Jim Higgins
Question:130 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in finalising the appeal for unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Following investigations a deciding officer assessed the means of the person concerned at £30.90 per week from 1 August 1990. The means are derived from the net yearly value of his holding and from a small amount of capital.
He appealed against the decision and further inquiries were made by the social welfare officer in connection with the appeal. Determination of the appeal has been delayed as the papers were mislaid. This matter has now been rectified and the social welfare appeals office will proceed with the appeal without further delay.
Seán Barrett
Question:131 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who was in receipt of the free fuel allowance under the national fuel scheme, had this allowance withdrawn; and if he will ensure that it is restored as soon as possible.
To qualify for a fuel allowance a pensioner must live alone or with certain excepted categories of people. In addition, the pensioner and members of his-her household must not have a combined income of more than £5 a week or savings or investments of £2,800 or more in addition to his-her contributory social welfare pension.
The person concerned was refused a fuel allowance on 5 November 1990 as she failed to qualify under both headings. The person concerned is residing with her son who is not a qualified person for the purposes of this scheme, and she is in receipt of an occupational pension in excess of £5 per week.
There is no record within my Department that the person concerned was ever in receipt of an allowance under the national fuel scheme.
Austin Deasy
Question:132 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will modify the means test in respect of the carer's allowance, so that people with moderate means can still qualify for the full allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The carer's allowance scheme came into effect last November and provides an allowance direct to carers who are providing full time care and attention to elderly or invalided social welfare pensioners and who satisfy a means test. The maximum allowance is £45 with increases for each child dependent on the carer.
In the means test for carers allowance, as in the case of other social assistance schemes, account is taken of any cash income, savings and investments, as well as property, which the carer may have. If the carer is married, half of the means which the couple have between them will be attributed to the carer. The maximum allowance is payable where the means do not exceed £2 a week. However, a carer with a working spouse can qualify for some allowance if the joint means do not exceed: £93 if they have no children; £107 if they have one child; £122 if they have two children; £133 if they have three children; £148 if they have four children and £162 if they have five children.
I plan to review the uptake and operation of this new scheme once it is fully operational. Modification of the means provisions would have cost implications and would also have to be considered in a budgetary context.
John Ellis
Question:133 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department have now completed their investigation of the old age pension application of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
On 11 December 1990, the person concerned was awarded a reduced rate old age non-contributory pension at the rate of £41 a week from 12 October 1990. This is the rate of pension appropriate to her means, derived from her holding, which has been assessed as being between £16 and £18 a week.
A pension book issued on 14 December 1990 to her local post office for collection.
An arrears cheque for £169.70 covering the period 12 October to 13 December 1990 will issue to the person concerned as soon as possible.