asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit which is due to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefit.
505.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 5 January 1983 but was not initially qualified for payment on his insurance record. However, in response to a request from my Department, a certified statement of his insurable employment in 1981-82, which established his entitlement to benefit, was received from him on 28 February 1983.
Payment of all disability benefit due to 5 February 1983, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, was issued to the claimant on 1 March 1983.
A further cheque in payment of the pay-related benefit due on his claim was issued on 3 March 1983.
506.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in meeting the claim for children's allowance made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
A claim for children's allowance was received from the person concerned on 8 December 1982. The allowance was awarded with effect from January 1983 and the appropriate allowance book was issued on 14 January 1983 to the nominated post office of payment. It has been confirmed that this book was received by the person concerned.
507.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have disability benefit at the full rate paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as she has only been receiving a reduced amount for herself and her dependent son since 1 June 1981.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit at the reduced rate payable to a married woman from 23 February 1982 to 21 February 1983, a period of 52 weeks, when she ceased to be entitled to further payment of benefit as she has less than 156 paid contributions in respect of insurable employment. She was in receipt of unemployment benefit also at the rate appropriate to a married woman in the period 8 June 1981 to 31 October 1981.
To qualify for benefit at the full rate she would have to be in the position that she was not a dependant of her husband. At no stage of her claims for disability benefit or unemployment benefit did she notify my Department to this effect or that she wished to claim an increase in benefit in respect of her son.
Arrangements are now being made to obtain a report on the circumstances of the case from an inspector of my Department. On receipt of this report her claims will be reviewed.
508.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have disability benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as certificates were submitted from 5 October 1982 onwards and as no money was paid.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 5 October 1982 but was not entitled to payment between that date and 1 January 1983 as according to the records of the Department he had not the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1980-81, the contribution year governing his claim for that period.
Inquiries are being made in regard to the claimant's insurable employment during the 1980-81 contribution year and when these have been completed his entitlement to disability benefit for the period from 5 October 1982 to 1 January 1983 will be reviewed.
From 3 January 1983, the commencement of a new benefit year, entitlement to benefit in his case may be determined on his 1981-82 insurance record. He had 33 paid contributions in 1981-82 and these contrubutions qualified him for a reduced weekly rate of disability benefit from 3 January 1983.
All disability benefit due from 3 January 1983 to 17 January 1983, after which date he was certified as fit to resume work, has issued.
509.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have unemployment assistance at the full rate paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 11 February 1983. Payment at the weekly rate of £25.45 being the maximum rate for a single person of nil means living in a rural area was authorised. All payments due to date have been made and will continue weekly as they become due.