Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Jul 1982

Vol. 337 No. 5

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

736.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in Dunmanway, County Cork.

The person concerned has not claimed unemployment benefit. He did, however, claim occupational injury benifit from 14 March 1980 under his old insurance number and was paid from that date, to 11 September 1980 when his entitlement to injury benefit was exhausted as he had been paid for the maximum statutory period of 26 weeks.

The claim from 12 September 1980 was treated as one for disability benefit and he was paid to 10 September 1981, when his entitlement was exhausted as he had less than 156 paid contributions to his credit since entry into insurance. On reviewing his position at that stage it was discovered that he had been claiming disability benefit concurrently under his RSI number from 9 February to 19 August 1981 and from 24 August to 25 September 1981. He accordingly received payment of disability benefit amounting to £1,463.22 to which he was not entitled and the Department have written to him about this.

737.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free travel pass will be issued to a person (details supplied) in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The person concerned has not yet reached pensionable age nor has she any pension or allowance which would entitle her to free travel below that age. She is not therefore qualified for free travel under the scheme administered by my Department. The Eastern Health Board may, in certain circumstances and on the recommendation of the patient's doctor, or the appropriate hospital authorities, provide transport to and from hospital for out-patients attending for treatment. The person concerned should therefore approach the hospital authorities to see if she would qualify for transport to hospital when attending for treatment.

738.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the payment of a widow's pension has been discontinued to a person (details supplied) in Tallaght, County Dublin.

Following a change of address the person concerned, who had been in receipt of a non-contributory old age pension, returned her pension order book and living alone allowance book to the Department for amendment. The delay in returning the books was due to the failure of the pensioner to quote her full postal address which was not ascertained until 23 June 1982 when she telephoned the Department. The basic book containing orders from 21 May 1982 at the rate of £34.45 a week was handed to her on 24 June 1982. The living alone allowance book was returned to her on 5 July 1982 following confirmation that the statutory conditions for receipt of the allowance were fulfilled at the new address.

739.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Ventry, County Kerry, does not qualify for unemployment assistance.

There is no record of a claim to unemployment assistance being lodged at the local offices of my Department. The person concerned should get in touch with his nearest local office with a view to completing an application form and having his application statutorily determined.

740.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a widow's pension will be issued to a person (details supplied) in Maudlinstown, County Wexford.

The person concerned has been awarded a widow's contributory pension at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow with five qualified children with effect from 2 July 1982. A pension book with orders payable from that date has been sent to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. Her late husband was, at the time of his death on 19 May 1982, in receipt of invalidity pension and this pension continued to be paid to the widow for six weeks after that date.

741.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a death grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Maudlinstown, County Wexford.

A claim for death grant was received on 10 June 1982. The conditions for the maximum grant of £100 are satisfied and a cheque for this amount was issued on 1 July 1982 to the person concerned.

742.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when dental benefit will be granted to a person (details supplied) in Enniscorthy, County Wexford.

The person concerned claimed dental benefit in February 1981 quoting an incorrect RSI number. He failed to respond to a request for his end-of-year statement (Form P60) which he received from his employer and consequently his claim was disallowed. On 14 May 1982 a second claim for dental benefit was received. On this occasion the claimant replied to the Department's request for submission of his Form P60 for 1980-81. The claim was approved on 28 June 1982 and the necessary authorisation for the required treatment has issued to the claimant and to his dentist.

743.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in Innishannon, County Cork, who applied between 6 January and 13 March 1982; and if he will now make arrangements for payment.

The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until all inquiries to enable his means to be assessed were completed. The necessary investigations were only recently completed and means derived from land, portion of which is let, were assessed at £5.55 weekly. The person concerned is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £35.55 being the weekly rate of £41.10 less means £5.55 during the period 6 January 1982 to 13 March 1982 after which he returned to work. Arrangements have been made for the early payment of arrears of unemployment assistance due.

744.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to restore unemployment assistance as soon as possible to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry and the reason this person was deprived of his unemployment assistance.

