asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that no hardship is inflicted on a widow (details supplied) in County Wexford because of an administrative oversight in overpaying unemployment benefit; and if he will reduce the amount of arrears being repaid per week.
Written Answers . - Social Welfare Benefits .
610.
: The person concerned is in receipt of a widow's pension payable at the maximum rate of £36.25 and she is presently being paid unemployment benefit at the rate appropriate to her case, namely £15.83 weekly. Her title to unemployment benefit will continue until 22 July 1983.
At the commencement of her claim the amount payable to her was incorrectly calculated and as a result she was overpaid the sum of £340.28. At present between widow's pension and unemployment benefit she is being paid a total of £52.08 a week. Arrangements are being made for recovery of the overpayment by a small weekly deduction to avoid hardship to the claimant.
611.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of a contributory pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: Contributory old age pension is payable each Friday in advance for the following week. The wife of the person concerned died on 6 December 1981 and his entitlement to an increase in pension in respect of her ceased from that date.
The Christmas 1981 double payment was payable to contributory old age pensioners for the week commencing 11 December 1981. The order dated 11 December 1981 cashed by the person concerned in respect of that week was for £64.40, and it represented the Christmas double payment at the personal rate of £32.20 per week which was his entitlement at that date. He was also paid £32.20 in respect of each of the orders dated 18 and 25 December 1981. All three orders were cashed on 31 December 1981, together with the order dated 1 January 1982. There are, therefore, no arrears outstanding in respect of the claimant.
612.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of injury benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if there are any arrears due to him.
: The person concerned was paid injury benefit amounting to £718.66 in 1982 in respect of a claim covering the period from 8 July 1982 to 11 September 1982. A balance of £617.27, which in error was not issued at that time, was paid on 11 March 1983.
613.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
: The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 3 February 1983 on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance and following an oral hearing of her case on 7 March 1983 an appeals officer allowed her claim.
All arrears of unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit were paid to her last week. Further combined payments of £41.00 weekly representing flat-rate unemployment benefit £27.80 and pay-related benefit £13.20 will be made as they become due.
614.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Offaly is only getting £2.80 per week unemployment assistance.
: The person concerned was assessed with means of £22.65 derived from the value of board and lodging in his father's home.
He is accordingly being paid unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £2.80 being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £22.65.
615.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit at his local branch employment office on 14 February 1983. The documents relating to his claim went astray in transit between the branch employment office and the employment exchange thereby causing delay in dealing with his claim.
The matter was recently rectified and all arrears of unemployment benefit due to him were paid last week. Further weekly payments at £45.20 will be made as they become due.
616.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick since 11 January 1983.
: The person concerned has been paid arrears of disability and pay-related benefit due to 1 March 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received. He had previously been paid benefit up to 18 January 1983.
The delay in the issue of payment subsequent to that date resulted from an incorrect RSI number being quoted by the claimant on his medical certificates. He has been informed of his correct number and asked to quote it in future to avoid delay in payment.
617.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment and pay-related benefits to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned is a postal applicant for unemployment benefit and all arrears of flat-rate unemployment benefit due to him were issued on 17 February 1983.
Inquiries to establish his title to pay-related benefit were recently completed and his claim was allowed and all arrears due issued to him on 3 March 1983.
Further combined weekly payments of £92.75 representing flat-rate unemployment benefit £75.00 and pay-related benefit £17.75 will be made as they become due.
618.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have an old age pension book returned immediately to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
: A routine re-investigation of the old age pension entitlement of the person concerned has revealed that the assessment of his means is now in excess of the statutory limit of £38.00 a week. The means consist of half the weekly value of his wife's occupational pension and capital. Accordingly his pension book was withdrawn and a question for revocation of his pension from 11 February 1983 was raised and has been forwarded to the local pension committee for decision.
619.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
: The person concerned has been paid all disability benefit due to him to 5 March 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
620.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
: The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from self-employment as a painter, exceeded the statutory limit.
