asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the Midland Health Board is continuing to press for health contributions from insurable workers who are paying PRSI; and the action he proposes to take in the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
314.
Health contributions are payable by individuals who are over 16 years of age and who are in receipt of income whether derived from employment or investment or from profits or gains from farming.
In the case of employees the collection of contributions is integrated with the pay-related social insurance contributions system and the contributions are collected through the PAYE system.
In the case of profits or gains from farming the sums due by individuals in respect of health contributions are estimated and collected by health boards.
Depending on their circumstances individuals could have a liability to pay health contributions under more than one classification of income but an upper limit is provided for on the amount payable in respect of any one individual in relation to a particular contribution year. The maximum contribution payable in respect of the year ending 5 April 1981 is £70.
If an individual is paying health contributions as an employee and is also liable to pay health contributions in respect of profits or gains from farming the appropriate health board will arrange to make a refund of the excess paid by him in contributions to the health board where he can show that the total amount paid by him through the PAYE system and to the health board in respect of a particular year exceeded the maximum amount payable.
315.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying the living-alone allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who submitted an application in September 1980.
An application for restoration of her Living Alone Allowance was received on 30 September 1980 from the person concerned. Consideration of the claim was deferred as an earlier claim for a Prescribed Relative Allowance which had been disallowed by a deciding officer was then under consideration by an appeals officer. When this matter had been finalised the case had to be referred to the Department's local officer to verify that the pensioner was, in fact, living alone. The Living Alone Allowance has been restored with effect from 15 August 1980. A pension order book has been issued and the arrears due are in course of issue.
316.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of people under 66 years of age and in receipt of disability allowance in County Donegal who are in receipt of free travel.
Statistics of the kind referred to in the question are not kept on an age or geographical basis. I regret therefore that it is not posible to give the information requested.
317.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The claim to disability benefit by the person concerned was disallowed after 10 March 1980 following examination on 6 March 1980 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She was also examined on 9 June 1980 and the referee who examined her also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the decision disallowing her claim and the appeals officer to whom the matter was referred upheld the decision in respect of the period 11 March 1980 to 19 August 1980, the date of the latest medical certificte received.
Further medical certificates were submitted by her after that date but a deciding officer disallowed her claim from 20 August 1980. Arrangements are being made for a further examination by a medical referee. The claim will be reviewed on receipt of the referee's report.
318.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who was made redundant recently.
There is no record of a recent claim for unemployment benefit from the person concerned.
She claimed disability benefit from 19 January 1981 and payment has now been made at the maximum appropriate rate to 7 February 1981. Further payments will issue on receipt of medical certificates.
Some delay occurred in dealing with her claim as she failed to quote her revenue and social insurance No. on her medical certificates.
The question of her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and any benefit due will issue as soon as possible.
319.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in Cork city; and when payment can be expected.
All disability benefit due on the medical evidence received to 2 February 1981 issued recently to the person concerned. Further payments will issue on receipt of medical certificates.
The question of her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and payment, if any, due will be made on completion of these inquiries.
320.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason why since 14th January, 1981, payment has not been made to a person (details supplied) in County Cork in respect of disability benefit; and when payment will issue.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 January 1981. The first two certificates were received together in my Department on the 27 January 1981. The delay in the submission of the medical evidence resulted in some delay in payment. All benefit due to 5 February 1981 including pay-related benefit, has since issued.
321.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability and pay-related benefits to a person (details supplied) in Cork city, who has been out of work since 23 August 1980 due to illness and who has received no benefit since 19 January 1981; and the reason payment has not issued.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 23 August 1980 and was paid promptly on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity up to 20 January 1981. As he quoted an incorrect PRSI number on the medical certificates dated 21 January and 2 February there was some delay in associating them with the relevant papers for payment purposes. The matter has now been rectified and all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 14 February 1981 has issued to him.
322.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in Cork city; and when payment will issue.
The person concerned has claimed disability benefit from 20 January 1981 but it has not been possible to trace any of the medical certificates submitted prior to 9 February 1981. Confirmation of the date of commencement of her absence from work through illness has been obtained and all disability benefit due to 9 February 1981 has been issued. The question of her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and any benefit due will issue as soon as possible.
323.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability and pay-related benefits to a person (details supplied) in Cork city; and when payments will issue.
There was no delay in payment of benefit to the person concerned and all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 31 January 1981, date of final certificate, has been issued.
He has, however, informed my Department of the non-receipt of certain cheques which issued to him during recent months. Replacement action has been initiated and duplicate cheques will be issued to him on receipt of the usual undertaking in this matter.
324.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in Cork city; and when payment will issue.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 4 October 1980 and had been receiving payment regularly on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity up to January 1981. At that stage the change-over from insurance numbers to RSI numbers became effective for the purpose of payment of benefit. As she failed to quote her RSI number on her medical certificates, some delay occurred in the issue of benefit during the month of January. Payment has, however, now been made to 9 February 1981.
