asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying benefits which are due to a person (details supplied) in Rathfarnham, Dublin.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
903.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 10 March 1982 and was paid from 13 March 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 3 April 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. Payment of disability benefit issued on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity and there was no delay in the issue of the cheques.
Payment of pay-related benefit was not made at the time as the claimant had insufficient reckonable earnings in the tax year 1980-81 to qualify for payment. On receipt of the Deputy's inquiry it transpired that he had been claiming disability benefit under the RSI number of his son of the same name and that the reckonable earnings recorded in 1980-81 were those of his son. The matter has now been rectified and all pay-related benefit due on the claim has issued.
904.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person who has a wife and school-going family, who is severely ill and who is a holder of a disabled person's allowance is entitled to the provision of a free telephone service by his Department.
The living alone condition of the free telephone rental allowance scheme would not be satisfied in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy and the allowance could not, therefore, be applied in his case.
905.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid in full to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when it will be paid.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit from 12 December 1980 and has been paid to 29 May 1982. Payment was made at a reduced rate from 18 January 1982 onwards as according to the records of my Department he has only 41 contributions in 1980-81, the contribution year governing payment of benefit in 1982. Following inquiries it was established that he had a further seven paid contributions in that year and that he was, therefore, entitled to payment at the maximum rate. All arrears of benefit due from 18 January to 29 May 1982 were issued on 24 May 1982.
906.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when payment will now be made.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 17 March 1982 but he was not qualified for payment as, according to the records of my Department, he had not the required minimum of 26 paid or credited contributions in the contribution year 1980-81 which governed his claim.
The claimant was informed accordingly and he was requested to furnish an employer's statement of contributions paid in 1980-81 but in error he furnished details about contributions paid in 1981-82. Subsequent inquiries have revealed that the claimant has sufficient contributions in 1980-81 to qualify him for benefit. Payment of all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 17 May 1982 has now been made.
907.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 13 March 1982 and has been paid from 17 March 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 22 May 1982, date of the latest medical evidence received.
908.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned, whose husband died on 18 January 1982, has been awarded a contributory widow's pension at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow with two qualified children with effect from 5 March 1982.
Two pension books, one for herself and one for the children containing orders from 2 April 1982 were issued on 23 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 from 5 March to 1 April 1982 were paid direct by payable order to the widow on 10 May 1982.
As her husband had been in receipt of disability benefit 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.
909.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance up to 29 December 1981, when he became ill. He then claimed disability benefit but was not entitled to payment at that time as, according to the records of my Department, he had not the required minimum of 26 contributions in the contribution year governing his claim. Following inquiries it was established that he had additional contributions which had the effect of qualifying him for payment. All disability benefit due to 13 May 1982, the date of the last medical certificate received, has now been issued, less supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the health board.
910.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath who has had nothing to live on for the past 12 weeks since he lost his unemployment assistance and who has been unsuccessful in obtaining assistance from the health board on the grounds of alleged means; the nature of the means the person is alleged to have; and if he will arrange to have him paid an income from some source pending the outcome of his investigations.
I understand from the North Eastern Health Board, who administer the supplementary welfare allowances scheme in the Meath area, that an application for an allowance by the person in question was refused as he failed to disclose particulars of his means. He has now made a fresh application for unemployment assistance, which is under investigation. If he wishes to obtain a supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of this investigation and he is willing to make a full disclosure of his means it is open to him to re-apply to the local community welfare officer.
911.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason injury benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of an incapacity which he attributed to an accident at work on 13 November 1981. Before a decision could be given on his entitlement to payment it was necessary to make inquiries as to the nature and origin of the incapacity. On completion of the inquiries, which were protracted, it was accepted that the incapacity was due to an accident at work and the claim was allowed. Payment of injury benefit for the period from 13 November 1981, date of accident to 5 December 1981, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, was made on 20 May 1982.
912.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if social welfare contributions which were paid before 1953 can be added to contributions paid subsequently so that a person will qualify for a contributory old age pension.