He has applied for an oral hearing of an appeal against the amount of means assessed against him and arrangements for such a hearing have been made. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
621.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a free electricity allowance was withdrawn in the case of a person in County Westmeath; and the reason his invalidity pension was reduced by £7.
: The free electricity allowance which applied to the account of the person concerned was terminated because his eldest daughter, who is residing with him, ceased to be a person who came within the excepted categories for satisfying the "living alone" condition of the scheme when she reached the age of 18 years.
The child in question also ceased to be a dependent for invalidity pension purposes at that stage and the allowance of £7.45 for her in her father's invalidity pension ceased to be payable. He is at present in receipt of an invalidity pension of £83.15 a week, the rate appropriate to a married man with three qualified children.
622.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is only receiving unemployment assistance at the rate of £4.95 per week.
: The means of the person concerned were incorrectly read on her qualification certificate as £20.50 instead of £0.50.
When the error was discovered all arrears of unemployment assistance due to the person concerned were paid on 24 February 1983.
Further weekly payments at £24.95 being the maximum rate payable to her, £25.45 less means £0.50, are being made as they become due.
623.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying arrears of a contributory widow's and orphan's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; the amount of arrears due to this person; and when these will be paid.
: The person concerned was awarded a contributory widow's pension from 2 October 1982 and a pension book with orders payable from 7 January 1983 was issued to the designated post office for collection by her on 10 January 1983. The full arrears of pension amounting to £630.00, in respect of the period from 2 October 1982 to 6 January 1983, have now been issued direct to her by means of a payable order.
The arrears were held pending clarification as to whether other payments had been made in this case. It has been established that no payments were made.
624.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the low rate of unemployment assistance being paid at present to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
: The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance at £12.95 which is the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £12.50 derived from the value of board and lodging in his parents' home.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him but an appeals officer upheld the assessment at £12.50 weekly.
625.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the reduced rate of unemployment assistance being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
: The person concerned was assessed with means of £12.30 weekly derived from self-employment as a painter. He is accordingly being paid unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £68.95 being the maximum rate payable to him £81.25 less means £12.30.
He recently completed an appeal application form at his local office and when certain inquiries are completed his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
626.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if persons (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be eligible for a free telephone rental bearing in mind their advanced age and special circumstances.
: It is a condition of the free telephone rental allowance scheme that the pensioner be living entirely alone or only with persons who are so permanently incapacitated as to be unable to summon aid in an emergency.
As the medical evidence furnished indicated that the applicant's sister is not so incapacitated, the application had to be disallowed and the person concerned was notified accordingly.
627.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the granting of a free telephone rental allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath as they are of pensionable age.
: There is no record in my Department of receipt of an application for free telephone rental allowance from the person concerned.
An application form has been issued to him and on receipt of the completed form a decision will be given and he will be notified of the outcome.
628.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned lodged a claim for unemployment assistance on 15 December 1982 and payment became due from 18 December 1982, the fourth day of unemployment.
Weekly payments at the maximum rate fo £25.45 were made to him from 19 January 1983 and the arrears from 18 December 1982 to 18 January 1983 were held against the advances of supplementary welfare allowance which were paid to him by the health board. However it was recently ascertained that he received advances of supplementary welfare allowance at £20.00 weekly and consequently there is a balance of arrears amounting to £14.55 due to him.
Arrangements have been made to pay this amount to him with his weekly unemployment assistance when he next calls to his local office.
629.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 19 October 1982 but he did not satisfy the contribution condition on the basis of his Irish contribution record. He was asked to furnish his United Kingdom insurance number to enable his contribution record there to be invoked in accordance with the provision of EEC Regulations.
He was unable to state his United Kingdom number. However details of his employment which he provided were referred to the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. That Department have not yet furnished his insurance record in the United Kingdom. As soon as it is received his entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined. In the meantime he was invited to claim unemployment assistance but he declined to do so.
630.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The claim of the person concerned to deserted wife's allowance/benefit was disallowed for the reason that her husband did not leave her of his own volition.
