asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange that the combined pensions of a person (details supplied) in County Cork will not be reduced in value when she reaches 67 years of age on 10th May 1977 because she has received notification that one pension is to cease on that date.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
39.
Under existing legislation a widow's pension and a blind person's pension are not payable concurrently to a person who has reached pensionable age, which at present is 67. As the person concerned, who had hitherto been in receipt of both these pensions, reached the age 67 on 8th May, 1977, she is accordingly entitled only to one pension after that date, which in her case is the higher rated widow's contributory pension.
40.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a full allowance for a single woman paid to a person in County Cork (details supplied).
Single woman's allowance at the full rate is not payable to the person concerned as her weekly rate of means which are derived from the benefit or privilege of free or partly free board and lodgings enjoyed by her on her brother's holding has been assessed at £3.90. She is being paid the allowance at the rate of £6.45 a week which is the rate appropriate to her weekly rate of means. She was notified of the means assessment in her case and of her right to appeal against it if she was dissatisfied.
41.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why the full rate of non-contributory old age pension of £11.75 is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in the County Laois; and why her pension books were withdrawn from her a short time ago.
The full rate of non-contributory old age pension is not being paid to the person concerned as the weekly rate of means assessed in her case entitles her to pension at the rate of £10.50 a week only. It recently came to light, however, that an old age pension book at the full rate had been issued to her in error and it was therefore withdrawn and replaced by the one at the correct rate. Her means are now being re-investigated to ascertain whether there has been any change in circumstances since her pension was awarded.
42.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit has been withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in County Laois, who is certified as being only fit for light work, despite the fact that no such light work has been offered to him and he is still drawing disablement benefit.
Payment of unemployment to the person concerned was suspended from 27th April, 1977, when it came to the attention of the local office of my Department that he had refused an offer of employment. Certain inquiries had to be made regarding the reason for this refusal. The results of these inquiries were submitted to a deciding officer who decided on the evidence available to him that the refusal of the offer of work by the person concerned was reasonable in the circumstances and that he should be allowed unemployment benefit. Arrangements have now been made to have payment of all unemployment benefit due to him paid during the current week.
43.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (name supplied) in County Offaly who signed on at Tullamore exchange some weeks ago.
The person concerned who made a claim for unemployment benefit on 4th April, 1977, was disqualified for receipt of benefit for a period of six weeks from 23rd March, 1977, on the ground that he lost his employment on that date through his own fault. He has been notified of this decision and of his right to appeal against it if he is dissatisfied. As the disallowance expired on 3rd May, 1977, arrangements have been made to have payment of unemployment benefit made to him from the following day.