The qualifying conditions for old age contributory pension are as follows: (i) entry into insurance before reaching the prescribed age. For a person born after 1 October 1922 the prescribed age is 56 years; For a person born earlier it ranges from 57 to 60 years; (ii) a total of 156 paid contributions since entry into insurance, and (iii) a yearly average of 48 contributions, paid or credited, since 1953 or from entry into insurance, whichever is later, for a maximum rate of pension, with phased reduced rates for persons with yearly averages down to 20 contributions paid or credited.
If necessary, in order to fulfil conditions (i) and (ii) a person's insurance prior to 5 January 1953 may be taken into account: (a) where re-entry into insurance under the Social Welfare Acts occurred after the claimant had attained the prescribed age, or; (b) where the claimant had less than 156 paid contributions recorded to his credit from 5 January 1953. Insurance prior to 1953 may not, however, be taken into account for the purpose of satisfying the third condition of the yearly average test.
913.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 was receiving a non-contributory widow's pension for almost 18 years when her pension book was called in by his Department and that she was awarded a contributory pension without any claim from her; the reason a contributory pension was not payable over the previous 18 years; if he is aware that because she was in receipt of a non-contributory pension she could not work herself as this would have resulted in the loss of her pension; if any arrears are due to her for the 18 years in question; if any compensation is payable to her for the fact that she could not work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was in receipt of a widow's non-contributory pension from June 1964 to November 1979. She was awarded a widow's contributory pension from 7 November 1979.
The change from non-contributory to contributory pension was made following the receipt of notification from the United Kingdom Department of Health and Social Security that she had been in receipt of United Kingdom widow's contributory pension and had claimed retirement pension from them on 4 February 1980 following the attainment of pension age on 6 November 1979. On the basis of the information supplied by the United Kingdom authorities her claim for pension from them was, in accordance with EEC Regulations, treated as a claim for pension in this country also.
She was therefore deemed to have made a claim from this Department also and it was on this basis that her pension was reviewed and a contributory widow's pension awarded.
Under the regulations, pension can only be awarded from a date three months prior to the receipt of the claim. In the case under consideration the relevant date was the date the claim was made to the United Kingdom Department in February 1980 and pension was accordingly awarded by this Department from November 1979, three months earlier. There is no provision in the Social Welfare Acts whereby any further payments can be made having regard to the date on which the claim was deemed to have been made as explained in the preceding paragraph.
914.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was disallowed from receiving unemployment assistance on the grounds that he did not satisfy the statutory condition which requires that he is genuinely seeking work. He has appealed against the decision and arrangements have been made for an oral hearing of his case to be held by an appeals officer in Limerick, shortly.
915.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
In order to qualify for unemployment assistance, a person must be the holder of a qualification certificate which is a statement of his means. However, following inquiries regarding the means of the person concerned, a deciding officer refused him a qualification certificate on the grounds that he had failed to show that his means were within the statutory limits. The person concerned has the right, if dissatisfied, to appeal against this decision.
916.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the balance of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been submitting certificates for the past seven weeks.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit for the period from 12 March to 1 May 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work.
His claim was initially authorised at the maximum weekly rate of disability benefit for a single man pending the receipt of the completed claim form for increases in respect of his dependants. On receipt of this form an adjusting payment was made. The arrears of disability benefit due were issued on 13 May 1982.
A cheque for the full amount of pay-related benefit due on the claim was issued on 20 May 1982.
917.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying a widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as the application was made some eight weeks ago.
The person concerned has been awarded widow's non-contributory pension at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow with two qualified children with effect from 12 February 1982, the Friday following her husband's death.
A pension book containing orders from 21 May 1982 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. The arrears of pension will be paid after adjustment for the amount of supplementary welfare allowance which the widow has received from the South Eastern Health Board since her husband's death.
In the case of non-contributory pension it is necessary to have inquiries made in order to establish that the claimant satisfies the statutory condition as to means. Pension cannot be awarded until these inquiries are completed.
918.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have all payments of disability and pay-related benefits paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been out of work for the past five weeks.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 10 April 1982 and was paid from 13 April 1982, fourth day of incapacity. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 18 May 1982 has been issued. He was paid initially at the rate appropriate to a single man pending receipt of a claim form giving details of his dependants. On receipt of the form an adjustment cheque paying the increase in benefit due for his wife and child was issued on 4 May 1982 and the weekly payments has been made at the appropriate rate from that date.
