asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the long delay in deciding the application for unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
296.
The person concerned had been self-employed prior to his claim for unemployment assistance. Accordingly, extensive inquiries were necessary before a deciding officer was in a position to assess his means.
The case was recently finalised and the person concerned was assessed with nil means. He is entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £54.70 the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with four qualified children residing in a rural area. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of unemployment assistance due this week.
297.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position regarding a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan whose disability benefit was discontinued in May 1980 and who is not being paid either unemployment benefit or assistance although he lodged a claim.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned ceased on 24 May 1980 when he was found to be capable of work by a medical referee. He appealed against the decision but an appeals officer upheld the disallowance. He was in hospital from 1 November 1980 to 14 November 1980 and payment of disability benefit was made in respect of medical evidence which he furnished during this period.
He claimed unemployment benefit from 15 October 1980 to 31 October 1980 and again from 15 November 1980. Following inquiries his claim was disallowed on the grounds that he was not available for work. He did not appeal against the decision.
The person concerned ceased to sign as unemployed in December 1980. If he is still unemployed and the circumstances of his availability for employment have changed it is open to him to again claim unemployment benefit. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
298.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 17 June 1974 and was paid continuously from that date to 6 October 1980 at the maximum appropriate rate. Payment was refused after 6 October 1980 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the decision disallowing payment and in that connection was again examined by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
The claim was then referred to an appeals officer who decided that he was not incapable of work during the period 6 October 1980 to 22 December 1980, the date of the latest medical certificate before him at that time. In the meantime he had been in receipt of unemployment benefit from 7 October 1980 to 1 April 1981.
He again submitted medical evidence from 2 April 1981 but payment of disability benefit was not authorised pending a further examination by a medical referee. The examination has been arranged for 14 May 1981 and when the result is received his claim will be reviewed.
299.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position in regard to the pension application of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
It has not been possible from the particulars given by the Deputy to trace the application in question. It seems likely that the pension is not a social welfare type pension but is an occupational pension. I would suggest to the Deputy that he obtain full particulars of the deceased husband of the applicant and address any further inquiries to the office where the deceased had been employed.
300.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of a grievance of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin in respect of his request for a refund of social insurance contributions; and if he will undertake to investigate this complaint.
The request from the person concerned for a refund of social insurance contributions paid in respect of the period since he attained pensionable age of 66 years in June 1980 was received in my Department on 1 April 1981. There is no trace of any previous application having been received.
As the contributions for which a refund is being sought relate to the 1980-81 tax year for which Revenue returns have not yet been received it is necessary for an inspector of my Department to investigate the case. I am arranging to have the matter expedited and any refund due made at the earliest possible date.