asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason social welfare payments have not been made to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin since 24 December 1982 which has resulted in the applicant being put in a serious financial situation; and if he will ensure that the outstanding payments are made forthwith and that they are paid hence-forth on a regular basis on receipt of the appropriate certificates.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
368.
The person concerned was allowed disability benefit from 2 November 1982 at the rate of £68.05 a week. Pay-related benefit was also allowed from 12 November 1982 at the rate of £40.28 a week. All benefit due in respect of medical certificates received was issued in respect of the period to 27 January 1983.
A complaint was received from him that he had not received a cheque for the sum of £216.66 which had issued to him on 10 January 1983 in payment of benefit for the period from 24 December 1982 to 6 January 1983. A duplicate cheque in replacement was issued to him on 28 January.
369.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the issue of a replacement widow's pension book and for the payment of all arrears which are due to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was awarded a prescribed relative's allowance, with effect from 13 August 1982, in respect of her daughter who is providing her with full time care and attention. On request, she returned her pension book with the last order cashed dated 7 January 1983. A book at a higher rate payable from 14 January 1983, which included the prescribed relative's allowance, was sent to the head post office in Galway on 10 January 1983 for collection by her.
As the new pension book may have got lost in the post a replacement book has been issued to the post office on 31 January 1983 and the widow has been notified to this effect.
There are no arrears due to the claimant in this case as supplementary welfare allowance had been paid by the Western Health Board in respect of the daughter and all arrears of prescribed relative allowance for the period from 13 August 1982 to 13 January 1983 are recoverable by the health board as an offset against the payment made by them.
370.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry did not qualify for an old age pension.
It has not been possible to trace a non-contributory old age pension claim in respect of the address given in this case.
A claim was however received from a person with the same name but with a slightly different address in the same town. The claimant's solicitor has been in touch with the social welfare officer about the transfer of property and when the investigations about this have been completed the claim will be referred to the local pension committee for decision.
371.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has not qualified for unemployment assistance even though he has been signing for 19 weeks.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until inquiries about his means had been completed.
The investigations were recently concluded and means in his case were assessed at £31.70 derived from fishing, the capital value of a house not personally used and the letting of land.
He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £18.80 being the maximum rate payable to him £50.50 less means £31.70. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week.
Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
372.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay related benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been unemployed for some time.
Inquiries were necessary to establish the reckonable earnings of the person concerned during the relevant income tax period 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981 before his entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat-rate unemployment benefit could be determined.
These inquiries were recently completed and pay-related benefit at £34.50 has been allowed and arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due to him this week.
Further combined payments at £65.00 representing flat-rate unemployment benefit £30.50 and pay-related benefit £34.50 will be made as weekly payments become due.
373.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Clare who is chronically ill and partially disabled.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 10 October 1980 to 3 July 1982.
Payment was disallowed from 5 July 1982 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and he was examined on 22 October 1982 by a different medical referee who also considered him capable of work.
The decision to disallow benefit from 5 July 1982 was upheld by the appeals officer, following an oral hearing of the case on 8 December 1982, at which the appellant was present.
He claimed unemployment benefit from 9 December 1982 and is currently in receipt of £31.65 per week, the maximum personal rate.
As he has, however, also continued to submit medical evidence of incapacity arrangements are being made to have him examined again by a medical referee.
374.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability payments being made to a person (details supplied) in County Clare have been made on an erratic basis.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 19 December 1981 to 22 December 1982, at which stage he had received payment for 52 weeks and it was necessary to review his claim to decide if he was entitled to further payment. Payment was interrupted owing to an accidental delay in completing this review. On completion of the review payment was restored from 23 December 1982 and all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 26 January 1983 have been issued to him.
375.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare as it was sanctioned by the pension committee in May, 1982.
An appeals officer has decided that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the maximum rate including an allowance for his wife from 2 November 1982, the date of the deed of transfer of his holding.
A pension book, payable from 7 January 1983 issued to his nominated post office on 25 January 1983 and a payable order in respect of the arrears due is in course of issue.
Prior to 2 November 1982 he was not entitled to any pension as the assessment of his means, consisting of half the weekly income from a holding, exceeded the statutory limit of £38.
376.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when outstanding disability benefit in respect of the period 23 May to 5 June, 1982 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 24 May 1982 to 3 July 1982 but was not qualified for payment as, according to the records of the Department, he had no contributions paid or credited in 1980-81, the contribution year governing his claim.
To be entitled to payment he needed at least 26 contributions in that year. It appears, however, that he may have been engaged in full-time education during 1980-81 and therefore entitled to credited contributions which would give him entitlement to benefit. He has been requested to furnish evidence from the school or college which he attended and when this is received his claim for disability benefit will be reviewed.