919.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned is in receipt of maternity benefit at the rate of £56.55 a week under the Maternity Protection of Employment Act, 1981, in respect of her confinement expected on 1 July 1982. She is not entitled to pay-related benefit on her claim as her reckonable earnings in 1980-81, the relevant income tax year, were insufficient to qualify her for payment of such benefit.
920.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the correct amount of disability and pay-related benefits have been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been out of work for several months.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit from 9 December 1981. The weekly flat-rate disability benefit payable was £48.40 up to 5 April 1982, when it was increased to £59.65. These are the maximum rate of flat-rate benefit payable to a man with a wife and one child dependant.
The claimant's pay-related benefit is based on his earning in the income tax year 1979-80. His weekly entitlement was £38.94 for the period up to 13 May 1982, when he exhausted his entitlement for the maximum statutory period of 24½ weeks. He is at present in the second phase, during which his entitlement is at the rate of £29.21 a week. The total weekly amount of disability benefit and pay-related benefit now payable is £88.86.
921.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 1 March 1982 and payment was originally authorised at the rate appropriate to a single man pending receipt of a claim form for increases for dependants. On receipt of this form payment was authorised at the appropriate rate for a claimant with a wife and one dependent child.
All payments due up to 5 April 1982 were issued, but as continuing medical evidence of incapacity was not received in my Department after that date further payments could not be authorised. A further certificate dated 17 May 1982 has now been received and payment for the period 6 April to 24 May 1982 has issued. The claimant has been advised to submit medical certificates at weekly intervals in order to avoid interruption in payments.
922.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance is payable to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Unemployment assistance is not payable to the person concerned as the amount of means assessed against him by a deciding officer exceeds the maximum rate of weekly unemployment assistance payable in his case.
The person concerned appealed against the assessment but an appeals officer, whose decision is final, upheld the decision of the deciding officer.
923.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will again receive disability benefit.
The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit from July 1976 to 29 March 1982 when payment was disallowed following examination by a medical referee of my Department who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He has appealed against the disallowance and, in connection with his appeal, arrangements have been made to have him examined again by a different medical referee on 10 June 1982. His entitlement to further payment will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report of this examination.
924.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit has been paid in full to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned applied for an increase in unemployment benefit in respect of his six children but the dates of births which he furnished on his application form indicated that two of his children were over 18 years of age and, accordingly, increases were only paid in respect of four children.
He subsequently furnished birth certificates showing the correct dates of birth and, as the children had not attained 18 years of age, increases were allowed. An adjusting payment of all arrears due was made to him during the week ending 21 April 1982 and all unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit to which he is entitled has now been paid.
925.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance is payable to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Payment of unemployment assistance to the person concerned was refused as he was not prepared to disclose details of his capital for the purpose of assessment of his means. He was however recently interviewed by an outdoor officer of my Department and a full report on his case is expected to be submitted shortly. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of this report.
926.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 4 January 1982 by submitting an initial medical certificate indicating the date on which her illness commenced. As no further medical evidence was received on her behalf she was written to on 22 February 1982 but failed to reply. It was necessary to make inquiries from her employer to ascertain the duration of her illness and on receipt of this information a cheque for the amount of benefit due from 7 January 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 9 January 1982, after which date she resumed work, was issued on 21 May 1982.
927.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will allocate a disability travel pass to a person (details supplied) in Blackrock, County Dublin.
The person concerned is not yet 66 years of age and is not receiving an allowance or pension the receipt of which is a condition of entitlement to free travel. It is regretted therefore that he does not qualify for a free travel pass.
928.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if it is proposed to give an increase in old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The claim for an increase in old age pension received from the person concerned on 30 April 1982 is partially investigated. On completion of the necessary inquiries it will be referred to the local pension committee for decision. If the pensioner is dissatisfied with the pension committee's decision, he will have the right of appeal against it.
929.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department will now pay a retirement pension to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim which has been due since March, 1982.
