Vol. 405 No. 4
92 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will have the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny investigated with a view to having all entitlements awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of a widow's contributory pension at the maximum rate of £56 per week. Arrears of pension amounting to £584.50 will issue to the person concerned within ten days.
Application forms for the various free schemes have issued to her for completion. When these forms are returned entitlement to allowances will be examined and she will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
93 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason he is stopping £4.80 per week from a person (details supplied) in Cork because a cheque that she claimed was mislaid has since been cashed by a third party; the way in which he can justify it in the absence of any proof that it was cashed by the person in question; and if he will now cease deducting the £4.80 per week and refund the money which has been stopped.
The person concerned reported the non-receipt of her weekly cheque for £48 in respect of the period 7 January 1991 to 12 January 1991. A replacement cheque was issued to her on 16 January 1991 following receipt of the completed indemnity form.
It came to light subsequently that the original cheque was cashed. The signature of the payee on both the original cheque and the replacement cheque appeared the same as previous cheques cashed by the person concerned. She was notified to this effect on 23 January 1991 and advised that deductions of £4.80 per week were being made to recover the amount overpaid.
94 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline the current position on the disability benefit appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
The person concerned was deemed capable of work by a medical referee on 18 October 1990 and payment of disability benefit was disallowed from 26 October 1990. She indicated that she wished to appeal against this decision and at a second medical examination by a different medical referee on 18 December 1990 she was again deemed capable of work.
She was notified of the result of this examination and invited by the social welfare appeals office to set out the grounds for her appeal. She indicated that she would submit her evidence at a later date. While this evidence has not yet been received it is, however, proposed to proceed with an oral hearing of her appeal when next an appeals officer is scheduled to visit her area.
95 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social Welfare the likely individual cost of extending the free travel scheme to any of the following categories of recipients (a) unemployment assistance, (b) unemployment benefit, (c) disability benefit, (d) all non-contributory and contributory widowers' pensions, (e) those in receipt of lone parents's allowance, and (f) all categories of social welfare recipients except those in receipt of child benefit.
On the basis of the present free travel arrangements, it is estimated that the likely annual cost of extending free travel to the categories mentioned would be of the following order:
|
£m |
|
|
(a) Unemployment Assistance |
10.5 |
|
(b) Unemployment Benefit |
4.0 |
|
(c) Disability Benefit |
3.5 |
|
(d) Lone Parents including Widowers |
1.5 |
|
(e) Other recipients of weekly payment¹ |
5.0 |
96 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was refused unemployment benefit on grounds of his not genuinely seeking work, even though he had produced clear documentary evidence to indicate that he had made numerous efforts to obtain employment; and if the decisions will be reversed.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 28 December 1990. His claim was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that he was not available for employment and was not genuinely seeking employment.
He was notified of this decision on 14 February 1991. He was also sent an appeal form should he wish to appeal to the social welfare appeals office. If he appeals, his entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
