Michael Ring
Question:645 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can be reassessed for the farm assist scheme. [17569/99]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
A deciding officer assessed the weekly means of the person concerned at £12 derived from income from a holding. This assessment entitles him to payment at the weekly rate of £170.70. Arrears of £112.00 covering the period 7 April 1999 to 22 June 1999 were issued on 1 July 1999.
The person concerned appealed this decision to the independent appeals office. On 22 September, 1999, an appeals officer upheld the deciding officer's decision.
An appeals officer's decision is final in the absence of new facts or fresh evidence. However, it is open to the person concerned to seek a review of his entitlement if he feels his circumstances have changed since his means were last reviewed. A form for this purpose may be obtained from his social welfare local office.
Michael Ring
Question:646 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been disallowed disability benefit in view of the medical evidence to the contrary. [17570/99]
Payment of disability benefit was discontinued by a deciding officer following a medical examination by a medical assessor of my Department and a finding that the person concerned was not incapable of work.
Her appeal against that decision to the independent social welfare appeals office was considered by an appeals officer who decided that an oral hearing of the appeal was necessary. This hearing is arranged for Wednesday 29 September 1999 and the person concerned was notified to this effect on 16 September.
The outcome of the appeal will be notified to the person concerned within the next two to three weeks.
Michael Ring
Question:647 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be refunded £10 which was taken from his pre-retirement allowance; and when his appeal will be heard. [17571/99]
The pre-retirement allowance in payment in this case was reduced from £71.50 to £61.50 per week on the basis of the means attributable to the British retirement pension in payment to his spouse. He was advised of this decision, the reasons for it and his right to appeal on 13 July last.
He appealed against the decision on 20 September. His case has been referred to the social welfare appeals office which will be in contact with him shortly regarding his appeal.
Michael Ring
Question:648 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon is ineligible for a family income supplement. [17573/99]
To qualify for family income supplement a couple with children must have a combined total of at least 38 hours' work per fortnight, 19 hours per week, and the average weekly income of the household must be below a prescribed income limit which varies with family size.
An application for family income supplement, FIS, was received from the person concerned on 26 July 1999.
As the household income exceeded the prescribed income limit for a family with three children, the application was refused. They were notified of this decision, the reasons for it and their right of appeal to the social welfare appeals office on 29 July 1999.