asked the Minister for Social Welfare if former members of the Defence Forces are entitled to claim unemployment benefit on their contributions when they leave the forces.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
704.
Enlisted members of the Defence Forces, on leaving the Army, are entitled to unemployment benefit, subject to the usual conditions which apply to all claimants. Commissioned Army Officers and permanent members of the Army Nursing Service, however, on leaving the Army, are not entitled to unemployment benefit.
705.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related and unemployment benefits have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The entitlement of the person concerned to pay-related benefit could not be determined until details of her reckonable earnings during the relevant income tax year April 1979 to April 1980 were known.
The person concerned only recently supplied details of her pay-related social insurance number and on that basis her entitlement to pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £6.98 was established.
Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due to her when she calls to the local office dealing with her claim and she has been notified accordingly.
706.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason arrears of seven weeks of maternity benefit have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 23 May 1981 and subsequently maternity benefit in respect of a confinement expected on 5 September 1981. On the basis of the information available at the time of her claim the maternity allowance period in her case was calculated from 29 June to 3 October 1981 and payment was made accordingly. This period has since been revised to 27 July to 31 October 1981. The effect of this revision is that payment of disability benefit has been allowed for the period 23 May to 25 July 1981 and maternity allowance has been allowed from 27 July to 31 October 1981, after which date she resumed work. A cheque for the full amount of the balance of benefit due has been issued to her.
707.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason five months arrears of a children's allowance have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
A claim for children's allowance in respect of a child born in March 1981 was received from the person concerned in August 1981 and payment was made with effect from September 1981.
An earlier claim stated to have been made by the claimant could not be found, despite an exhaustive search in the Department.
However, on reconsideration I have made arrangements for payment to be made from April 1981, which is the earliest possible date from which payment can be made in respect of a child born in March 1981.
A payable order for £25.50 in respect of arrears due for the period April 1981 to August 1981 issued on 4 December 1981.
708.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit of only £44.00 per week is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 28 August 1981 and his claim has been authorised to 1 December 1981 at the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with three qualified children. He was originally paid at the personal rate plus an increase of benefit in respect of his children as he had indicated on the claim form submitted to my Department that he was not claiming an increase of benefit for his wife.
The matter has now been corrected and an increase in benefit for his wife has accordingly been allowed for the full period of the claim. The arrears due have, however, been refunded to the Midland Health Board to offset payment of supplementary welfare allowance received by him during the period of his claim.
As from 25 November 1981 the full amount of benefit in respect of himself, his wife and three children is being paid direct to him.
709.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 18 October 1981 and payment of all disability benefit due to 12 December 1981 has issued.
Payment was originally made from the commencement of the claim to 24 October 1981, at which stage she quoted a different RSI number on the medical certificates submitted in support of her claim. It was necessary to suspend payment in order to establish the correct RSI number and whether she was entitled to continuing payment of benefit. When the matter was resolved the arrears of benefit due issued on 2 December 1981.
Her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and any benefit due will issue as soon as possible.
710.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 May 1981 and was paid from 15 May 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 16 May 1981 after which date he was certified fit to resume work. He again claimed disability benefit from 12 June 1981 and was paid from 16 June 1981, fourth day of incapacity, for one day only as he was certified fit to resume work on 17 June 1981.
There is no record in my Department of the receipt of medical evidence of incapacity in respect of the period 9 June to 11 June 1981. The medical certificate dated 12 June was a first certificate indicating that the illness commenced on that date.
711.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan is entitled to a dependant's allowance with her disability benefit; and, if so, when the allowance will be paid.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 20 December 1980 and was paid at the maximum rate appropriate to a married woman. She also claimed an increase of benefit in respect of her husband and six children from 17 August 1981 but before payment could be allowed it was necessary to make inquiries regarding the nature of her husband's incapacity.
Following the completion of the inquiries it was decided to allow payment of the increase of benefit from 17 August 1981 to 28 November 1981 after which date the husband resumed work. The balance of benefit due for this period, less the amount refunded to the North Eastern Health Board in respect of supplementary welfare allowance advanced, has now been paid to her.
As from 30 November 1981 the rate of benefit payable to the claimant is the maximum appropriate rate for a married woman. All benefit due has been paid to 12 December 1981.
