Vol. 524 No. 3
161 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be approved for unemployment benefit based on a recent oral appeal hearing; and, if so, when and at what rate in view of the fact that she has provided documentary evidence of her availability for full-time work. [22554/00]
The person concerned applied for unemployment benefit on 10 January 2000 and payment was approved from that date.
On 30 May 2000 her entitlement was reviewed and she was requested to provide details of her availability for and her efforts to find employment. The person concerned responded on 15 June 2000 stating that she was not in a position to undertake full-time work. She also submitted a letter stating that she was about to start work for two days each week.
Having considered her claim, the deciding officer was of the opinion that she was neither available for nor genuinely seeking full-time employment and disallowed her claim, accordingly, with effect from 13 July 2000.
The person concerned appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office and an oral hearing took place on 5 October 2000. It is hoped that the appeals officer will be in a position to give a decision on the case at an early date. Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
162 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will review the level of payment of the living alone allowance which was last increased in 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22558/00]
The living alone allowance is an additional payment, of £6 per week, to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare type payments and who reside alone.
163 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will undertake a review of the circumstances of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 who is on a back to work allowance scheme and who, as a result of a change in the circumstances for his employer, will lose his back to work allowance and, perhaps, becoming unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22559/00]
The objective of the back to work allowance scheme is to provide a financial incentive to long-term unemployed persons to return to the active labour force and to remain there independently in the longer term.
The person concerned has been in receipt of the back to work allowance since November 1999. At that time the job which he took up was in excess of 20 hours a week which is the minimum requirement for a job to be approved under the scheme.
It is understood that the hours in the job have now been reduced due to circumstances outside the control of the recipient. In the particular circumstances it is not proposed to suspend payment of the persons back to work allowance.
164 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will back date the pre-1953 pro-rata pension payment to the 13,500 people who missed out on payments since reaching pension age. [22597/00]
The special measure which I have introduced in the Social Welfare Act, 2000, is designed to give further recognition to contributions paid prior to 1953. The Act, provided for the introduction, from May 2000, of a special flat-rate old age contributory pension, payable at 50 per cent of the maximum personal rate, to any person who became insurably employed prior to 1953 and who, due to the yearly average rule, failed to qualify for pension or qualified for a pension at less than 50 per cent, that is, £48 per week from May, of the standard maximum rate. To qualify, a person must have paid, at least, 260 contributions which may comprise all pre-1953 contributions or a combination of pre and post 1953 insurance.
Up to the end of September 2000, 1,866 people have been awarded pensions under these new arrangements. As well as inviting applications for this special pension the Department is also reviewing the position of some 13,500 people who are currently in receipt of a reduced rate pro-rata pension to establish if the pre-1953 pension would be more beneficial to them. I assume this is the group of people to whom the Deputy is referring in the question. Up to the end of September 2000 just over 8,000 of these cases were reviewed with 5,217 receiving an improved payment. All payments are backdated to May 2000 when the new provisions came into operation.
