asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
356.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 10 November 1980 and was paid from 13 November 1980, fourth day of incapacity. All disability benefit, and pay-related benefit, due has issued to 9 March 1981.
In view of the nature of his case it has been decided to pay him weekly in future and to require him to submit medical evidence of incapacity at monthly intervals only.
This man has failed to furnish his RSI number to my Department, despite several requests to do so, and special arrangements had to be made for payment of benefit in his case.
357.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has not received unemployment benefit.
The person concerned has not claimed unemployment benefit from my Department. On 11 February 1981, however, he claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of an accident at work on 9 January 1981. Payment could not be made pending inquiries as to the nature and origin of the incapacity.
On completion of those inquiries it was accepted that this incapacity is in fact due to an accident at work. Payment has now been made in respect of his claim from 9 January 1981 to 13 March 1981, date of latest medical certificate received.
358.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry did not qualify for a non-contributory old age pension at the full rate.
It was decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is entitled to a non-contributory old age pension at the reduced rate of £7.80 a week. His means, consisting of a holding and capital, do not entitle him to a pension at a higher rate.
359.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when payment will issue.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 January 1981 and has been paid at the maximum appropriate rate from 16 January, fourth day of incapacity. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due has issued to 18 March 1981.
Due to an administrative error, which is very much regretted, there was a delay in payment in the period 5 February to 25 February. An adjusting cheque in respect of this period issued on 13 March 1981.
360.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in Cork; and when payment will issue.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 November 1980 and was paid from 6 November, fourth day of incapacity at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit, and pay-related benefit, due was paid to 24 February 1981.
Payment was disallowed from 25 February 1981 as following examination by a medical referee he was considered capable of work. He has been advised of his right of appeal against this decision. If he is still incapable of work and wishes to appeal he should continue to submit medical evidence of incapacity. Arrangements will then be made to have him examined by a different medical referee. On receipt of the referee's report his claim will be reviewed.
361.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in making a full payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in Cork; and when the arrears of benefit will issue.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 20 May 1980 and all benefit due from 23 May 1980, fourth day of incapacity, to 23 August 1980 at the rate of £45.60 a week has been paid. He was certified as fit to resume work on 25 August 1980 and the final payment of £38 which issued to him was in respect of the period 19 to 23 August 1980 (five days only). He was therefore paid correctly on the medical evidence furnished.
He notified my Department on the 4 December 1980 of the non-receipt of certain cheques and a list of cheques which had been issued in August 1980 was forwarded to him requesting that he indicate the cheques not received by him. No reply was received to this request. A further list of cheques has now been issued and on receipt of a reply replacement action will be taken.
362.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was reduced by £14.00 for an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £25.75 weekly up to 22 July 1980, when he ceased to claim, apparently due to illness. He then applied for supplementary welfare allowance, which is currently in payment at the rate of £39.00 weekly. He has also received a fuel allowance from the Western Health Board under the national fuel scheme.
Inquiries have been made from the health board who state that there is no record of any reduction in the amount of the allowance as alleged in the question.
363.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since December 1979. There was some delay in recent payments as she failed to quote her RSI number on her medical certificates. Payment has been made to 21 March 1981. In future payment will issue on the same day each week but it will only be necessary for her to submit certificates at monthly intervals.
364.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to an applicant (details suppled) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 January 1981 and was paid from 22 January, fourth day of incapacity. Payment of disability benefit due on the medical evidence received to date has been made. The latest cheque issued on 11 March 1981.
When details regarding his earnings are available pay-related benefit, if due, will issue.
365.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 24 September 1980 and has been paid from 27 September, fourth day of incapacity at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit, and pay-related benefit, has been paid to 21 March 1981. In view of the nature of his case it has been decided to pay him weekly in future and to require him to submit medical evidence of incapacity at monthly intervals only.
366.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been reduced from £25.75 to £9.20 for an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The reduction in the person's weekly entitlement to unemployment assistance was brought about by two factors. One was a reduction of £2 a week to recover an overpayment of £118.75 incurred during a period last year when the person received payment in excess of his entitlement. The second deduction arose from the reassessment of his means when his wife became entitled to a non-contributory old age pension of £21 a week in her own right.