The person concerned attained age 65 years on 14 March 1982 and claimed retirement pension from my Department. He was awarded a retirement pension at the maximum married rate with effect from 18 March 1982 and a pension book containing orders valid for payment from 13 May 1982 issued to the designated post office. He was notified accordingly. The arrears due for the period 18 March 1982 to 12 May 1982 were sent directly to him by payable order on 19 May 1982.
930.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in finalising the widow's pension application of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the up-to-date position in regard to the application; and when it is expected that the application will be finalised.
The person concerned was awarded widow's contributory pension at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow with two qualified children with effect from 29 May 1981, the Friday following her husband's death. A pension book containing orders from 2 October 1981 was issued to the designated post office on 14 October 1981 for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. It has been confirmed from the post office that the pension book was collected by her. The arrears of pension due from 29 May to 1 October 1981 were paid direct by means of two payable orders sent to the widow on 6 November 1981 and 25 January 1982.
As the claimant's husband was also employed in the United Kingdom, the relevant papers were forwarded to the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, so that her title to British widow's pension could be considered. This is a matter solely for the authorities in Britain and my Department have no function in the matter. Such pension is payable separately by them and would not affect the pension now in payment to the widow by my Department.
931.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department will pay the disability benefit due to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 December 1981 and was paid from 16 December 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 2 January 1982, when he ceased to submit medical evidence of incapacity.
Further medical evidence of incapacity received in February 1982 was treated as a new claim which was governed by the claimant's contributions in the 1980-81 contribution year. As, according to the records of my Department, he had not the required minimum of 26 paid or credited contributions in that year, he did not qualify for payment. Following inquiries, however, it was established that he had remained incapable of work continuously from December 1981 and accordingly his entitlement to benefit was governed by the contributions paid in the 1979-80 contribution year. As he had sufficient contributions paid in that year to qualify for benefit, payment of all disability benefit has now been made at the maximum appropriate rate to 10 May 1982, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
932.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will immediately restore unemployment benefit payments to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed with effect from 25 February 1982 on the grounds that she was not unemployed within the meaning of the relevant provision of the Social Welfare Acts. The person concerned has appealed against the disallowance of her claim and arrangements are being made to have her case heard at the earliest opportunity. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
933.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit at the full rate has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Dún Laoghaire.
The person concerned is not entitled to full rate unemployment benefit following the completion of 156 days of benefit because he does not fulfil the statutory contribution condition of having 280 paid contributions in the seven years prior to the commencement of his unemployment benefit claim. He exhausted 156 days on 16 December 1981 and the rate payable after that date was reduced to £21.00 weekly, subsequently increased to £26.25 from 5 April 1982.
934.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability and pay-related benefits which are due to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick for the periods 15 to 21 April and 29 April to 5 May 1982 will be paid.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit continuously since 31 October 1981 and payments issue to him promptly on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity.
Payment in respect of the period 15 April to 21 April 1982 issued on 26 April 1982. As it appears that the claimant did not receive the payment a form of indemnity has been issued to him and on return of the completed form a replacement cheque will be issued.
Payment in respect of the period 29 April to 5 May 1982 was included in a cheque which issued to the claimant on 14 May 1982. The claimant has now been transferred to the payment system whereby payment issues weekly and medical evidence is required at monthly intervals only.
935.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason three weeks social insurance benefit which has been due in respect of a period of illness between 11 August and 18 November 1981 has still not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 26 August to 19 November 1981, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due on the claim was issued at that time.
As it is possible that the claimant may not have received some of the payments a list of the cheques which issued has been sent to him and he has been asked to indicate which cheques, if any, he did not receive. When the list is returned arrangements will be made to issue replacement cheques where necessary.
936.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the hold-up in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is a very small farmer with a large family; and when payment will issue.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 12 March 1982 to 16 March 1982 and his case is presently being investigated by a Social Welfare Officer.
In order to qualify for unemployment assistance it must be established that his means are within the statutory limits and that he satisfied the condition of being available for and genuinely seeking employment. When all the necessary inquiries have been finalised his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined without delay.
937.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be paid unemployment assistance as he has been signing for it each week since January 1982.
