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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1982

Vol. 333 No. 2

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

235.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proportion of each year's new claims for disability benefit which are lodged each month.

The proportion of new claims for disability benefit varies from month to month but on average the incidence of claims per month is roughly as follows:—

January

February

10 per cent per month

March

April

May

8? per cent per month

June

July

August

September

7½ per cent per month

October

November

December

236.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proportion of each year's new claims for unemployment benefit which are lodged each month.

Statistics are not kept in such a way as would enable the proportion of new unemployment benefit claims lodged each month to be given.

237.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

On 7 December 1981 a claim for disability benefit was received from the person concerned covering the period 30 November to 5 December 1981. Payment was made at the maximum appropriate rate from 3 December, fourth day of incapacity to 5 December, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. He subsequently notified my Department that he had not been fit to resume work on 7 December and submitted medical evidence to that effect. There was some delay in reconstituting the claim but all benefit has since been paid in respect of the period from 7 December to 4 January 1982 after which date it is understood the claimant resumed work.

238.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance at the full rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment assistance at the full rate as a deciding officer assessed him with weekly means of £30.80 derived from self-employment as a fisherman. He appealed against the assessment of means and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer, whose decision is final, upheld the decision of the deciding officer assessing means at £30.80 weekly.

The person concerned continues to be paid unemployment assistance as payments become due at the weekly rate of £10.30, being the maximum rate of £41.10 less means £30.80.

239.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 10 December 1980 and was paid from 13 December 1980. All disability benefit due, less refund to the health board of supplementary welfare allowance advanced during December 1981, has been paid to 27 March 1982. When he had completed the period of 52 weeks in receipt of benefit in mid-December 1981, there was delay in payment while inquiries were being made to establish if he was entitled to further payment. On completion of these inquiries payment was resumed.

240.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person and his wife (details supplied) in County Waterford are not being paid a non-contributory old age pension at the maximum rate.

Non-contributory old age pension at the reduced rate of £20.35 is in payment to each of the persons concerned. The Deputy's recent application on their behalf for an increase in their pensions has been investigated and is being referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of an increase has not been recommended by the Social Welfare officer as their means, each consisting of half the weekly value of capital, do not warrant it.

241.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the non-payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 13 April 1981 and was paid at the maximum appropriate rate from 16 April 1981, fourth day of incapacity. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due was paid to 22 June 1981, date of latest medical certificate received. As no further medical evidence appeared to have been submitted his claim was closed at that date.

It has since been ascertained that he submitted a final certificate, certifying him fit to resume work on 5 July 1981. However, he quoted a different RSI number on this certificate with the result that it was not associated with his claim. The balance of the benefit due to 4 July 1981 has since been paid. He has been advised of his correct RSI number.

242.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 8 September last but she was not entitled to payment as she had no contributions to her credit in the governing contribution year. A new benefit year commenced on 4 January 1982 and, as the claimant satisfied the contribution conditions from that date, she was entitled to benefit and payment has been made at the rate of £21.55 each week as it became due.

Inquiries are still being made about the lack of contributions governing the earlier part of the claim and it is expected that they will be completed shortly. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit from September last will then be reviewed.

243.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit at the full rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of an accident at work on 17 November 1981 and all injury benefit and pay-related benefit due from that date to 17 March 1982 has been paid.

Payment was made initially at the maximum personal rate as the claimant did not complete a claim form giving details of his dependants when making his claim. He then submitted a claim form giving details of his three children only and the adjustment due in respect of these children issued on 23 December 1981. When a claim for an increase of benefit in respect of his wife was received the increase due for her was paid on 20 January 1982.

244.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

Disability benefit has in fact been paid to the person concerned. As indicated by my predecessor in a written communication to the Deputy on 18 February 1982 the person concerned was paid disability benefit from 15 August 1981 at the maximum appropriate rate to 30 January 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work.

Payment of benefit issued promptly on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity in my Department.

245.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford for a four-week period in September 1981.

The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of an accident at work on 1 September 1981.

Normally in such cases payment of disability benefit is allowed pending inquiries as to the nature and origin of the incapacity, but as the claimant had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions to his credit in the 1979-80 contribution year he has not qualified for such payment. The inquiries regarding the accident have however now been completed and payment of injury benefit has been made in respect of the period 1 September 1981 to 17 September 1981, after which date he was certified fit to resume employment.

The question of entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and payment, if any, due will be made on completion of these inquiries.

246.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who is a married man with five children has not received any disability benefit since 12 December 1981,

All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to the person mentioned in the question on the basis of medical certificates submitted has been paid to 27 March 1982.

247.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit for the periods from 26 August 1981 to 5 September 1981 and from 20 November 1981 to 6 February 1982 in respect of incapacity which he contended arose out of his employment.

Inquiries regarding the nature and origin of the incapacity were, however, necessary and disability benefit and pay-related benefit were paid on an interim basis for the duration of both claims.

On completion of the inquiries it was accepted that the incapacity was in fact due to his employment and occupational injury benefit was allowed to 6 February 1982 when he was certified fit to resume work. The person concerned has in fact been overpaid benefit in respect of the period of his incapacity and he has been informed of the amount of the overpayment.