The person is accordingly being paid unemployment assistance at the rate of £9.20 a week which is the maximum rate applicable to a married man in a rural area (£28.40) less the value of his means (£17.20) together with a deduction of £2 on foot of the overpayment.
367.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a telephone rental allowance has not been granted to an elderly person (details supplied) who lives alone in County Dublin.
The information furnished in this person's application was to the effect that she was not living alone or with one other person who is permanently incapacitated. As the conditions of the scheme did not appear to be satisfied, her application was disallowed.
In view of the Deputy's statement, I have had the composition of the house-hold confirmed by an officer of my Department. I am now satisfied that the applicant is living alone and her application for the free telephone rental allowance has been approved with effect from 2 December 1980.
The lady concerned has also been advised of her entitlement to living alone allowance and the necessary steps have been taken to put it into payment without delay.
368.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a non-contributory old age pensioner (details supplied) in County Dublin had his pension book removed from him in September last while he was in hospital, and subsequently had a much reduced payment made to him, in view of the fact that he was still in hospital and was not in receipt of any other income at that time; and the steps he now proposes to take to remedy this situation.
The pension order book of the person concerned was recalled for adjustment in October because of increases he had received in his British retirement pension. My Department only subsequently became aware that the person was in hospital and that certain other income, which he obtained from self-employment, had ceased as a result.
The claimant's means have been reassessed in the light of these events and a pension order book at the rate of £18.60 payable from 13 March 1981 has been issued pending the local pension committee's decision on his entitlement to old age pension. Arrears due are in the course of issue.
369.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age contributory pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
No claim for old age contributory pension has been received from the person concerned.
She has, however, claimed a widow's contributory pension from my Department but on the evidence available she does not appear to be entitled to pension. The enquiries into her late husband's employment are continuing and she will be notified of the position on completion of these inquiries.
At the request of her son the question of entitlement to non-contributory widow's pension has been deferred pending a decision on the contributory pension.
370.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will be paid the balance of disability benefit due to him.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit from 29 July 1980 in respect of an accident at work on that date and was paid for the full statutory period of 26 weeks up to 26 January 1981.
As injury benefit is not payable beyond this period his claim subsequent to that date was treated as one for disability benefit. All such benefit due to 14 March 1981, at the maximum appropriate rate, has been paid.
When details regarding his earnings in the relevant tax year are available pay-related benefit, if due, will issue.
371.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability and pay related benefits will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 5 December 1980 and payment has been made to 12 March 1981. Further payments will issue on receipt of continuing medical evidence of incapacity for work. The question of her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and any benefit due will issue as soon as possible.
372.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was discontinued in a case (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will outline the provisions that exist in order that persons can live pending the outcome of an appeal.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 9 January 1980 and was paid to 17 January 1981. Payment was refused after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the decision to disallow her claim from 19 January 1981 but as she did not submit medical evidence of incapacity for work after that date there is no period in dispute to submit to an appeals officer.
She claimed unemployment benefit on 21 January 1981 and in reply to an inquiry stated that she is only available for part-time employment in her own area while her children are attending school. A deciding officer disallowed her claim on the grounds that she is not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance and her case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. Arrangements are being made to have her case heard as early as possible. If she considers that her means are insufficient to meet her needs she may apply to the local health board for a supplementary welfare allowance.
373.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The person concerned has not claimed disability benefit from my Department. The question appears to refer to her husband. In order to clarify the position it was necessary for an out-door officer to visit the parties to ascertain the nature of the inquiry.
The husband claimed disability benefit from 18 November 1980 and was paid from 21 November, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate, to 10 February 1981 after which date he was certified fit to resume work. All disability benefit due, less the amount, reimbursed to the health board, of supplementary welfare allowance advanced, has been paid. He was not entitled to pay-related benefit.
374.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason no disability benefit has been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 24 November 1980. She appears, however, to be quoting an incorrect number on the medical certificates submitted in support of her claim. The period of absence from work through illness has been ascertained from her employers and payment has now been made to 11 March 1981.
The question of her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and any benefit due will issue as soon as possible.