asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in dealing with the claim of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
529.
The person concerned wrote to my Department on 9 June 1981 seeking information regarding his Irish insurance record which he required for the purpose of establishing title to British retirement pension. As there is no record of contributions to his credit the local social welfare officer interviewed him recently regarding his employment in this country but he was unable to furnish an insurance number. The officer also contacted the Galway County Council by whom he contends that he was employed for some years between 1940 and 1950 but the council were unable to trace the employment.
The person concerned claimed an Irish retirement pension on 9 November 1981 and he was informed that he does not qualify as he has no record of paid or credited contributions from 1953 onwards. Contributions from 1953 are the only ones which are reckonable for the purpose of fulfilling the contribution conditions for Irish retirement pension.
546.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when her Department will pay the arrears of old age pension which are due to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
A payable order for £570 covering the arrears of non-contributory old age pension due to the person concerned issued on 8 December 1981.
549.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has had his unemployment assistance reduced from £35 to £11 per week.
The means of the person concerned were increased from £0.50 to £23.60 with effect from 1 July 1981 based on his wife's earnings. The assessment was subsequently reduced to £19.80 with effect from 30 September 1981. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him is at present £15.35, being the maximum rate of £35.15 less means £19.80.
However, the person concerned has applied for a re-assessment of his means on the grounds that his wife recently ceased to be employed. His case has been referred for a further investigation by a social welfare officer of my Department and when investigations are completed his case will be reviewed by a deciding officer.
550.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the Government have any plans to introduce a pension scheme for the self-employed.
A Green Paper on a national income related pension plan was published in 1976 and a further Green Paper on social insurance for the self-employed was published in 1978. The Programme for Government 1981-1986 contains a commitment that a scheme of social insurance for the self-employed will be prepared. In the time since I took office as Minister for Social Welfare I have been examining the various views obtained in response to the Green Papers and I hope to bring forward my own proposals in this area in the near future.
551.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not qualified for the free fuel allowance when other applicants in similar circumstances have.
I understand from the Western Health Board, which administers the national fuel scheme in County Galway, that no application for free fuel had been received from the person concerned under this season's scheme when the question was put down. I am informed, however, that she has now completed an application form. The application is being considered by the board and the applicant will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.
555.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is not receiving the correct amount of unemployment assistance to which he seems to be entitled.
The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £13.55 a week, being the maximum rate of £27.40 less notionally assessed means of £11.15. This is the appropriate amount of unemployment assistance payable to a married smallholder in a specified area the PLV of whose land is between £10 and £15 and whose means are notionally assessed at £11.15. This rate is more beneficial to him than the rate payable if his means were factually assessed.
556.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) is not in receipt of an old age pension at the full rate.
Old age pension at the maximum rate has been in payment to the person concerned since 1974. The rate of pension currently in payment to her, £27.55 a week, is the maximum rate payable to a pensioner under 80 years who does not live alone.
561.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a children's allowance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
It has not been possible from the details supplied to identify the person concerned in the records of my Department. If the Deputy can furnish further particulars which would help to clarify the identify of the person concerned, such as his claim number, I will have the matter pursued.
562.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 17 November 1980 and was paid from 20 November 1980, fourth day of incapacity, to 14 November 1981. At that stage it was necessary to review his claim to establish whether, on completion of payment for 52 weeks, he was qualified for further benefit. Payment has since been resumed and all benefit due up to 19 December 1981 has issued.
563.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid for the last two weeks to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
In reply to a previous question regarding the person concerned given by me on 25 November 1981, I stated that payment of disability benefit had been made to 21 November 1981. Since that date only one medical certificate, dated 27 November, has been received and as the RSI number quoted was not clearly written it was credited to another claimant. It has however been confirmed that the claimant is still incapable of work and payment of benefit has accordingly been made to him to the 12 December 1981. The claimant has been advised to write the RSI number, which was recently assigned to him, clearly on all medical certificates submitted to my Department.