Jim Higgins
Question:268 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the old age non-contributory pension of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The person concerned applied for an old age non-contributory pension on 21 November 1988. Following investigation he was awarded a pension of £16.50 per week from 27 January 1989, that is, from the Friday following his 66th birthday. He was assessed with weekly means of £37.11, which was derived from a holding.
The person concerned appealed against the means assessment on 31 August 1989 and his case was referred to an appeals officer in September 1989.
Following a reinvestigation by the local social welfare officer, the appeals officer determined on 19 January 1990 that the pensioner was entitled to an increased pension. He awarded this pension at the rate of £34.30 per week, including a living alone allowance, from 27 January 1989 increasing to £35.90 per week, including the allowance from 28 July 1989. The rates of pension are based on weekly means of £23.23. The person concerned is also entitled to a free fuel allowance of £5 per week during the heating season.
Arrangements to issue the claimant with a new pension book at the revised rate of pension and any arrears of pension due to him have been made in my Department.
The person concerned has been informed of the appeals officer's decision.
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:269 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare if persons (details supplied) in County Cork will qualify for an old age contributory pension.
One of the persons concerned has been awarded an old age contributory pension at the maximum married rate of £102.20 per week with effect from 29 December 1989. A pension order book of £102.20, payable from 29 December 1989, is being issued to the relevant post office.
The other person, the spouse, applied for the old age non-contributory pension on 28 February 1989 but was not entitled as the means exceeded the statutory limit.
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:270 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance, a free fuel allowance, a free telephone rental allowance and a living alone allowance will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The application for free electricity allowance of the person concerned has been approved. The ESB have been instructed to apply the allowance to his account from the November/December 1989 billing period onwards which is the appropriate commencement date under the scheme. He is now also entitled to a free television licence which he may obtain at his local post office.
In order to qualify for the free fuel allowance, a person must be unable to provide for his/her own heating needs. This requirement would debar a person from receiving the allowance where his/her own heating needs are provided for under the provisions of a deed of transfer.
In accordance with the provisions of the deed of transfer agreed to by the person concerned and his son on 18 June 1986, the latter has undertaken to support and maintain his father during his lifetime. Consequently, the person concerned fails to qualify for free fuel allowance. It is, however, open to him to reapply for the allowance if there is a change in his circumstances.
The person concerned does not appear to have applied for a free telephone rental allowance. An application form for this allowance issued to him on 29 January 1990. On receipt of the completed form, his case will be forwarded to a deciding officer for determination and he will be notified of the outcome in due course.
The case of the person concerned is being forwarded to the social welfare officer in order to establish if he qualifies for the living alone allowance. On completion of the necessary investigation his case will be referred for decision and he will be notified of the outcome in due course.
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:271 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a living alone allowance will be payable to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an application for same was made in October 1989 and to date the person concerned has received no further correspondence in the matter.
The person concerned applied for a living alone allowance on 27 October 1989. Following investigation of the case by the local social welfare officer, it was held by a deciding officer on 18 January 1990 that he was entitled to a living alone allowance from 22 September 1990 — the Friday following the death of his wife.
The allowance has been put into payment with effect from the 17 November 1989. Arrears covering the period 22 September 1989 to 16 November 1989 will be paid as soon as possible.
Charles Flanagan
Question:272 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the free fuel allowance application of a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The person concerned is in receipt of a reduced rate old age non-contributory pension of £40.00 per week. He does not appear to have applied for the fuel allowance.
An application form has now been issued to him for completion. On its return his eligibility for the allowance can be determined and he will be informed of the decision without delay.
Charles Flanagan
Question:273 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the free fuel allowance entitlement of a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
In order to qualify for a free fuel allowance, a person in receipt of a qualifying payment must reside entirely alone or only with persons who come within certain categories.
As the person concerned is residing with his son who is not a qualified person for the purposes of this scheme, he is not entitled to this allowance.
Charles Flanagan
Question:274 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in deciding the outcome of an old age pension claim of a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
On 19 October 1989 the person concerned requested that her entitlement to non-contributory pension be re-examined. A previous application for pension had been refused on 27 May 1988, as her weekly means of £111.74 exceeded the statutory limit.
Her claim has been forwarded to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation. In order to finalise investigations and decide on entitlement to pension further information, relating to the claimant's bank transactions, is required.
On receipt of this information, her claim will be referred to a deciding officer for decision. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome as quickly as possible.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:275 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned applied for old age non-contributory pension on 8 January 1990. His case was referred to the local social welfare officer on 15 January 1990 for investigation.
When investigations are completed a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome without delay.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:276 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free fuel allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned does not appear to have lodged an application for free fuel allowance in my Department. An application form has now been issued to him for completion. On its return his eligibility for the allowance can be determined and he will be informed of the outcome without delay.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:277 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a free fuel allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
One of the conditions for receipt of this allowance in the case of contributory pensioners is that the means from other sources must not exceed £5 per week.
As the person concerned has an occupational pension in excess of £5 per week, it was decided on 25 October 1989 that he is not entitled to free fuel allowance.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:278 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an old age pension will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
An application for old age non-contributory pension was received in my Department on 9 January 1990. His case was then referred to the local social welfare officer for investigation. On completion of the necessary inquiries his file will be referred to a deciding officer for decision.
The person concerned will be informed of the outcome in due course.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:279 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange payment of an old age pension claim to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned does not appear to have lodged a claim for old age non-contributory pension. An application form was issued to her on 29 January 1990. On receipt of the completed application form, the case will be investigated and entitlement to pension decided.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:280 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will restore an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned was awarded old age non-contributory pension at the maximum rate from 28 September 1984 based on an assessment of weekly means of £4.01 arising from capital. He is being paid at a reduced rate of pension at present.
Following a review and reinvestigation of the case, a deciding officer decided on 19 December 1989, that he was only entitled to a pension from 15 December 1989 at £29.90 per week, the rate appropriate to a person with weekly means of £28.13 who is living alone. Means were assessed on the basis of profit from a holding and the value of capital. The increase in means was mainly attributable to a holding recently left to the person concerned by his deceased brother.
An appeal form has issued to the person concerned to enable him to appeal, if he so wishes, against the deciding officer's decision. He has been requested to set out clearly the grounds of his appeal and to include any relevant documents in support of his appeal. When this form is returned his case will be referred to an appeals officer for decision.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:281 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange payment of full old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
Following investigation of the case, it was decided by a deciding officer on 25 January 1990 that the person concerned is entitled to an old age non-contributory pension at the rate of £6 per week with effect from 26 January 1990. This is the rate of pension appropriate to a person with weekly means of £48.07, derived from a holding.
Arrangements for the payment of pension to the person concerned are now being made in my Department.
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:282 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payment of a free fuel allowance will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been awarded fuel allowance from the 20 October 1989. An allowance book is being issued to his local post office payable from 24 November 1989. Arrears of free fuel allowance for the period 20 October 1989 to 23 November 1989 will be paid as soon as possible.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:283 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a free fuel allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned does not appear to have lodged a recent application for free fuel allowance. An application made in June 1988 was disallowed in July 1988 as he did not fulfil the conditions at that time.
An application form has now been issued to him and, on receipt of the completed form, his entitlement to the allowance can be determined and he will be informed of the decision without delay.
Ivan Yates
Question:284 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has any eligibility for a contributory or an EC pension; and if details will be given to him of his Irish employment record.
It has not been possible to trace any application, correspondence or insurance record from the details supplied in respect of the person concerned.
A request has now been issued to him for further information. On receipt of this information his eligibility will be determined and he will be informed of the decision without delay.