The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance was disallowed with effect from 15 July 1981 on the grounds that his means derived from the letting of land exceeded the maximum rate payable to him from that date. The person concerned appealed against the disallowance and in this connection his case was again referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries about his bank accounts and the terms of his parents' will. These inquiries have now been completed and the case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. It is expected that the decision of the appeals officer will be made known shortly.

745.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, who is now getting the flat rate only.

The inquiries necessary to establish the amount of pay-related benefit payable to the person concerned were only recently completed. Pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £10.36 has now been authorised in addition to his flat-rate benefit of £31.65 weekly making a total weekly payment of £42.01. All arrears of pay-related benefit due to the person concerned will be paid this week. Further weekly payments will continue to be made as they fall due.

746.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in Knocknaheeney, Cork, and the action his Department propose to take in this matter.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 22 June 1981 and was paid from 25 June 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 23 June 1982. At that stage he had been in receipt of disability benefit for 52 weeks and it was necessary to review his claim to decide if he was entitled to further payment. His claim from 26 June 1982 was governed by his record of contributions paid or credited in the 1980-81 contribution year and, as he had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in that year, he was not entitled to further payment. He was informed of the position and requested to furnish a statement from his employers giving details of contributions paid but he failed to furnish the necessary information.

On receipt of the Deputy's question giving details of his employment the employers were contacted and it has been established that he had sufficient paid contributions to qualify him for further payment. All arrears of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due on his claim were issued on 2 July 1982.

747.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in Ennis, County Clare, who has been on disability benefit since 16 December 1981 will be paid for the weeks ended 6, 13 and 20 June 1982.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 17 October 1981 and was paid from 21 October 1981, fourth day of incapacity. All disability benefit due to 10 July 1982 has now been paid.

748.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person in Skibbereen in County Cork (details supplied) will be paid arrears of disability benefit which are due to him for the period August to October 1981.

As the Deputy has not supplied the revenue and social insurance number or insurance number of the person concerned it has not been possible to trace a claim in this case. If the RSI number or other particulars which would enable the claimant to be identified can be given, arrangements will be made to have the matter dealt with urgently.

749.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork, for a period from 8 September 1981 to 13 February 1982.

The person concerned claimed injury benefit from 18 October 1980 and was paid for the maximum statutory period of 26 weeks to 17 April 1981. His claim subsequent to that date was treated as one to disability benefit.

Following an examination by a medical referee of the Department who considered the claimant capable of work the claim was disallowed from 8 September 1981. He appealed against the disallowance and his case was referred to an appeals officer who decided that he was incapable of work from 8 September 1981 to 12 February 1982, the date of the latest medical certificate received. Payment of disability benefit due in respect of this period was issued on 29 June 1982. As the claimant died on 18 March 1982, further payment in respect of the period up to that date and for six weeks thereafter was made to the widow on 5 July 1982.

750.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.

The claim of the person concerned for a non-contributory old age pension has been partially investigated. On completion of the necessary inquiries, it will be referred to the local pension committee for decision. If she is dissatisfied with the committee's decision she may appeal against it. Her husband is currently in receipt of an adult dependant allowance at £17.30 a week in respect of her as part of his non-contributory old age pension.

751.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a children's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Gort, County Galway, who applied several months ago.

Allowance books totalling £11.25 per month payable from April 1982 were issued on 25 June 1982 direct to the claimant's address. A payable order in respect of arrears due for March 1982 is in the course of issue.

752.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in relation to an application for a prescribed relative allowance for a person (details supplied) in Loughrea, County Galway.

The application of the person concerned for prescribed relative allowance was disallowed on 31 March 1981 as the living alone condition of the scheme was not satisfied in her case. If, as a result of a change in the composition of the household, she now considers that she would be entitled to the allowance it is open to her to re-apply and her application will be reinvestigated.

753.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will reconsider his decision in regard to an old age pension application from a person (details supplied) in Loughrea, County Galway.

