asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in relation to the application for a widow's pension by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
814.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at a reduced rate appropriate to a widow under 66 years with no qualified children, on the basis of her means assessed on the value of a farm. A pension book with orders payable from 16 April 1982 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. The late husband was in receipt of an old age non-contributory pension, which included an increase in respect of his wife, and this pension continued to be paid to the widow for six weeks after his death on 28 February, 1982.
815.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in relation to an application for a widow's pension from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension, at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow with no qualified children, from 5 February 1982. A pension book with orders payable from 2 April 1982 has issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. A payable order for the arrears of pension due from 5 February to 1 April 1982 has been sent direct to her. Her late husband was in receipt of an old age non-contributory pension, which included an increase in respect of his wife and this pension continued to be paid to her for six weeks after his death, on 20 December 1981.
816.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a children's allowance in respect of a child born in March 1979 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
There is no record in my Department of receipt of a claim from the person concerned in respect of a child born in 1979. The appropriate from has been issued to her for completion and when the claim is received a decision will be given.
817.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the situation in relation to the widow's pension application of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16; and the reason for the delay.
The person concerned, whose claim was received on 22 April 1982, was awarded a contributory widow's 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.
Pension books containing orders from 2 April 1982 were issued on 28 May 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 books were collected by her. The arrears of pension due from 12 February to 1 April 1982 were paid direct by payable order to the widow.
There was no undue delay in awarding the pension in this case. It was necessary to obtain the late husband's insurance record in order to establish that the widow was entitled to the pension.
818.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 28 May 1982. Inquiries are at present being made to determine whether he satisfies the condition for receipt of unemployment benefit that he is available for employment. He will be notified of the deciding officer's decision as soon as the inquiries are completed.
819.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cause of the 12 week delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
In connection with his claim to unemployment assistance the person concerned was recently assessed with weekly means of £65.00. He appealed against the assessment but the appeals officer, whose decision is final, upheld the deciding officer's decision. As the amount of his weekly means exceeds the maximum amount of £63.75 unemployment assistance appropriate in his case, it is regretted that unemployment assistance is not payable to the person concerned.
820.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has had his unemployment assistance reduced by £6 per week; and if he is aware that he is now getting £6 per week supplementary welfare allowance from the Southern Health Board to make up this figure.
The person concerned has been assessed with means of £6 a week for unemployment assistance purposes. He is receiving £19.45 a week unemployment assistance, which is the maximum rate of £25.45 appropriate in his case less the weekly means of £6. This is the maximum amount that can be paid under the regulations having regard to the means assessed. In this respect he has applied for a revision of his means and inquiries are at present being made in relation to this aspect.
Supplementary welfare allowance is a matter for the health board which is responsible for day to day administration in the case of individual claims made to it and for determining the amount of a payment, if any, to be made.
821.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 8 May 1982, but only one medical certificate was received from her. In the absence of information as to the duration of her claim, no payment of benefit was made. She was subsequently requested to furnish details of the duration of her illness but failed to do so.
Following inquiries by an Inspector of the Department it has been ascertained from claimant's employers that she is still absent from work due to illness. Accordingly a cheque for the amount of disability benefit due from 12 May 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 9 June 1982 was issued on 9 June. When details of her earnings in 1980-81, the relevant tax year, are available, pay-related benefit, if due, will be paid.
822.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit in respect of an occupational injury on 24 March 1982. Pending inquiries as to the nature and origin of the incapacity, disability benefit was paid on an interim basis to 6 May 1982. At that stage the inquiries regarding the occupational accident were completed and the claim to injury benefit was allowed.
On the change-over to injury benefit payment was inadvertently suspended. Payment has now been resumed and a cheque in respect of injury benefit and pay-related benefit due for the period 7 May to 27 May 1982, date of the latest medical certificate received, was issued on 8 June 1982. Further cheques representing the difference between injury benefit and disability benefit for the period to 6 May 1982 and arrears of pay-related benefit were also issued on that date.
823.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Entitlement of the person concerned to 390 days unemployment benefit was exhausted on 23 March 1982.
The person concerned applied for a qualification certificate and unemployment assistance on 24 March 1982. A qualification certificate has recently been issued to him and he has been allowed unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £42.10 from 24 March 1982 increased to £51.75 from 31 March 1982. All arrears of unemployment assistance due to him will be paid on 10 June 1982.
Further weekly payments of £51.75, which is the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with nil means having one child and living in an urban area, will be paid to the person concerned as they fall due.
824.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned, whose claim was received on 19 April 1982, has been awarded widow's contributory pension, at a partial rate appropriate to a yearly average of 30 contributions, with effect from 26 March 1982, the Friday following her husband's death.
Pension books containing orders from 2 April, 1982 have been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. The arrears of pension due from 26 March to 1 April 1982 were paid direct to her by payable order. As her husband had also been employed in the United Kingdom, the relevant papers have been forwarded to the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, so that her title to British widow's pension can be considered. The award of such pension would not affect the pension now in payment to the widow.
825.
(Waterford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been absent from work due to illness since 10 March 1982, has only received disability benefit in respect of one day.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 18 March 1982. Payment of flat-rate benefit due to 22 May 1982, date of latest medical certificate received, was made promptly on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity. Payment of pay-related benefit was, however, inadvertently delayed due to an administrative error.
The matter has since been rectified and all pay-related benefit due from 1 April 1982, thirteenth day of incapacity, was issued on 3 June 1982.
826.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an unmarried mother's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10.
The person concerned claimed a social assistance allowance on 30 March 1982 and was awarded the allowance from 1 April 1982 the Thursday following the receipt of her claim. An allowance book with orders payable from 27 May 1982 was issued on 25 May 1982 to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. The arrears due from 1 April 1982 to 26 May 1982 have been sent direct to her after adjustment of supplementary welfare allowance and disability benefit payments which she received during that period.
827.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as the application has been made.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of a pension has not been recommended as the assessment of the claimant's means, which consists of the weekly value of his profit from a farm, exceeds the statutory limit. If the claimant is dissatisfied with the pension committee's decision it will be open to him to appeal against it.
828.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will forward a children's allowance book to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Allowance books totalling £11.25 per month payable from April 1982 were issued on the 3 June 1982 to the post office of payment for collection by the claimant. A payable order in respect of arrears due for March 1982 is in the course of issue.