asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
865.
According to the records of my Department the person concerned does not satisfy the statutory condition of having at least 26 weeks of insurable employment or credited contributions during the relevant contribution period 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981. Accordingly he is not entitled to unemployment benefit in respect of his claim dated 17 February 1982.
However, the person concerned has been asked to furnish evidence from his employer providing details of all his employment during the period in question. When he does so his entitlement to unemployment benefit will be again examined.
866.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that he was not available for employment. The person concerned has appealed against the decision on his claim and an oral hearing of his case has been arranged and it will take place shortly. His claim to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
867.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason two old age pensioners (details supplied) in County Cork have not been paid pensions since 22 January 1982, when their books were returned for adjustment; and when they can expect to be re-issued with pension books.
Due to an increase in their means the couple concerned were requested to return their old age pension books for adjustment in July 1981. The books were not returned to my Department, until April 1982. They had not been cashed since 22 January 1982 because a notification to stop payment had been sent to the post office, in view of the pensioners' failure to return them.
Pension order books at the rate of £24.45 a week payable from 2 April 1982 have been issued provisionally pending the local pension committee's decision on a question for reduction of their pensions to the rate appropriate to their means with effect from 29 January 1982. Arrears in respect of the period January to March 1982 are in course of issue.
868.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason social welfare payments to a person (details supplied) in Dublin have decreased although there has been no change in the family's means or circumstances.
It has not been possible from the information supplied to trace a claim for benefit or assistance in this case. If the Deputy can give further particulars which would enable the person concerned to be identified, the matter will be re-examined. In this connection it would be of assistance to have the full christian name (s) of the person concerned, his PRSI number and social insurance number and the claim reference number of the payment he is receiving, as appropriate.
869.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a person (details supplied) in Dublin is entitled under any circumstances, even as an exceptional measure, to free transport in view of the fact that she is a single woman living with her mother who is unwell and that this involves her in much travelling for medical purposes; and if he will consider the matter sympathetically.
The conditions of the free travel scheme operated by my Department are not satisfied in this person's case and I regret that she does not qualify under the scheme.
It is however open to her to apply to her local community welfare officer for advice as to whether she or her mother may qualify for assistance under the scheme of supplementary welfare allowance which is administered by the Eastern Health Board.
870.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit at the proper rate and unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Entitlement to flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related is subject to the statutory condition that the sum of weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit and income tax refunds may not exceed 85 per cent of a claimant's average net weekly earnings.
The 85 per cent limit applicable to the person concerned is £93.20 and as he is in receipt of weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit £88.90 the amount of weekly pay-related benefit payable to him is £4.30 in accordance with the statutory limitation.
871.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit at the proper rate and unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Entitlement to flat rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit is subject to the statutory condition that the sum of weekly flat rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit and income tax refunds may not exceed 85 per cent of a claimant's average net weekly earnings.
The 85 per cent limit applicable to the person concerned is £84.52 and as he is in receipt of weekly flat rate unemployment benefit of £81.95 the amount of weekly pay-related benefit payable to him is £2.57 in accordance with the statutory limitation.
872.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the long delay in paying unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when it will be paid.
The person concerned does not fulfil the statutory contribution conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit. A claim for unemployment assistance was made by him and his case was referred to a social welfare officer of my Department to investigate his means.
The person concerned has not furnished sufficient information about his earnings from self employment to enable his means to be assessed for the purposes of his unemployment assistance claim. He has been written to on two occasions to this effect but has not replied to-date.
When he informs my Department that he is prepared to disclose the required details of his means his case will be reinvestigated and his means will be assessed by a deciding officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the assessment of his means.
873.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will investigate the anxieties of two old age pensioners (details supplied) in Dublin who believe that they may not be receiving all their social welfare entitlements; and if he will take steps to have an inspector or some other official call on them so that their case can be fully investigated in order to ensure that they are getting their rights in this matter.
The couple concerned are not receiving pensions from my Department but have recently been interviewed regarding claims to non-contributory old age pension. Their entitlements were explained to them and they were informed that they are unlikely to qualify for old age pension as their means, consisting of the husband's pension from Dublin Corporation and capital, exceed the statutory limit of £38 a week. The pension claims will be referred shortly to the local pension committee for formal decision. It has been confirmed that the couple have the free travel facility.
874.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason four weeks disability benefit which is due since April 1981 has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
There is no record in my Department of a claim to benefit from the person concerned in respect of any period from April 1981. Following inquiry with her employers it was ascertained that she was absent from work due to illness from 3 April to 2 May 1981. A cheque for the amount of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due for that period was issued to her on 10 May 1982.
In September 1981 the claimant inquired about the non-payment of benefit for this period and she was asked to furnish covering medical evidence. Reminders were issued to her in November 1981 and February 1982 but she failed to reply to any of those requests.
875.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 6 March 1982 and was paid from 10 March, fourth day of incapacity. Payment of all disability benefit due has been made to 7 May 1982, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
876.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 26 February 1982 but, as he failed to submit continuing medical evidence in support of his claim, no payment was made on the claim. It has been confirmed from his employer that he is still absent from work through illness. Payment of disability benefit for the period 26 February to 6 May 1982 has now been authorised. A cheque in respect of arrears of benefit due, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced has been issued to him. He is not entitled to pay-related benefit as his weekly flat-rate disability benefit exceeds his average weekly reckonable earnings in the income-tax year 1980-81.