Willie Penrose
Question:215 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will review the refusal of applications by the self-employed for disability benefit based on PRSI contributions. [14687/04]
View answerWednesday, 19 May 2004
Questions (215, 216)
Written answers
Workers are generally insurable under the Social Welfare Act either as employed or self-employed contributors. The nature of an employment determines the PRSI contribution due and the range of benefits and pensions to which contributors build up an entitlement.
The majority of insured workers are employees and thus pay PRSI class A contributions. Over a period they can build up an entitlement to a range of benefits and pensions, including disability benefit.
PRSI for the self-employed was introduced in 1988. They are compulsorily insured through the payment of PRSI contributions and the award of class S contributions. Their contributions are reckonable for the following benefits and pensions: widow or widower's contributory pension, orphans contributory pension, old age contributory pension, maternity benefit, adoptive benefit and the bereavement grant.
In 1988 social insurance for the self-employed was introduced. At the time short-term benefits, such as disability benefit and unemployment benefit, were excluded given the difficulties of extending them to self-employed workers. At present there are no plans to extend any of the short-term benefits to the group.
Some self-employed workers that were previously employees and paid PRSI contributions at the class A rate may continue to be entitled to a range of short-term benefits for a period of approximately two years after commencing self-employment.
Michael Ring
Question:216 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason an application for fuel allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was returned to her; and when she will be approved for the allowance. [14772/04]
View answerA fuel allowance application was submitted by the person together with a cover letter from the health board giving details of a UK pension and a copy of her late husband's death certificate. On 4 May the pensions services office received her form and documents. They were not returned to her. On 7 March her husband died. Prior to his death he had been in receipt of the fuel allowance. He last received it on 27 February. Consequently the person concerned now qualifies for fuel allowance in her own right at the weekly rate of €9 from 5 March to 16 April, the end of the 2003-2004 fuel season. Arrangements are being made to issue the arrears due as soon as possible.
The pensions services office received her late husband's fuel allowance book without a covering note stating why it was returned. It is standard practice to write to the pensioner to establish why it happened. As a result a letter issued to clarify the reason the fuel allowance book was returned. This was done before the widow had been cross-referenced with her husband's details.