She appealed aginst the decision but her appeal was turned down by the appeals officer. She was notified of his decision on 23 February 1983. An appeals officer's decision is final and conclusive and can only be reviewed in the light of new facts or fresh evidence being made available to him. In view of the statements now made by the Deputy, the case is being referred back to the appeals officer asking him to consider whether these statements constitute new facts or fresh evidence.
It is understood that the claimant is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance from the South-Eastern Health Board.
631.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 6 July 1982 to 28 September 1982. She then submitted a claim for maternity allowance and this allowance was paid to her from 11 October 1982 to 8 January 1983.
There is no record of the receipt of a claim for disability benefit in respect of the intervening period between the termination of her claim for unemployment benefit and the commencement of her claim for maternity allowance. She claimed unemployment benefit again from 4 February 1983 but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she is not available for employment. She has appealed against the disallowance and the case is being referred to an appeals officer for determination.
632.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned is receiving a non-contributory old age pension at the rate of £6.45 a week plus £2.70 living alone allowance since April 1982. The assessment of her means, consisting of a holding and capital, entitles her to pension at this rate. The Deputy's representations on behalf of the pensioner were accepted as an appeal against the local pension committee's decision on her pension claim. An appeals officer, however, has upheld the committee's decision.
The person concerned is a widow whose means include capital and she might qualify for a higher rate of non-contributory widow's pension under the more favourable method of means assessment for widows. Her entitlement under this scheme is therefore being investigated.
633.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned has been paid all disability benefit due from 30 September 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 27 November 1982, after which date she was certified fit to resume work.
634.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned lodged a claim for unemployment assistance on 22 February 1983 and as he holds a qualification certificate with means assessed at £45.25 weekly, derived from self-employment, his claim was allowed at the rate of £5.25 being the maximum rate payable to him £50.50 less means £45.25.
His case however has been referred to a social welfare officer for a re-investigation of his means. When the inquiries have been completed the assessment of his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
635.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned lodged a claim for unemployment assistance on 22 February 1983 and as he holds a qualification certificate with means assessed at £45.30 weekly derived from self-employment his claim was allowed at the rate of £18.45 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £63.75 less means £45.30.
His case however has been referred to a social welfare officer for re-investigation of his means. When the inquiries are completed the assessment of his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
636.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when social welfare benefit of some kind will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person named by the Deputy is the wife of a recipient of unemployment assistance who is being paid at the maximum weekly rate of £50.50, for a married man with one qualified child residing in a non urban area. The rate includes an allowance of £18.50 in respect of his wife and £6.55 for his child.
In view of the high rent which the family are required to pay they may be entitled to assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowances scheme. Application should be made to the local community welfare officer or at the offices of the local health board.
637.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when social welfare benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: The person concerned exhausted his title to unemployment benefit on 29 December 1982 when he completed 390 days.
He claimed unemployment assistance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. Inquiries are still being made in the case but it is expected that they will be completed shortly. When the report is received his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
638.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford as he has not worked for two years, has been refused assistance and now faces being evicted from his home because of inability to pay rent.
: The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment assistance as the means assessed against him £40.00 exceed the maximum weekly rate of unemployment assistance payable to him £25.45. His means were derived from self-employment as a labourer.
He applied to have his means re-investigated and his case is presently being investigated by a social welfare officer. It is expected that inquiries will be completed shortly after which the assessment of his means will be reviewed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
639.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension is no longer being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for the delay in informing him of the decision to discontinue payment.
: It was decided by an appeals officer in January 1978 that the person concerned was not entitled to any pension from 8 July 1977. The appeals officer's decision followed a re-investigation of the person's entitlement which revealed that the assessment of his means, consisting mainly of half his wife's earnings, exceeded the then statutory limit. The local pension committee were requested in March 1978 to convey the decision to the person concerned and he has not been in touch with the Department since then.
640.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when payment will be made.