248.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability and pay-related benefits to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 May 1981 and was paid from 22 May fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 20 June 1981, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, has been made.

The delay in payment was due to the misfiling of the medical evidence submitted in support of the claim.

249.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan is entitled to deserted wife's benefit.

The claim of the person concerned was originally refused on the grounds that her insurance record was insufficient to qualify her for deserted wife's benefit.

Following inquiries it has now been established that she had further contributions which have qualified her for deserted wife's benefit at the maximum rate of a woman with three qualified children, with effect from 1 January 1981. An allowance book with orders payable from 18 March 1982 has issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly.

Arrears due from 1 January 1981 will be paid as soon as possible, after adjustment is made for disability benefit payments which she has received from my Department since that date.

250.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit at the full rate to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who is married with one child.

The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit for the periods from 14 August 1981 to 19 August 1981 and from 25 August 1981 to 19 September 1981 in respect of incapacity arising out an an accident at work on 14 August 1981. Pending inquiries as to the nature and origin of the incapacity he was paid disability benefit on an interim basis.

On completion of the inquiries it was accepted that the incapacity was in fact due to an accident at work and injury benefit was allowed at the maximum appropriate rate from 14 August 1981, date of accident. Payment of all injury benefit due to 19 September 1981 when he was certified fit to resume work, less the amount of interim disability benefit already paid, has since been made. In addition pay-related benefit was paid from 29 August 1981.

251.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability and pay-related benefits at the correct rate have been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 October 1981 and was paid from 22 October, fourth day of incapacity. He was originally paid at the maximum appropriate rate but payment was reduced, in error, in December 1981. He has however since been restored to the maximum rate and an adjusting cheque issued on 16 March 1982. All disability benefit due to 27 March 1982 has now issued.

The claimant is not entitled to pay-related benefit on his claim as the weekly rate of disability benefit payable in his case is greater than his reckonable weekly earnings in 1979-80, the relevant tax year.

252.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who has been out of work for 14 weeks.

The person concerned has not claimed unemployment benefit at my Department and inquiries made in the case reveal that he is presently in employment. He did however claim disability benefit from 9 January 1982 to 27 February 1982 when he was ill and incapable of work. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to him was paid on foot of medical evidence of incapacity which he furnished.

253.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County 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 29 October 1981. An allowance book with orders payable from 11 March 1982 was issued on 9 March 1982 to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly.

Arrears due from 29 October 1981 were paid directly to her by payable order after adjustment for the amount of supplementary welfare allowance she received since that date from the Eastern Health Board.

254.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 May 1981 and was paid from 19 May, fourth day of incapacity, to 24 June 1981, the date of the last medical certificate received. Following inquiries it was ascertained that she did not resume work until 13 July 1981. A cheque for the arrears of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to that date issued on 15 March 1982.

255.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the claim for an old age pension by a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.

The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been referred to the social welfare officer for investigation. On completion of inquiries it will be referred to the local pension committee for decision. If the claimant is dissatisfied with the committee's decision, he may appeal against it.

256.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the issue of an old age pension supplement of £1.30 per week to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.

A supplementary pension book was issued to the person concerned in October last. As it was not received by her she has been issued with a replacement book.

257.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of unemployment assistance at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The person concerned who is in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £6.35 weekly, being the maximum rate of £20.35 less means £14.00, has applied for a reassessment of his means and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. His rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the social welfare officer's inquiries.

258.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.

The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit from 5 January 1981 to 2 January 1982, when payment was suspended temporarily pending examination of her entitlement to continuing payment of benefit. On completion of the necessary inquiries payment was restored and all benefit due to 23 March 1982 has issued.

259.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that social welfare contributions have not been paid on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Galway for 1978-79 and 1979-1980; and, if so, the action he will take against the employers in this case as the claim for disability benefit was refused because of the lack of contributions.

Social insurance contributions were not paid in respect of the person concerned during the period mentioned when he had been in employment. The failure on the part of the employer to pay contributions is being investigated and action to secure payment of the contributions by the employer will be taken. In the meantime contributions have been credited to the employee for the 1978-79 and 1979-80 contribution years. These contributions have the effect of qualifying the claimant for benefit and a cheque in payment of all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due issued on 19 March 1982.

260.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that his Department has stopped the payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway following the receipt of an anonymous letter which contained false reports that he was employed; and, if so, if he will immediately restore payment in this case.

Following an investigation by a social welfare officer a deciding officer of my Department revoked the qualification certificate of the person concerned on the ground that he refused to fully disclose his means and consequently payment of unemployment assistance ceased after 15 September 1981.

The person concerned appealed against the decision and prior to submitting the case to an appeals officer the claim was referred again to a social welfare officer for inquiries. The inquiries were recently completed and the matter is being referred to an appeals officer for determination at an early date.

261.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of pay-related benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 18 August 1981 and was paid from 21 August 1981 to 4 January 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work.

His entitlement to pay-related benefit could not be determined as details of his reckonable earnings for 1979-80, the tax year relevant to his claim, were not available to my Department. He was requested on 22 January 1982, to furnish an employer's statement giving details of his earnings in that year but so far no reply has been received from him. A further request has now issued and on receipt of a reply pay-related benefit due, if any, will be issued.

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