asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on the application for a widow's pension by a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will expedite consideration of the application.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
124.
The person concerned, whose husband died on 16 July 1980, made two applications for widow's non-contributory pension, in January 1981 and March 1981, but subsequently withdrew the claims. A renewed application for widow's pension was received in October 1981. The local officer who investigated the claim reported that she had failed to disclose full information regarding her means. She did, however, admit to a weekly income well in excess of the statutory limit for receipt of pension. Her application for pension was accordingly refused. She appealed against this decision and a form on which to state the facts and contentions of her appeal has been issued to her. On return of the completed form her appeal will be referred to an appeals officer and she will be notified of his decision.
125.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Waterford is entitled to a single person's allowance or to any other statutory benefit or allowance from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned is in receipt of disabled person's maintenance allowance from the Department of Health at the maximum rate of £32.55 weekly. Although she is eligible to claim single woman's allowance from my Department it would not be advantageous to her to apply as the rate of disabled person's maintenance allowance payable to her exceeds the maximum rate of single woman's allowance, namely £29.50. The two allowances are not payable concurrently. However, as a recipient of disabled person's maintenance allowance she is also in receipt of certain services provided by my Department. She has been issued with a free travel pass and she receives free electricity, a free television licence and she is participating in the national fuel scheme.
126.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons unemployment benefit was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will review the case.
The person concerned was not entitled to unemployment benefit as he did not satisfy the statutory contribution condition which required that he should have at least 26 contributions paid or credited during the relevant contribution period, April 1980 to April 1981. He had no contributions during that period. He claimed unemployment assistance, but following an investigation of the case his claim was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that his means, derived from the value of his farm, exceeded the statutory limit.
If the person concerned is dissatisfied with the assessment of his means it is open to him to appeal and to have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his nearest local office.
127.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons disability benefit has not yet been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if in view of the home circumstances, he will take immediate action to ensure the payment of benefit.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 2 October 1981 and was paid from 6 October 1981, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit due to 9 April 1982, date of the latest medical evidence received, has been issued. The claim for benefit was not received in my Department until 1 February 1982 when the claimant submitted a number of medical certificates together covering the period 2 October 1981 to 15 January 1982. As an RSI number was not quoted, his insurance record for 1979-80, the contribution year governing his claim, could not be traced. Following inquiries, which were protracted, it was established that he had been employed on a commission basis in that year but had not registered for income tax purposes. It was also established that he had not paid PRSI contributions in 1979-80. In accordance with special arrangements made for such cases his claim was then considered on the basis of the contributions paid in the 1978-79 year. His record of contributions for that year were sufficient to qualify him for payment at the maximum appropriate rate.
Payment for the period 6 October 1981 to 15 January 1982 was issued on 19 April 1982 and following receipt of medical certificates covering from 16 January 1982 to 9 April 1982, which were handed into Waterford Employment Exchange on 20 April 1982, payment to 9 April was issued on 23 April 1982. Further payment will issue as medical evidence is received. The claimant is not entitled to payment of pay-related benefit as he had no reckonable earnings in 1979-80, the tax year relevant to his claim.
132.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who was receiving a widow's pension of £36.70 per week is now entitled to £45.88 from 2 April 1982; and if she is in fact in receipt of this weekly sum.
The person concerned is in receipt of a widow's contributory pension of £45 a week from my Department with effect from 2 April 1982. The rate of pension payable prior to that date was £36.70 comprising personal rate of £28.20 and an increase of £8.50 in respect of her child dependant. The personal rate of pension was increased by £7.05 to £35.25 and the payment for the child was increased to £9.75 making a total of £45 a week. The rate of children's allowance payable in this case as from 2 April 1982 has, however, been increased from £6 to £11.25 a month.
144.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in Waterford is entitled to an Irish old age pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The claim of the person concerned to a non-contributory old age pension has been forwarded to the social welfare officer for investigation and it is not possible to say if he would be entitled to a pension until inquiries have been completed. Should the claimant be dissatisfied with the decision on his claim he will have the right to appeal against it.
147.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Waterford who has been out of work because of an injury sustained at work in August 1981 has not yet received injury benefit; when benefit will be paid to him; and if he will make a statement on his entitlement to full social welfare benefits.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit from 21 August 1981 to 10 October 1981, when he was certified fit to resume work, and from 30 November 1981 to date in respect of incapacity arising out of an accident in the course of his employment on 21 August 1981. Pending inquiries as to the nature and origin of the incapacity, he was paid disability benefit on an interim basis. In addition he was paid pay-related benefit. On completion of the inquiries on 30 September 1981, 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. All injury benefit due on the first claim from 21 August to 10 October was paid at that time.
The claim from 30 November 1981 was not associated with the earlier claim, but payment of disability benefit was however made from that date on an interim basis pending inquiries as to the nature and origin of the incapacity. The matter has however been resolved and an adjusting payment of injury benefit has been made in respect of the period from 30 November to 18 February 1982. As from the latter date entitlement to injury benefit ceased on the expiration of 26 weeks from the date of the accident. Payment of disability benefit and pay-related benefit has continued up to 23 April 1982, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
As the claimant may be entitled to disablement benefit in addition to disability benefit and pay-related benefit from 19 February 1982 in respect of loss of faculty arising from the accident, the necessary form on which to claim the benefit has been issued to him. On receipt of the completed form arrangements will be made to have him examined by a medical referee of my Department with a view to assessing the degree of disablement, if any, resulting from the accident. He has also been advised of his entitlement to the cost of any medical care expenses incurred as a result of the accident.
149.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who was in receipt of unemployment assistance from June 1981 to the end of February 1982 did not receive an allowance in respect of his wife and is due arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 15 June 1981 to 24 February 1982 and he was paid all unemployment assistance to which he was entitled, which included an increase for his wife. At the commencement of his claim he was the holder of a qualification certificate with a nil means assessment but, following a reinvestigation of his case, he was assessed with means derived from the benefit of his wife's capital. He was dissatisfied with the assessment of his means and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer assessed his means at £15.00 weekly with effect from 15 July 1981.
The rate of unemployment assistance payable from 15 July 1981 was £36.20 being the maximum rate payable to a married man with three qualified children, £51.20 less means of £15.00 increased to £37.70 from 30 September 1981 in accordance with revised rates payable from that date.