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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Michael Ring

Question:

460 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be increased, with arrears payment, to reflect the unemployed status of her dependent spouse and in view of the fact the claim was made some time ago. [8076/99]

On 26 November 1998 an appeals officer assessed the weekly means of the person concerned at £64.00 from 5 March 1998, derived from benefit from her spouse's income from self-employment. She is, entitled to payment of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £32.90.

It is open to the person concerned to seek a review of her entitlement if she feels her circumstances have changed since her means were last assessed. A form for this purpose has been issued to her.

If the husband of the person concerned is experiencing periods of unemployment, it is open to him to apply for unemployment assistance in his own right. He should contact his local office in this regard.

Michael Ring

Question:

461 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive unemployment benefit. [8077/99]

Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the statutory condition that a person must be available for work.

An unemployment benefit claim may be disallowed if a deciding officer is not satisfied that the claimant is available for work. The claimant may also be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit for a period not exceeding nine weeks if they leave employment voluntarily without just cause.

The person concerned applied for unemployment benefit on 5 March 1999. Her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work. She was also disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit for a period of nine weeks from 3 February 1999 to 6 April 1999 on the grounds that she left work without just cause.

It is open to the person concerned to appeal these decisions. Forms for this purpose may be obtained from her social welfare local office.

Michael Ring

Question:

462 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if the case of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who is in receipt of social welfare and carer's allowance payments will be re-assessed in view of the fact that he disagrees with the Department's assessment of his means of £30.96 derived from the net weekly value of a holding. [8078/99]

The person concerned is at present in receipt of carer's allowance at the rate of £47.50 per week. The last review of his means took place in July 1996. Arrangements are being made to have his means re-assessed as soon as possible. On completion of the necessary inquiries a decision will be made on his continuing entitlement and he will be notified of the outcome.

Richard Bruton

Question:

463 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will extend the free schemes to persons aged 75 or over who are adult dependants on another person's pension on the same basis as where the claimant is 75; and the estimated cost of this concession. [8123/99]

The free schemes such as free electricity allowance, free telephone rental allowance and free TV licence are available to people, usually aged 66 or over, who are in receipt of a welfare type payment and who are either living alone or who otherwise satisfy this condition. In addition, widows/widowers between the ages of 60 and 65, whose late spouses had been in receipt of the free schemes, retain that entitlement.

The free schemes are also available to people who are over 75 years of age and who are in receipt of a qualifying payment or who satisfy a means test regardless of who resides with them. In order to satisfy the means test the applicant's means must not exceed the maximum rate of the old age contributory pension, which is currently £83.00 per week, plus £30 per week.

An adult dependant or qualified adult who is aged 75 or over may qualify for the free schemes if s/he satisfies the means test.

The free schemes were originally designed to benefit mainly older people in receipt of a social welfare type payment who were living alone and required additional assistance. However, over the years the schemes have been expanded to encompass additional categories of people. A fundamental review of the free schemes has just commenced in order to assess whether the objectives of these schemes are being achieved in the most efficient and effective manner. It is expected that the review will be published late this year.

Michael Creed

Question:

465 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the specific entitlements, if any, his Department has for diabetics; if these entitlements are means tested; and if this entitlement exists, if he will consider an awareness campaign to highlight its existence. [8201/99]

Under the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993, every person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet his or her needs and the needs of any adult or child dependant, has an entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance.

It is expected that the normal day to day food bills would be met from any weekly social welfare payment. However, additional assistance in the form of a weekly diet supplement, is available to an eligible person who has been prescribed a specified diet arising from a specific medical condition and whose means are insufficient to meet this need. A diet supplement can be paid provided a person also satisfies the general rules governing entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance. A diabetic diet is a specified diet for diet supplement purposes.

Entitlement to a diet supplement is determined by the health boards in accordance with the legislative provisions which specify the medical conditions in respect of which a diet supplement may be paid.

The main considerations in determining entitlement for a diet supplement are the type of diet prescribed, the household income and whether the person in respect of whom the diet supplement is payable is an adult or a child.

Information regarding the diet supplement is available in the SWA information booklet, SW54, and the Guide to Social Welfare Services book, SW4, or by contacting any local health centre. There are no plans at present for a publicity campaign to highlight awareness of the diet supplement.

A person who wishes to apply for a diet supplement should contact the community welfare officer at their local health centre.

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