377.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the claim in respect of a discrepancy which has occurred in the payment of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned is presently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £33.50 being the maximum amount payable to a married man with one qualified child residing in a non-urban area £50.50 less means £17.00 derived from his wife's earnings. He has therefore received all unemployment assistance due to him.
He has applied for a review of his means on the grounds that his wife has ceased to be employed and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. When inquiries are completed his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome.
378.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance cannot be determined until her means have been assessed.
She has been asked to furnish details of her parents income to enable the value of board and lodging in her parents home to be calculated but only did so recently to the social welfare officer investigating her case.
When all inquiries are completed her means will be assessed and her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
379.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when outstanding disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned was paid occupational injury benefit from 10 April 1981 to 6 October 1981 and disability benefit from 7 October 1981 to 4 August 1982.
Payment was disallowed from 5 August 1982 following examination on 21 July 1982 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and on 22 October 1982 he was examined by a different medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was not capable of work. Payment was restored from 5 August 1982 and all benefit due has been paid.
380.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the long delay in reaching a decision on an application for optical benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed optical benefit on 5 August 1982. As the qualifying contribution conditions were not satisfied on the available record, it was necessary to make inquiries regarding his employment in the 1980-81 governing contribution year. It was also necessary to return the application form for completion as the claimant had failed to nominate an optician from whom he wishes to obtain the benefit.
On completion of these inquiries it was established that he was entitled to benefit and his claim was approved on 26 January 1983.
The necessary letter of authorisation for presentation to the optician was issued on that date.
381.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the long delay in making a decision on an application for optical benefit for a person (details supplied) in Cork.
The person concerned claimed optical benefit on 13 August 1982. As the qualifying contribution conditions were not satisfied on the available insurance record, it was necessary to make inquiries regarding her insurable employment since April 1980. On completion of these inquiries it was established that she was entitled to optical benefit and the claim was approved on 21 January 1983.
The claimant was notified accordingly and has since obtained the required treatment from her optician.
382.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will clarify whether a person (details supplied) in Cork is eligible for disability benefit as there have been conflicting reports from his Department on the matter.
The person concerned was notified to attend on 10 November 1982 for examination by a medical referee of my Department but failed to do so. A penalty of disallowance of benefit for six weeks from 6 December 1982 to 15 January 1983 was then imposed. On receiving notification of this the person concerned stated that she had not received the original notice for the examination but this explanation was not accepted by the deciding officer, pending review following a further medical referee examination.
The further medical examination has since been arranged for 4 February 1983 and she has been notified. In the meantime, however, it has been decided to cancel the disallowance and outstanding benefit to 2 January 1983 has been issued.
A new benefit year commenced on 3 January 1983 and the claim is now governed by the 1981-82 contribution year. In that year the records of the Department show that the claimant has only 25 contributions to her credit. To qualify for benefit she would require at least 26 contributions in that year. The claimant has been informed of the position and asked to indicate if she had any other employment in the governing contribution year that might qualify her for benefit.
383.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when children's allowances at the current rate and the arrears due will be issued to persons (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned claimed children's allowance on the 27 July 1982 in respect of her fifth child who was born on the 26 June 1982. The earliest date allowance can commence to accrue in respect of a child born in the month of June is July. Allowance was, therefore, awarded with effect from the 1 July 1982. An allowance book payable from that date, at £11.25 per month, was issued direct to her home address on the 23 August 1982.
This supplementary book increased the claimant's monthly allowance to £56.25 which is the correct rate payable in respect of her five qualified children. Accordingly, the correct rate of allowance is being paid in this case and no arrears are due.
384.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the three-week delay in making weekly disability payments to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and when the arrears will be issued.
The payment of disability benefit was disallowed to the person concerned from 10 January 1983 due to non-receipt of medical evidence. He contacted the Department on 26 January 1983 about the non-receipt of benefit and explained that he had received and sent a medical certificate in December and that he had also obtained and was sending on a certificate for January.
Payment of disability benefit due was paid to him on 27 January 1983.
385.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of pay-related benefit and insurance benefits will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned was paid arrears of disability and pay-related benefit due for the period 22 September to 25 September 1982, after which date she was certified fit to resume work, on 28 January 1983.
She claimed, originally, from 26 August 1982 and received payment, on a weekly basis, of all benefit due to 21 September 1982. The final certificate received at that stage had been incorrectly interpreted as indicating that she was fit to resume work on 22 September 1982.
386.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have unemployment assistance at an increased rate paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned is presently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £11.65 being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £13.80 derived from the value of board and lodging in his parents' home.
He recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arrangements are being made to have his case determined by an appeals officer.