The claim to non-contributory old age pension of the person concerned has been referred to the local old age pension committee for decision with a recommendation that pension cannot be allowed as the assessment of his means exceeds the statutory limit. If he is not satisfied with the committee's decision he may appeal against it.

754.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an increase in invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Kinvara, County Galway.

The person concerned has been in receipt of invalidity pension since 19 June 1975. He was receiving payment in respect of five qualified children up to 10 March 1982 when the eldest child having attained age 18 years ceased to be a qualified child for invalidity pension purposes. He is at present in receipt of pension at the rate of £90.60 a week which is the appropriate rate of pension for a married man with four qualified children.

755.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in a case (details supplied) in Clondalkin, County Dublin, the reason the total amount of arrears due to the person concerned, in respect of an unmarried mothers allowance has not been paid; when they will be paid; and the amount thereof.

A payable order for the balance of the arrears of social assistance allowance due to the person concerned, in respect of the period from 7 January 1982 to 21 April 1982 and amounting to £291.20, has now been sent to her. A deduction of £254.20 was made from the arrears in respect of unemployment benefit which she received from the Department during that period. The non-payment of the arrears for the period in question was due to an administrative error.

756.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in Castlebar, County Mayo, is in receipt of the proper rate of occupational injuries benefit.

The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of an accident at work on 5 March 1982. Following inquiries regarding the accident his claim for injury benefit was allowed from 5 March 1982. In addition, pay-related benefit was paid from 22 March 1982.

The regulations governing the payment of pay-related benefit provide that when the total amount of flat-rate benefit and pay-related benefit exceeds a claimant's reckonable weekly earnings in the relevant income tax year 1979-80, the rate payable shall be reduced by the amount of the excess. The claimant's reckonable weekly earnings were £82.68. He was, therefore, precluded from receiving more than this amount during the period of his claim. The rates of flat-rate injury benefit and pay-related benefit payable in the period from 5 March 1982 to 5 July 1982, date of latest medical evidence received, are as follows:

Flat-rate Injury Benefit

Pay-Related Benefit

Total

Period

£

£

£

64.65

64.65

5 March 1982 to 21 March 1982

64.65

18.03

82.68

22 March 1982 to 3 April 1982

79.95

2.73

82.68

5 April 1982 to 5 July 1982

757.

(Waterford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Mooncoin, County Kilkenny, has not received disability benefit for the past 12 weeks.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 6 January 1982. He was not entitled to payment as according to the records of the Department he had not the required minimum of 26 paid or credited contributions in the contribution year 1980-81 which governed his claim.

It was subsequently established that he was claiming unemployment assistance during the contribution year 1980-81 and therefore had sufficient credited contributions to qualify him for payment of disability benefit at the appropriate maximum rate for a single person. All arrears of disability benefit due from 6 January 1982 to 3 July 1982 have now been paid to him less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance which he received from the South Eastern Health Board in that period.

758.

(Waterford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Mooncoin, County Kilkenny, has not received unemployment benefit for the past eight weeks.

The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance on 25 January 1982. Following the completion of inquiries which were necessary to determine his means he was granted a qualification certificate with nil means which qualified him for unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £20.35 increased to £25.45 from 31 March 1982. These are the maximum rates payable to a single person with nil means living in a rural area. All arrears due to him will be paid this week and weekly payments will continue to be made as they fall due.

In connection with his claim to unemployment benefit, the person concerned was unable at the time of his claim to furnish evidence of employment in this country since his return from the UK which is required under EEC regulations for the purpose of aggregation of his contributions in both countries. He recently furnished the local office with his income tax from P.45 and the Department of Health and Social Security in Newcastle-upon-Tyne have been asked to give details of his UK contributions for the purpose of his claim to unemployment benefit. When the required information is received his entitlement will be determined without delay.

759.

(Waterford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Carrigeen, County Kilkenny, has not been paid unemployment benefit for the last eight weeks.