The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment assistance as the means assessed against him exceed the statutory limit. It is open to him to appeal against the assessment of his means and to have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
938.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) will receive his full entitlements to unemployment benefit for all his dependants in County Wexford.
The person concerned made a repeat claim to unemployment benefit on 5 October 1981 and was allowed at the weekly rate of £66.65. This was the rate appropriate to a married man with six qualified children who had exhausted 156 days' benefit and who did not satisfy the condition of having 280 contributions paid in the seven years before his claim. His weekly rate of payment was increased to £81.25 from 6 April 1982 in accordance with the general rates increases.
The person concerned exhausted his entitlement to 390 days unemployment benefit on 13 May 1982 and from 14 May 1982 was allowed unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £80.00. This is the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with nil means and six qualified children living in a rural area.
Accordingly the person concerned has received his full entitlements.
939.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was last insured in Britain prior to the commencement of his illness. In accordance with EEC regulations his claim to benefit is proper to the British Department of Health and Social Security. The medical certificates and other documents submitted in support of his claim have been forwarded to that Department which has been asked to deal with the matter urgently.
940.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will repay a telephone rental charge which was paid in advance of the installation of the telephone by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
A payable order, representing a refund of advance rental paid by the applicant, has been issued.
941.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit in respect of dependants has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 December 1981 and has been paid to 20 May 1982, date of latest medical certificate received, at the rate appropriate to a married woman. She subsequently claimed an increase of benefit in respect of her husband and three children. This matter has been referred for investigation to the local inspector of my Department. On completion of the inquiries a decision will be given on the claim and she will be notified of the outcome.
942.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been out of work for the past nine weeks due to an accident.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of an incapacity which he attributed to an accident at work on 8 March 1982.
Before a decision could be given on his entitlement to injury benefit it was necessary to make inquiries as to the nature and origin of the incapacity. On completion of the inquiries it was accepted that the incapacity was due to an accident at work and the claim was allowed. Payment of injury benefit for the period from 8 March 1982 to 25 May 1982, date of the latest medical certificate received was made on 25 May 1982.
943.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit for the following periods: (1) 21 March 1980 to 28 March 1980; (2) 23 October 1980 to 3 November 1980; (3) 2 February 1981 to 21 February 1981; (4) 17 March 1982 to 26 March 1982.
Payment of benefit was not authorised on the first three claims as, according to the records of my Department, he had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions, paid or credited, in 1978, 1979 or 1980, the contribution years governing his claims. He was requested to furnish details of his employment in those years but so far no reply has been received from him. It is now proposed to refer the matter to the local social welfare officer for urgent investigation and the claims will be reviewed when the inquiries have been finalised.
The claimant is entitled to benefit on the claim from 17 March 1982 and payment has been made from 20 March 1982 to 26 March 1982, date of the latest medical certificate received. If he has continued to be incapable of work after 26 March, further payment will be made on receipt of covering medical certificates.
944.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit from 9 November 1981 to 16 February 1982, when she ceased signing the unemployed register and payment of benefit terminated. However if she is still unemployed and available for work it is open to her to renew her claim to unemployment benefit by getting in touch with the employment exchange, Galway.
945.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a contributory old age pension at the maximum rate paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned attained age 65 years on 19 June 1977 and claimed retirement pension from my Department. He was originally awarded retirement pension at the maximum personal rate but this pension was withdrawn in August 1980 when it was discovered that the insurance number quoted by him on the claim form referred to another person of the same name. His insurance record under the correct number shows that he had a yearly average of only ten contributions from 5 January 1953 to 31 December 1976 and he thus failed to satisfy the condition which requires a person to have a yearly average of at least 24 contributions in order to qualify for retirement pension. Similarly he does not qualify for a contributory old age pension for which a yearly average of at least 20 contributions from 5 January 1953 to 31 December 1977 is required.
While the claimant would have been entitled to a pro rata rate retirement pension from my Department under EEC regulations payment of such pension was withheld as he was awarded a non-contributory old age pension at a higher rate with effect from 23 June 1978. He is also in receipt of a pro rata retirement pension from the British Department of Health and Social Security.