712.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who applied on 6 April 1981.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit and submitted medical evidence of incapacity in respect of the periods 14 April to 21 April 1981 and 18 May to 25 May 1981. At the dates of his claims he was not entitled to payment as, according to the records of my Department, he had not the 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. It has also been ascertained from his employers that he was absent from work due to illness from 6 April to 25 April 1981 and from 18 May to 30 May 1981. Payment of all disability benefit due in respect of these periods has been made.
713.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
In order to determine the entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit, protracted inquiries were found necessary to establish the extent of her part-time employment. Her employers have been asked to furnish details of dates on which she was employed and a decision will be given when the information is received.
714.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if her Department will pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
The person concerned claimed disability from 3 September 1981 to 11 November 1981, after which date she was certified fit to resume work. As, according to the records of my Department, she had not the required minimum of 26 paid contributions to her credit she was not entitled to payment. Following inquiries it was established that she had sufficient weeks of insurable employment to qualify for benefit. Payment of all benefit due on her claim issued on 4 December 1981.
715.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is aware that a social welfare officer called to a person (details supplied) in County Cork on 5 October 1981 to determine her eligibility for a non-contributory widow's pension; and when she will receive the first payment.
The person concerned whose husband died on 27 May 1981 claimed a widow's non-contributory pension from my Department on 27 August 1981. The claim was refused on the grounds that her means derived from the estimated yearly value of a farm and some capital exceeded the statutory limit for receipt of pension by a widow with two qualified children. She was notified of this decision on 24 November 1981 and of her right, if dissatisfied, to appeal against it. No appeal has been received to date.
716.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment and pay-related benefits will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 14 November 1981 but as he was in receipt of holiday pay from his employer his claim was disallowed by a deciding officer from that date until 27 November 1981 on the grounds that he was not unemployed during that period. His claim was admitted from 28 November 1981 and payment authorised at the weekly flat rate of £48.40. Inquiries to establish his entitlement to pay-related are being made.
The person concerned is a postal applicant and arrangements have been made to issue an order for encashment at his local post office paying all flat rate unemployment benefit due to him this week.
717.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why the non-contributory pension was withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
The person concerned was awarded a widow's non-contributory pension from 22 February 1981 pending investigation of her entitlement to a contributory pension. On completion of the inquiries she was awarded a contributory pension from the same date and she ceased to be entitled to the non-contributory pension. The contributory pension book with orders payable from 3 July 1981 issued to the designated post office on 26 August 1981 and it has been confirmed that it was collected by her. The arrears of contributory pension less the amount of non-contributory pension received were issued direct to her on 11 September 1981. The relevant regulations under the Social Welfare Acts preclude the payment of widow's contributory pension and non-contributory pension concurrently.
718.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a claim for a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
The person concerned has been awarded deserted wife's benefit at the maximum appropriate rate for a woman with two qualified children with effect from 24 September 1981. An allowance book with orders payable from 10 December 1981 has issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly.
Arrears due from 24 September 1981 have been paid directly to her by payable order after adjustment for the increases in her husband's unemployment benefit, in respect of herself and two children, which have been in payment separately to her and also for the amount of supplementary welfare allowance received by her since that date from the Eastern Health Board.
719.
(Wexford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
I regret that despite an exhaustive search it has not been possible from the details supplied to trace a claim for an old age pension from the person concerned. The local social welfare officer has also intimated that he has no record of the receipt of a claim for pension from this woman. If the Deputy can furnish further particulars (such as a reference number, insurance number or RSI number) which would help to identify the person concerned, I will arrange to furnish the required information.
720.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension has not been paid by the British authorities under EEC rules to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Details of the Irish insurance record of the person concerned were sent to the British Department of Health and Social Security on 19 October 1981 for consideration of his entitlement to a British retirement pension under EEC regulations. The question of the award of such pension is a matter for the British authorities and my Department have no function other than to supply details of his Irish insurance record.
The claimant has been in receipt of an old age contributory pension and a living alone allowance from my Department since 23 January 1981 on the basis of his Irish insurance.
721.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an increase in rural unemployment assistance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned who is in receipt of unemployment assistance has appealed against the assessment of means and in the light of his contentions his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries about earnings from self-employment. When the inquiries are completed his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination.
722.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when deserted wife's benefit will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed deserted wife's benefit on 12 November 1981. The inquiries have not yet been completed but it is expected to have a decision on the claim within the next week.