The person concerned applied for a qualification certificate and unemployment assistance on 13 January 1982. To qualify for unemployment assistance a person must be the holder of a qualification certificate which is a statement of the person's means. He failed to disclose his means and accordingly he was refused a qualification certificate by a deciding officer on the grounds that he had failed to show that his means were within the statutory limits. It is open to him to appeal against the decision of the deciding officer if he is dissatisfied with the decision in his case. A form on which to lodge the appeal may be obtained from his local office.

760.

(Waterford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Mooncoin, County Kilkenny, has not received disability benefit.

The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of an accident at work on 22 December 1981. Following inquiries regarding the accident his claim for injury benefit was allowed from 22 December 1981 at the maximum appropriate rate and payment was made to 3 April 1982. As from 5 April 1982 the weekly rate of disability benefit in this case was greater than the rate of injury benefit which would ordinarily be payable. In the circumstances the claim was treated as one to disability benefit from that date. On the changeover to disability benefit payment was inadvertently suspended. The matter was subsequently rectified and all arrears of disability benefit due for the period from 5 April 1982 to 15 May 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, were included in cheques for £390.60 and £23.40 which issued on 18 May and 26 May 1982 respectively.

761.

(Waterford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Mooncoin, County Kilkenny, has not received disability benefit for an eight week period.

There is no record of the receipt of a claim for disability benefit from the person concerned. In the event of a claim being received he would not be qualified for benefit as, according to the records of the Department, he has less than the required minimum of 26 contributions, paid or credited, in 1980-81, the contribution year governing payment of benefit in 1982.

In the absence of details of the claim arrangements are being made for an inspector to visit the claimant to ascertain the dates of his incapacity and also details of his insurable employment in the 1980-81 year. On receipt of the inspector's report his claim to benefit will be reviewed and he will be notified of the position regarding his entitlement.

762.

(Waterford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Mooncoin, County Kilkenny, has not been paid disability benefit.

The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 18 October 1980 to 20 October 1981. As he has less than 156 contributions paid to his credit since his entry into insurable employment in 1968 his entitlement to benefit is limited to 52 weeks. The claimant cannot requalify for further payment of disability benefit unless he resumes employment which is insurable under the Social Welfare Acts for a period of not less than 13 weeks.

763.

(Waterford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Gowran, County Kilkenny, has not received disability benefit.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 2 January 1981 and was paid to 2 January 1982. Payment ceased after that date as she had less than the required minimum of 26 paid or credited contributions in 1980-81, the contribution year governing the claim from January 1982. Inquiries are being made concerning the claimant's employment record in the 1980-81 year but some difficulty is being experienced in obtaining details of the employment from the representatives of the employer. On completion of the inquiries the claim to disability benefit will be reviewed.

764.

(Waterford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Kilmacow, County Kilkenny, has not received any disability benefit for the past six months.

There is no record of receipt of a claim to disability benefit from the person concerned in my Department's records. The person concerned was last in receipt of unemployment assistance in February 1981 when his claim was disallowed on the grounds that he failed to reveal his means. He appealed against the disallowance but an appeals officer upheld the disqualification. He has not been in touch with his local office since April 1981.

765.

(Waterford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Kilmacow, County Kilkenny, has not received any disability benefit for the last eight weeks.

The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit in respect of an incapacity which he attributed to an accident at work on 28 April 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 28 April 1982, date of accident, to 22 May 1982, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, has been made.

766.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 May 1981 and has been paid all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 5 July 1982, date of latest medical evidence received. Further payment will issue on receipt of continuing medical evidence of incapacity.

767.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.

The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit at Dundalk local office up to 2 June 1982. On 11 June 1982 he made a repeat claim to unemployment benefit at Galway local office and he took up employment on 18 June 1982. It was necessary to transfer the relevant file from Dundalk to Galway and inquiries were also necessary to establish whether the person concerned was entitled to unemployment benefit during the period from 3 June up to 10 June 1982. Following these inquiries it has been established that he is entitled to 13 days benefit amounting to £56.88, which will be paid to him this week.

