Vol. 455 No. 4
131 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the free telephone rental allowance for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17 was discontinued; and if he will have arrangements made to have the allowance restored. [12165/95]
To qualify for a free telephone rental allowance, a number of qualifying conditions must be satisfied. One of these conditions is that the applicant must reside alone or only with children under 15 years of age or with other persons who are so permanently incapacitated as to be unable to summon assistance in the event of an emergency.
132 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Social Welfare the outcome of a review of a widow's pension for a person (details supplied) in County Offaly. [12211/95]
Late last year, a review of the person's non-contributory widow's pension took place. During the review, it came to light that her family had transferred all intestate interests in the family farm to the person concerned. She was assessed with weekly means of £101.92 from the farm which exceeded the means limit of £64 per week for entitlement to pension. Her widow's non-contributory pension was stopped from 24 February 1995.
The person concerned subsequently supplied additional information regarding her farming income and expenditure which would affect her farm means assessment.
All the necessary information has now been collected by a local officer from my Department including details supplied by the district veterinary office as late as last Friday evening. Her entitlement to pension will be decided by a deciding officer this week and she will be notified of the outcome without delay.
If the person concerned is not satisfied with the decision given by the deciding officer she may appeal for a review of that decision by the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