His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
387.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have unemployment assistance paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed with effect from 3 November 1982 on the grounds that his means, derived from the benefit of his wife's earnings, exceeded the statutory limit.
He has appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have his case determined by an appeals officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
388.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have unemployment assistance paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned lodged a claim for unemployment assistance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means.
The social welfare officer made numerous calls to his home address before being able to interview him which he did recently.
As soon as the social welfare officer's report is received his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.
389.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an old age pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It was decided by the local pension committee on 6 November 1982 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as the assessment of her means, consisting of the weekly value of a British retirement pension and a holding exceeds the statutory limit. No appeal against the pension committee's decision has been received from the claimant.
390.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned has been in receipt of widow's non-contributory pension since April 1982 at a reduced rate on the basis of her means derived from a weekly payment under the provisions of her husband's will, a small amount of capital and free lodgings.
In september last she appealed against the decision awarding her the reduced rate of pension but the decision was upheld by an appeals officer. His decision is final and conclusive and can only be reviewed in the light of new evidence or new facts coming to his notice which were not available to him at the time of the appeal or in the event of any relevant change of circumstances.
391.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the entitlement of a person (details supplied) in County Galway to an old age pension.
Due to an increase in the means of the person concerned a question for reduction of her old age pension from £32.45 to £30.45 a week, from 14 January 1983 was referred to the local pension committee on 31 January 1983 for decision. Pension at the reduced rate of £30.45 is in payment pending the pension committee's decision. The pensioner will have the right of appeal if dissatisfied with the decision.
392.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have unemployment benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford as he has been out of work for several weeks.
The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment benefit from the date of her claim on 17 November 1982 because she does not fulfil the statutory contribution conditions during the relevant contribution periods 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981 and from 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982.
During these contribution periods she was employed as permanent and pensionable employee of a local health authority and the appropriate rate of contributions payable in her case were class D which do not provide cover against unemployment.
393.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as the application was made on 10 November 1982.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 9 November 1982 but failed to qualify in respect of her claim for the period to 1 January 1983 as she had a total of only 15 contributions to her credit in the contribution year 1980-81 governing her claim. She was informed of this position.
From 3 January 1983 the contribution year governing her claim changed to the 1981-82 contribution year and as she had 52 contributions paid in that year she qualified for benefit at the maximum rate of £31.65 from 3 January to 17 January 1983, the date of the latest medical evidence received. Payment for this period has been issued.
394.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance at the full rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £5.75 derived from the profit of his land. The rate of unemployment assistance currently payable to him is accordingly £44.75 being the maximum rate payable to him £50.50 less means £5.75.
It is open to him to appeal the decision in his case and to have his means determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose is obtainable at his local office.
395.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a free telephone rental allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned has been approved for free telephone rental allowance and a notification to this effect issued to him on 18 November 1982.
The Department of Posts and Telegraphs have been advised of the decision and will arrange to apply the allowance from the date on which telephone service is provided.
396.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension will be paid to 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 under 66 years of age with no qualified children.
A pension book with orders payable from 26 November 1982 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly.
397.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned has been in receipt of continuous weekly unemployment assistance since 16 July 1981. The rate presently payable is £18.20 being the maximum rate payable to him £21.20 less means £3.00. His means were notionally assessed on the basis of a half intestacy share of a holding, his share of the valuation being £5.125. All unemployment assistance to which he is entitled has accordingly been paid and weekly payments continue to be made to him as they become due.
398.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if optical benefit will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
A claim for optical benefit was received from the person concerned on 12 October 1982. As the claimant had not entered her old insurance number on the application form, further inquiries were necessary to determine her entitlement to this benefit.
These inquiries were completed on 11 November 1982 and the claim was approved. The letter of authorisation for presentation to her optician was issued to the claimant on 16 November 1982.
As she does not appear to have obtained the required benefit, a duplicate of the letter of authorisation was issued on 31 January 1983.
399.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied with the question has not claimed disability benefit. However, her husband is in receipt of disability benefit and payments are being issued to him on a regular basis subject to receipt of medical certification.
400.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension and arrears will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as the application has been made for some time.
Following receipt of documentary evidence of the transfer of his holding the person concerned has been awarded a maximum rate non-contributory old age pension, including an allowance for his wife and two dependent children with effect from 24 November 1981. The appropriate pension books and arrears have been issued.
401.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been unemployed since 14 April 1982 and who is only receiving £25.45 per week unemployment assistance even though he has sufficient contributions both in Ireland and England.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit cannot be determined until inquiries to establish the insurability of his employment in this country have been completed. These inquiries are at present being made.
In the meantime payment of unemployment assistance at the maximum rate of £25.45 continues to be made as weekly payments become due.