768.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the long delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.

The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 13 September 1980 to 8 August 1981. His claim was disallowed from 9 August 1981 following examination by a medical referee of the Department who considered him capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and he was examined by a different medical referee on 8 October 1981 who also considered him capable of work. The claim was then referred to an appeals officer and following an oral hearing of the case on 12 January 1982 the appeals officer upheld the decision to disallow the claim.

The claimant continued to submit medical evidence of incapacity and on 15 April, 1982 he was again examined by a medical referee who considered him capable of work. In the circumstances the disallowance was continued and he was notified accordingly. He was also notified of his right to appeal against this decision but so far he has not given notice of his intention to appeal.

769.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a qualification certificate was issued to a person (details supplied) in Broadford, County Clare.

The person concerned was granted a qualification certificate with effect from 15 February 1982 and was paid at the rate of £20.70 a week increased to £32.75 from 31 March 1982. His means were assessed at £31.00 a week derived from land, factually assessed, and capital. The factual assessment of the land was more beneficial to him than a national assessment. However following the completion of recent inquiries the date of his qualification certificate was amended to 5 February 1982, being the date on which he first applied for it. Arrangements have been made to pay this week the arrears of unemployment assistance due to him in respect of the period 5 February 1982 to 13 February 1982.

770.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in Boyle, County Sligo.

The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit from 25 January to 10 April 1982. Payment ceased from that date as no further medical evidence was received. He again claimed disability benefit from 21 May and was paid to 22 June 1982, at which stage it was discovered that he had been claiming benefit under an RSI number which is proper to another man of the same name who works for the same employer. Following inquiries the correct RSI number has been established and it has been ascertained from the employer that the claimant has been incapable of work continuously from 25 January to date. Payment has now been issued in respect of the period from 12 April to 24 May 1982 and from 23 June to 3 July 1982.

771.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in Cork SouthWest; and if he will arrange for payment.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 May 1982 and has been paid from 18 May 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 2 July 1982, date of the latest medical evidence received. An intermediate certificate only, dated 21 May 1982, was initially received from the claimant. In the absence of information as to the duration of the illness he was requested to furnish an employer's statement showing the date of commencement of his incapacity. On receipt of the employer's statement, dated 29 June 1982, payment of all disability benefit due to 2 July 1982 was issued.

772.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dundalk, County Louth.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 4 February 1982 and payment of disability benefit and pay-related benefit has been issued to him promptly on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity. There appears however to be a delay by him in submitting medical certificates. In the circumstances arrangements have been made to pay the claimant weekly in advance of the receipt of medical evidence which will be required only at monthly intervals. All payments due on this basis to 10 July 1982 have issued.

773.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for reducing the old age pension of persons (details supplied) in County Galway by £16 to £29 per week; and if he will consider adjusting the amount to the original figure.

Following a re-investigation of his means the non-contributory old age pension of the older member of the couple in question has been reduced on a provisional basis pending the decision of the local pension committee on a question for reduction of his pension to £14.45 a week with effect from 4 June 1982. If he is dissatisfied with the pension committee's decision he will have the right to appeal against it when it is conveyed to him.

His wife was awarded an old age pension at the reduced rate of £4.75 a week with effect from 19 January 1982 by decision of the local pension committee. Due to budgetary increases she is now in receipt of a pension at the rate of £14.45 a week. Her means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding and capital, assessed at £24.49 weekly, entitle her to pension at this rate. An appeal which she lodged against the pension committee's decision on her claim for old age pension has been referred to an appeals officer and she will be notified of the outcome in due course.

774.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a contributory widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Ennis, County Clare.

The person concerned, whose husband died on 19 April 1982, claimed a widow's contributory pension on 24 June 1982. She is not qualified for a contributory pension on her husband's insurance as he was self-employed. Inquiries are being made to ascertain whether she is entitled to a pension on her own insurance. On completion of these inquiries a decision will be given on her claim.

Barr
Roinn