989 and the allowance has now been restored to the persons concerned with effect from that date.
96.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will issue a full old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned applied for an old age non-contributory pension on 28 August 1989. A deciding officer decided on 24 October 1989 that he was entitled to receive a pension at the weekly rate of £36 with effect from 27 October 1989.
This is the rate of pension appropriate to a person who has been assessed with weekly means of £19.23, means were assessed on the basis of a holding which was estimated to provide an income of £1,000 per annum. A payable order book, effective from 27 October 1989, has been issued to his local post office.