723.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a prescribed relative's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Prescribed relative allowance may not be paid where the prescribed relative has an entitlement to another benefit or allowance at a higher rate. In this case the prescribed relative receives a maximum rate widow's pension which is higher than the rate of prescribed relative allowance. The claim of the person concerned has therefore, had to be disallowed.
724.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 28 September 1981 and payment of all disability benefit at the maximum appropriate rate and pay-related benefit due to 5 December 1981 has issued. The weekly rate of benefit at present payable in her case, £30.62, consists of disability benefit at the rate of £25.30 and pay-related benefit at the rate of £5.32. Further payments will issue on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity.
725.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total payments in respect of the period 1 January to 3 November 1981, which have been made to a company (details supplied) in County Donegal in respect of free travel.
It is not normal practice to disclose information regarding payments made to a private company without the consent of the company concerned.
726.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange for the payment of children's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
An application for children's allowance was received from the person concerned on 10 November 1981 in respect of a child who was recently orphaned. Further investigations are necessary in this case to determine who is entitled to receive the allowance. When these inquiries have been completed a decision will be reached without delay.
727.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange for the immediate payment of an orphan's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned, who is the orphan's guardian, has been awarded a contributory orphan's pension with effect from 26 June 1981, the Friday following the death of the mother who was a widow. A pension book containing orders from 2 October 1981 was issued on 7 December 1981 to the designated post office and the guardian has been notified accordingly. Arrears of pension due from 26 June 1981 to 1 October 1981 have been paid direct to her.
728.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange for the immediate return of an allowance book and for the approval of a blind pension, at the maximum rate for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Due to an increase in the means of the person concerned a question for reduction of her blind pension from £25.15 to £22.75 is being raised and referred to the local pension committee for decision. A pension order book at the rate of £22.75 payable from 4 December 1981 has been issued to her pending the committee's decision. If she is dissatisfied with the pension committee's decision she will have the right to appeal against it.
729.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 18 May 1981 and has been paid from 21 May 1981, fourth day of incapacity at the maximum appropriate rate. Payment of all benefit due on her claim to 7 December 1981, date of latest medical evidence received, has issued. Her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and on completion of those inquiries any arrears of benefit due will issue.
730.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person's invalidity pension (details supplied) in County Donegal was reduced two months prior to the statutory date.
The person concerned, who has been in receipt of invalidity pension from 20 November 1980, was issued with two renewal books in October 1981. The rate of pension payable was however, inadvertently reduced from 11 December 1981 instead of from 11 February 1982, when one of his children attains age 18 years. An additional pension book payable for the balance of the period has now been issued to the designated post office for collection by the claimant.
731.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not been receiving benefit; and if she will ensure that benefit is paid.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of an accident at work on 2 March 1981. Before payment could be authorised it was necessary to make inquiries regarding the nature and origin of the incapacity. On completion of these inquiries his claim to injury benefit was allowed from 2 March 1981, date of accident. Payment of all injury benefit due from that date to 4 April 1981, when he was certified fit to resume work, has been issued.
732.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not receiving benefit.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 21 July 1981. Payment was made to 11 August 1981 under the original RSI number submitted with his claim. It subsequently transpired that this number did not refer to him and inquiries were necessary to establish the correct number before further payment could be allowed. On completion of the inquiries all disability benefit due to 7 December 1981, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance refunded to the Southern Health Board, has been paid. His entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and payment, if any, due will be made on completion of the inquiries.
733.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not been receiving the benefit due to him.
The person concerned who is in receipt of contributory old age pension at the maximum appropriate rate attained age 80 years on 20 September 1981. As from that date he qualified for the supplement payable to pensioners over 80 years of age. A supplementary book containing orders up to 2 October 1981 was issued to him at that time but on the renewal of pension books in October the current pension book which was issued to him contained orders incorporating the increase. He is therefore receiving the full rate of pension to which he is entitled.
734.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if her Department will pay unemployment benefit due to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
Payment of unemployment benefit to the person concerned which had been suspended pending the completion of inquiries about his efforts to obtain employment, was recently resumed. An order paying all unemployment benefit due from 18 November 1981 issued to him last week for encashment at his local post office.
735.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if her Department will pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment benefit because a deciding officer disallowed his claim on the grounds that he was not available for work except for employment as a mart worker. He appealed against the disallowance of his claim but an appeals officer whose decision is final upheld the disqualification of his claim.
736.
