asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will furnish the following information regarding the decision of his Department regarding claims and payments of benefit to an insured person (details supplied) indicating: (a) the period in respect of which payments were made, (b) the amount and nature of benefit, (c) the dates on which decisions were made by deciding officers and appeals officers, (d) why benefit was discontinued; if he is aware that the employer concerned would not allow the employee to resume work on the grounds that he was not fit to do so; and why unemployment benefit was not automatically paid to the employee when he became available for work having been certified fit for work.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Applicants.
171.
The person referred to by the Deputy was paid disability benefit from 13th September, 1976, to 19th February, 1977, when he was certified by his own doctor as fit to resume work. Benefit was paid at a reduced rate as he had only 33 credited contributions in 1975, the contribution year governing his claim. The total amount paid was £230.
He again claimed disability benefit from 7th March, 1977, and payment amounting to £103 was made from that date up to 11th May, 1977. Following examination on 12th May, 1977, by a medical referee who found him capable of work, it was decided on 17th May, 1977, by a deciding officer that benefit was not payable from 12th May, 1977. He appealed against that decision and on 16th September, 1977 an appeals officer reversed the decision given by the deciding officer and restored benefit. Payment of disability benefit amounting to £40.80 for the period from 12th May, 1977 to June, 1977, was made to the claimant on 30th September, 1977.
Title to benefit subsequent to 4th June, 1977, is governed by the number of contributions the claimant had paid or credited in the 1976 contribution year and as he had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions in that year, payment could not be made subsequent to 4th June, 1977. Following inquiries made by my Department, arrears of contributions amounting to 20 in the 1975 contribution year and 36 in the 1976 year were paid by his employers on 7th December, 1977, and these contributions affected his entitlement to benefit not only in the current year but in respect of the previous year.
A cheque for arrears of benefit of £353.71, accordingly, was issued to the person named on 9th December, 1977. This amount was made up as follows:— £320.41, representing payment of disability benefit at the maximum rate for the period from 6th June, 1977, to 29th November, 1977, the date of the last medical certificate received from him, plus an adjusting payment of £33.30 in respect of the difference between the maximum weekly rate and the reduced weekly rate of disability benefit already paid for the periods prior to 4th June, 1977.
I am aware that, as stated by the Deputy, the person concerned recently sought to resume work but was not allowed by his employer to do so. He lodged a claim to unemployment benefit at his local employment office on 2nd December, 1977. That claim was not allowed as he had furnished certificates of incapacity up to 29th November, 1977, and had not submitted a final certificate indicating that he was fit to resume work. If he is unfit for work and submits the necessary medical evidence, his entitlement to disability benefit from 30th November will be reviewed.
172.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment assistance has not been granted to a person (name supplied) in County Kildare who applied ten weeks ago.
Payment of all unemployment assistance due to the person concerned was made to him on 9th December, 1977.