325.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Cork city who is a non-contributory pensioner of 72 years of age and living alone has been asked to return her pension books as her only other income consists of £11.40 per week from an English retirement pension.
The means of the person in question were re-investigated in the normal course recently following an increase in her British retirement pension. As the investigation indicated that she was no longer entitled to the rate of non-contributory old age pension in payment, her pension book was recalled for appropriate adjustment.
326.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability and pay-related benefits to a person (details supplied) in Cork city who has been out of work since 9 October 1980, and has received no benefit of any kind; and when payments will issue.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 9 October 1980, but he was not qualified for payment as, according to the records of my Department, he had less than the statutory minimum of 26 contributions, paid or credited, in the governing contribution year. Following protracted inquiries it was established that he had in fact sufficient weeks of insurable employment in the relevant governing contribution year to qualify for payment. I understand that, while these inquiries were being made, he was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance from the Southern Health Board.
Payment of benefit for the period 13 October 1980, fourth day of incapacity, to 23 January 1981, date of the latest medical certificate received, has been issued. An amount of £180.95 was withheld and refunded to the Southern Health Board to reimburse supplementary welfare allowance paid to him during the period of his claim.
His entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and payment, if any, due will be made on completion of inquiries.
327.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of occupational injury benefit to a person (details supplied) in Cork who has an invalided wife and who has lodged nine certificates in the employment exchange, Cork; and when payment will issue.
On 8 December 1980 the person concerned claimed benefit from my Department in respect of incapacity which he stated was due to an accident at work on 5 October 1979. He is not entitled to injury benefit on this claim as a period of more than 26 weeks has elapsed since the date of the alleged accident. In fact, the employers have already indicated that no accident was reported to them. However, he has been paid disability benefit at the maximum rate applicable to a married man from 10 December 1980 to 2 February 1981, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
In view of the conflict of evidence between himself and his employers regarding the accident, further inquiries are being made with a view to establishing the date of the accident and the nature of the injuries.
328.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
The social welfare officer who is investigating the pension claim in question is awaiting replies to a number of written inquiries about the applicant's financial position.
She expects that replies will immediately place her in a position to refer the claim to the local pension committee for decision.
If the social welfare officer's recommendation is favourable a pension will be put into payment straight away on a provisional basis pending the committee's decision.
Should the pension committee's decision be unfavourable, the applicant will, of course, have the right to appeal against it.
329.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the claim of a person for disability benefit (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit in respect of his incapacity, which commenced on 7 January 1981. The medical evidence covering his incapacity from 7 January to 26 January was issued by the doctor on 2 February and did not reach my Department until 5 February 1981. This delay in submission of medical certificates resulted in delay in the payment of benefit.
All benefit due to 2 February 1981, date of the latest medical evidence received has been issued. A claim form has been sent to him and, on its return, duly completed, to my Department, payment of any increase in benefit due in respect of dependants will be made.
The question of his entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and payment, if any, due will be made on completion of these inquiries.
330.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been terminated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The reason why payment of unemployment assistance to the person concerned has been terminated is that it has been held by a deciding officer that his means exceeded the statutory limit from 10 December 1980.
He appealed against this decision but an appeals officer upheld the disallowance on 19 January 1981. An appeals officer's decision is final in the absence of fresh facts or new evidence.
If the person concerned feels that his circumstances have changed in the meantime, it is open to him to re-apply for unemployment assistance and his case will be re-investigated.
331.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Meath has not received disability benefit for five weeks; the reason for the delay in making payment; when each of the medical certificates was received in his Department; and when the arrears will be paid.
The person concerned originally claimed disability benefit from 2 December 1980 but, as no further certificates were received, no payment of benefit was due on the claim. He again claimed benefit and submitted a first certificate from 6 January 1981 in respect of a different incapacity. A cheque covering payment of all benefit due in respect of the period 9 January, fourth day of incapacity, to 29 January 1981, date of the latest certificates received, was issued to him recently. In addition he has been requested to furnish a statement from his employer indicating the periods of absence from work due to illness since 2 December 1980. If he has been absent for any periods for which he has not already been paid a further payment of benefit will be made to him.
The delay in payment on the January 1981 claim was due to the fact that he failed to quote his RSI number on the earlier medical certificates and the claim could not be processed until the number became available on the certificates received towards the end of January.
The medical certificates submitted in support of his claims were each received in my Department within three or four days after the dates of issue by the certifier as shown on the certificates.