402.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment and pay-related benefits at the full rate have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as he has been out of work for quite some time.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 5 August 1982. Flat-rate unemployment benefit at the weekly reduced rate of £29.30 was authorised in his case pending the completion of inquiries to establish his full contribution record.
Following the recent completion of the inquiries, weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit of £30.50 and pay-related benefit of £10.59 has been authorised. All arrears due to the person concerned will be paid this week and combined weekly payments of £41.09 will continue as they become due. This is the full amount of unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit to which the person concerned is entitled.
403.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to the person concerned. On its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay and a pension book issued.
404.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment assistance as the means assessed against him, £28.85, derived from the profit of his holding, exceed the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him but an appeals officer upheld the assessment of means in his case.
405.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if arrears of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned reported that he had not received payment of unemployment benefit due for the period 2 January 1981 to 7 March 1981.
The protracted inquiries in the matter were recently completed and arrangements have been made to issue an order to him for the amount due, namely £446.10, for encashment at his local poat office in lieu of the order which he reported missing.
406.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay all outstanding disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
All arrears of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to the person concerned less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced, has now been issued.
407.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay all outstanding unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned does not satisfy the statutory conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefit and accordingly his claim which commenced on 5 October 1982 had to be disallowed.
He is, however, presently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £21.40 being the maximum rate payable to him, £25.45 less means £4.05 derived from the value of board and lodging in his parent's home.
408.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as the application has been made for several months.
The person concerned is entitled to unemployment assistance at £57.95 weekly, the maximum rate payable to him, and all arrears due to him, less payments of supplementary welfare allowance which had been advanced to him, were paid at the end of November 1982.
Weekly payments of unemployment assistance continue to be made to him as they become due.
409.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as he has been signing since 1 June 1982.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 4 June 1982 and following an investigation of his means he was assessed with means at £30.85. As this amount exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him his claim was disallowed. He appealed against the decision in his case but an appeals officer upheld the decision disallowing the claim.
He applied again for unemployment assistance on 3 November 1982 and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for further investigation. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed as soon as the social welfare officer's report on the investigation of means is received.
410.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will confirm that children's allowances will be paid for six children, not five as is the current position, to a family (details supplied) in County Dublin as they have been seeking this for almost one year; and if, in view of previous representations by Deputy Gay Mitchell and the undertaking which was given that a full investigation would be carried out, he will confirm that full benefit will now issue.
Investigations in this case have been completed. An allowance book with orders cashable from January 1983 at the monthly rate of £17.50 was issued on 31 January 1983 direct to the claimant. A payable order in respect of arrears of £361.50 due for the period December 1981 to December 1982 has been issued.
The claimant is now in receipt of £73.75 per month which is the correct amount payable in respect of her six qualified children.
411.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will reconsider his decision in relation to the payment of benefit under the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981 to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned had been in receipt of unemployment assistance on the basis of a national assessment of his means. Following investigation of the case, means were assessed against him on a factual basis and as the means so assessed exceeded the statutory limit for entitlement, assistance was withdrawn. The matter has now been reviewed and payment of assistance has been restored to the person concerned on the basis of a notional assessment of his means.
412.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Laois who is married with a young family is only receiving £7.80 unemployment assistance per week.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £61.75 weekly derived from self-employment as a carpenter. Accordingly unemployment assistance is payable to him at the weekly rate of £7.80 being the maximum rate payable to him £69.55 less means £61.75.
He has lodged an appeal against the amount of means assessed against him and arrangements are being made to have his case determined by an appeals officer.
His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
413.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a children's allowance book has not been issued to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly, who applied last October.
No trace can be found in the records of the Department of a claim for children's allowances having been received from the person mentioned by the Deputy in the question.
Application forms have accordingly been issued to her for completion. When the forms are returned to the Department with the necessary documentation the claim will be decided and any allowances due will be issued promptly.
414.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been paid all arrears of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 22 October 1982, after which date she was certified fit to resume work.
415.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if dental benefits will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed dental benefit on 14 March 1981 in respect of a double filling. As this treatment did not require the prior sanction of my Department it was carried out by her dentist in advance of the claim.
However on receipt of the claim the persons insurance record was found to be deficient and on 23 March 1981 she was asked to forward details of her employment history. Despite the issue of two reminders no reply was received to this communication. Her claim was rejected on the ground that she did not satisfy the contribution conditions and she was notified accordingly on 6 May 1982.
She then submitted details relating to her employment and it has now been determined that the contribution conditions for receipt of dental benefit are in fact satisfied in her case. She has been informed accordingly.
Payment of the amount due on foot of the claim will be made to her dentist shortly.