(Wexford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to two qualified persons (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The social welfare officer who investigated the old age pension claims of the persons concerned has recommended against payment of pension to them on the grounds that their means exceed the statutory limit of £28 a week in each case.
The local pension committee have yet to give their decision on one of the claims, but in the other case they have awarded a pension at the maximum rate. The social welfare officer has appealed against this decision as it is at variance with the recommendation in this case.
737.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 21 October 1981 and has been paid all disability benefit due from 24 October 1981, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate.
Payment of benefit was originally refused on the claim as, according to the records of my Department, he had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1979-80 contribution year and was not qualified for payment. Following inquiries it was established that he had sufficient contributions in that year to qualify for benefit and payment has been made to 7 December 1981, the date of the latest medical evidence received.
738.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
Arrangements have been made to pay unemployment benefit due to the person concerned at the branch employment office, Tullamore, this week.
739.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 October 1981 and has been paid all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due from 17 October 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 4 December 1981.
740.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when all the disability benefit due to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be paid.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given by me on 10 November 1981 to a previous question regarding the person concerned and to inform him that information sought regarding the number of qualified children has not yet been supplied to my Department. It has however been ascertained from a previous claim that on 9 June 1981 he had four children under age 18 years and one child over that age. Payment has been allowed in respect of four qualified children and all arrears of benefit due from the commencement of his claim in respect of those children has been paid.
741.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit at the full rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 20 August 1981 and payment was initially made at the reduced rate payable to a person who is a widow. It has since been established, however, that she was entitled to payment at the rate appropriate to a married woman and an adjustment cheque for the arrears of benefit due issued to her on 4 December 1981. All disability benefit due has been paid in respect of the medical evidence furnished to 3 December 1981. She is not entitled to pay-related benefit.
742.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying maternity benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed maternity benefit in respect of her confinement expected on 12 September 1981. As she did not qualify for payment on her 1979-80 record, inquiries were made regarding her employment in 1980-81. It has now been established that she has sufficient contributions in that year to qualify her for benefit. Payment of maternity allowance for the period 3 August 1981 to 7 November 1981 has been issued.
743.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 October 1981 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 5 December 1981 has been made.
744.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will investigate why pay-related benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The entitlement of the person concerned to pay-related benefit as a supplement to her unemployment benefit cannot be determined until particulars of her current average net weekly earnings are made available to my Department. The person concerned has been asked on two occasions to furnish details of her earnings from 6 April 1981 to 29 September 1981 but to date she has not done so. If she will now supply the required information her claim will be dealt with as quickly as possible.
745.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment and pay-related benefits have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare.
The entitlement of the person concerned to pay-related benefit could not be determined until inquiries to establish his reckonable earnings during the relevant income tax year April 1979 to April 1980 were completed. These inquiries were recently finalised and his pay-related claim was allowed at £14.20. The person concerned is a postal recipient and an order issued to him last week for encashment at his local post office paying all arrears of pay-related benefit due to him.
746.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
As the person concerned did not furnish his pay-related social insurance number or insurance number when making his claim, inquiries to identify his contribution record were necessary to enable his entitlement to unemployment benefit to be determined. These inquiries were recently completed and payment of unemployment benefit at £23.45 weekly and pay-related benefit at £2.84 was allowed. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due when the person concerned next calls to his local office.
747.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when occupational injury benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Thurles, County Tipperary.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of an accident at work on 5 January 1981. There is however no record of the receipt of medical evidence of incapacity in my Department until 27 November 1981. Pending inquiries regarding the nature and origin of his incapacity he was paid disability benefit on an interim basis on 30 November 1981 in respect of the period from 9 January 1981 to 14 January 1981 when he was certified fit to resume work. On completion of the inquiries his claim to injury benefit was allowed from 8 January 1981. Payment of all injury benefit due, less the amount of disability benefit paid on an interim basis, was issued on 4 December 1981.
748.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange for the early payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following the completion of certain inquiries payment of unemployment assistance to the person concerned has been allowed from 16 October 1981 and all arrears due were paid last week.
749.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will expedite the payment of unemployment benefit for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned is not qualified for unemployment benefit on the basis of his Irish insurance contribution record. He has been asked on a couple of occasions to furnish details of his employment in the United Kingdom during the period 1977 to 1980 but he has failed to reply to those requests. If the person concerned will furnish my Department with the required information the matter will be taken up with the UK authorities with a view to the transfer of his UK contributions for the purpose of his unemployment benefit claim.