332.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in awarding a contributory widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's contributory pension at the maximum appropriate rate with effect from 9 January 1981. A pension order book has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her. As her husband had been in receipt of disability benefit prior to his death payment of benefit continued to be made to her for six weeks thereafter. She was not entitled to widow's pension until the expiration of that period on 8 January 1981
333.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned has been in receipt of occupational injury benefit and subsequently disability benefit from 26 March 1980 and had been paid regularly on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity up to January 1981. At that stage the change-over from insurance numbers to RSI numbers for the purpose of payment of benefit came into operation. The certificates submitted by him subsequently have only contained his insurance number. However, in view of the nature and duration of his incapacity he had been paid benefit up to 14 February 1981 and has been requested to ensure that in future all certificates will contain both the insurance number and the RSI number.
334.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of disability benefit already paid to an applicant (details supplied) in County Dublin; and when he may expect to obtain the outstanding moneys.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit under the occupational injuries scheme on 8 December 1980 in respect of an accident at work on 27 November 1980
Pending investigation of the claim, he was awarded disability benefit as an interim measure from 2 December 1980 at the rate of £50.50 a week which included increases in respect of his wife and three qualified children.
He was paid disability benefit totalling £454.50 in respect of the period up to 7 February 1981, the date of the last medical evidence received.
Following confirmation by his employers of the occupational accident injury benefit has been awarded in respect of the period from 27 November 1980. A payment of £108.59 in adjustment of injury benefit due for the period up to 2 February 1981 has been issued.
The person concerned may also be entitled to pay-related benefit. This will be determined on receipt of his reply to an enquiry which has been issued to him.
335.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of the maximum old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It was decided by the local pension committee on 2 February 1981 that the person concerned is entitled to a non-contributory old age pension at the increased rate of £9.00 a week. Her means, consisting of capital, do not entitle her to pension at the maximum rate. The appropriate pension order book and arrears due have been issued.
If she is dissatisfied with the pension committee's decision she may appeal against it.
As the pensioner in this case is a widow it is possible that she may be entitled to a widow's pension at a higher rate than the old age pension at present in payment to her. This aspect of the case is under consideration in my Department.
336.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who applied in August 1979 has not to date received her non-contributory widow's pension; and when payment will issue.
A claim for a widow's non-contributory pension from the person concerned was refused on the grounds that her means derived from the estimated yearly value of a farm and some capital exceed the statutory limit for a widow with no qualified children.
An appeal has been made but a decision by an appeals officer is being deferred pending confirmation of the transfer of the farm to the widow's son.
337.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary has not to date received disability benefit although seven medical certificates have been submitted.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 30 December 1980 and has been paid all benefit due to 13 February 1981, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance obtained by him from the South Eastern Health Board.
Payment was delayed for some weeks as he quoted an incorrect RSI number on the earlier certificate submitted in connection with his claim.
338.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 30 November 1980. The papers in her case were inadvertently misplaced and were not located until she furnished duplicate medical evidence in January 1981. All payment of disability benefit on the claim to 16 February 1981 has now been issued.
The delay in the issue of benefit in this case is regretted.
339.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
An application for free electricity allowance from the person in question has been approved from the August-September 1980 billing period onwards.
The notification of 12 August 1980, to apply the allowance and repeated copies of this notification were not received by the ESB.
The present position is that my Department has forwarded a further copy, by special messenger, to the district ESB office concerned in order that further delay may be avoided. The board will contact the person concerned regarding an adjustment to his account.
340.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of sickness benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has lodged 36 doctor's certificates to date.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 18 July 1980 but was not qualified for payment at the time as, according to the records of my Department, he had not the necessary required minimum of 26 contributions paid since his entry into insurance. Following inquiries it has been established that he had sufficient weeks of insurable employment to qualify him for benefit. Payment of all disability benefit due to 14 February 1981 has been made less the amount paid to him by way of supplemnentary welfare allowance.
When details regarding his earnings are available pay-related benefit, if due, will issue.
341.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 13 January 1981. The certificate bearing that date was forwarded to my Department together with the certificate for the 22 January 1981. As he was not qualified for payment on his record of contributions in the 1979-1980 contribution year it was necessary to obtain particulars of his insurance record in the 1978-79 contribution year. This data has since been obtained and payment of all disability benefit due to 13 February 1981 has issued.
The question of his entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and payment, if any, due will be made on completion of these inquiries.
342.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the arrears, which were claimed in respect of a widow's pension, have been paid to an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he is satisfied that the applicant is at present in receipt of the proper rate of payment.
The rate of widow's non-contributory pension payable to the person concerned was reduced with effect from 25 July 1980 following a reinvestigation of her means. An appeal against this decision was made by the Deputy on behalf of the widow. The appeals officer by decision of 12 February 1981 upheld the decision of the deciding officer.
The decision of the appeals officer is final and conclusive and can only be reviewed in the light of new facts or fresh evidence.