asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying social welfare benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
530.
The person concerned ceased to be entitled to unemployment assistance from 30 January 1982 as the amount of weekly means assessed against him exceeded the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him on that date when one of his children attained the age of 18 years. Following the increase in the rates of unemployment assistance from 31 March 1982 he again became entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £7.45 being the weekly rate of £56.00 less means £48.55 derived from the notional value of his land and benefit from his wife's earnings.
Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week and further weekly payments will be made to him as they fall due.
The person concerned has appealed against the assessment of means in his claim and his case was referred to a social welfare officer to make additional inquiries about the value of the extra land which he had acquired. These inquiries were only recently completed and when the social welfare officer's report is received his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination.
The rate of unemployment assistance payable to the person concerned will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
531.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying a contributory widow's pension (details supplied) in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned whose husband died on 4 February 1982 was awarded a contributory widow's pension at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow with two qualified children, with effect from 26 March 1982.
Two pension books (one for herself and one for the children) containing orders from 30 April 1982 were issued on 20 April 1982 to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. It has been confirmed from the post office that the pension books were collected by her. The arrears of pension due for the period from 26 March to 29 April 1982 will be paid after deduction of the amount of supplementary welfare allowance which was paid to her by the Eastern Health Board since 4 February 1982.
As her husband had been in receipt of invalidity pension at the time of his death, payment continued to be made for six weeks afterwards. She did not therefore become entitled to widow's pension until this period had expired on 26 March 1982.
532.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin has not been paid pay-related benefit for the period January to March, 1982; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 4 January 1982 and has been paid at the maximum appropriate rate from 7 January, fourth day of incapacity. All disability benefit due has been paid to 27 March 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work.
He is not entitled to pay-related benefit as the weekly rate of disability benefit payable exceeded the amount of his reckonable weekly earnings in 1979-80, the relevant tax year on which his entitlement to pay-related benefit was based.
533.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in issuing a disability benefit cheque to a person (details supplied) in Dublin; when it will be issued, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned reported the non-receipt of disability benefit cheques which had been issued to her in February — March 1982. On 2 April 1982 she was supplied with a list of the cheques which had been issued during the period 15 February to 3 April 1982. On receipt of her reply intimating that she had not received payments for the period from 15 February to 6 March 1982, replacement cheques for the amount of benefit payable for that period issued to her on 27 April 1982.
In view of her age and health condition, arrangements have been made to have her transferred to invalidity pension at an early date. This pension is payable by orders cashable each week at a designated post office.
534.
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 disability benefit from 17 February 1982. He was not entitled to payment as, according to the records of my Department, he has less than the required minimum of 26 contributions, paid or credited, in 1980-81, the contribution year governing his claim.
Following receipt of the Deputy's question the employers were contacted and they intimated that the claimant was employed as a sub-contractor in 1980-81 and that PRSI contributions had not been paid as the employment was regarded as not insurable. The matter is being referred for urgent investigation by an official of my Department and on completion of the inquiries entitlement to benefit will be reviewed.
535.
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 in respect of an accident at work on 17 February 1982. He continued to work to 20 February 1982 after the accident.
Before payment could be authorised it was necessary to make inquiries regarding the nature and origin of the incapacity.
On completion of the inquiries it was accepted that the incapacity was in fact due to an accident at work. Payment has now been made in respect of the period from 22 February 1982 to the 28 April 1982, date of the latest medical certificate received. In addition payment of pay-related benefit has been made from 8 March 1982, thirteenth day of incapacity.
536.
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 disability benefit from 14 December 1981, and was paid from 17 December 1981, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 30 December 1981, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, has been issued.
The delay in payment was due to the failure of the claimant to obtain and forward medical evidence promptly to my Department. The initial medical certificate, dated 14 December 1981, was not obtained from the claimant's medical certifier until 21 December 1981, and was not received in my Department until 30 December 1981. The final certificate dated 30 December 1981 was not received until 15 January 1982.
537.
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 from 11 May 1982 and was paid from that date to 7 November 1981, at which stage his title to injury benefit ceased as he had been paid for the maximum statutory period of 26 weeks.
Subsequent to 7 November 1981 the claim was treated as one for disability benefit and payment issued regularly on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity to 29 January 1982. Payment ceased at that stage as the claimant did not furnish weekly medical evidence to my Department. A further medical certificate covering the period 9 November 1981 to 24 March 1982 was received on 31 March 1982 and payment to 24 March 1982 was then issued. No further medical evidence has been received since that date.
The claimant has been advised that it is necessary to forward medical evidence of incapacity at weekly intervals to my Department.