asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person (name supplied) in County Offaly did not receive a single woman's allowance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Single Woman's Allowance.
120.
It was decided by a statutory deciding officer that the person is not entitled to a single woman's allowance on the ground that her means, calculated on the value of benefit or privilege of free board and lodgings, exceed the statutory limit of £6.50 weekly for entitlement to the allowance.
The claimant was duly informed of her right of appeal if dissatisfied with the decision.
This lady told me she has no means, that she has not received payment from any source and that the people with whom she is staying are keeping her because of their goodwill. Would the Parliamentary Secretary give sympathetic consideration to this question?
The Deputy will be aware this is not the function of the Minister. The decision was made by a statutory deciding officer. The information available to me is that the lady lives with her brother on a farm of 372 acres and the land is quite good. I have no power to interfere with the decision of the deciding officer. The lady has been informed of her right to appeal if she wishes to do so.
It is open to her to appeal?
Yes.
121.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons in receipt of the social assistance allowance for elderly single women; the number receiving the maximum rate; and the number at each rate of the scale.
The total number of persons in receipt of the single woman's allowance is 2,316. Of these 971 are receiving the maximum allowance of £6.35 weekly and the numbers at the remaining rates of the scale are:
|
455 at |
£5.35 |
|
318 ,, |
£4.35 |
|
235 ,, |
£3.35 |
|
196 ,, |
£2.35 |
|
103 ,, |
£1.35 |
|
38 ,, |
85p |