: The person concerned has been claiming disability benefit since 5 January 1982. He has been paid disability and pay-related benefit as medical certificates are received and all benefit due to him to 8 March 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received, has been paid.
Payment of benefit was, however, interrupted for one week due to the non-receipt by my Department of medical evidence of incapacity between 14 February and 28 February 1983. Payment for this period was made when the next medical certificate was received on 2 March 1983.
641.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as he applied approximately six weeks ago; and when payment will be made.
: The person concerned has been claiming disability benefit since 10 August 1982 and has been paid all disability and pay-related benefit due to him to date.
There was an interruption in payment between 19 January 1983 and the beginning of February 1983 due to the non-receipt of medical certificates by my Department but payment was subsequently made for this period.
642.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a non-contributory pension has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason he was not informed of this decision.
: The old age pension of the person concerned was reduced following a re-investigation of his entitlement which revealed that the assessment of his means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding and capital, had increased considerably since an earlier review of the case in 1980.
The pension was reduced from £39.75 to £15.75 from 21 January 1983, pending the decision of the local pension committee. The committee decided on 8 March 1983 that the pensioner was entitled to £15.75, as recommended by the social welfare officer, and they sent notification of their decision to him on 9 March 1983.
643.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a contributory old-age pension has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when payment will be made.
: There is no record of receipt of a claim for contributory old age pension from the person concerned. In response to a reply to representations made on his behalf a certificate stating that he had been employed for a total of 68 weeks from 1964 to 31 December 1981 was supplied by an employer but this would not suffice to qualify him for the pension. In order to do so he would need to have at least 156 contributions paid in respect of his employment since his entry into insurance and a yearly average of not less than 20 paid or credited contributions from 1953 or year of entry into insurance, whichever is the later, to the end of the last complete contribution year before he attained pension age. He has been informed accordingly but has also been asked to complete a claim form for contributory old age pension to enable the question of his entitlement to be fully investigated.
644.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as he applied approximately five weeks ago; and when payment will be made.
: The person concerned was paid disability and pay-related benefit to 21 December 1982. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance. Subsequently he submitted a medical certificate to the effect that he was fit to resume work from 10 January 1983.
The case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination in respect of the period from 22 December 1982 to 8 January 1983 and the claimant will be advised of the result in due course.
The person concerned again claimed disability benefit from 31 January 1983 and all benefit due on this claim to date has been paid.
645.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not been paid a children's allowance for one child; and when payment will be made.
: Due to a clerical error the claimant has been in receipt of an incorrect rate of children's allowance since March 1982. A supplementary allowance book at £17.50 per month payable from January 1983 has been issued and a payable order for £166.50 in respect of arrears due for the period March 1982 to December 1982 will issue shortly.
The claimant is now in receipt of allowance at the rate of £73.75 per month in respect of her six qualified children.
646.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a non-contributory old age pension has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when payment will be made.
: The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Pension at the reduced rate of £8.45 plus £4.30 adult dependant allowance from 19 January 1983 has been recommended by the social welfare officer and has been put into payment, on a provisional basis pending the committee's decision.
647.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
: The person concerned has been paid all disability and pay-related benefit due to 2 March 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
648.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a maternity grant has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
: The payment of maternity grant to the person concerned was delayed by difficulties affecting her husband's contribution record. These difficulties were resolved and the grant was paid on 11 February 1983.
649.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying a widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
: The person concerned claimed a widow's contributory pension on 9 December 1982, which was awarded to her at the maximum appropriate rate of £56.65 per week for herself and two children with effect from 31 December 1982. Her husband who died on 15 November 1982 had been in receipt of invalidity pension at the time of his death and this was continued in payment to the widow for six weeks after that date.
A pension book payable from 31 December 1982 was issued on 6 January 1983 to the designated post office for collection by her. It was confirmed in February last that the book was in her possession. There was no delay in paying the pension in this case.
650.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an increased rate of unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
: The person concerned was assessed with means of £18.40 derived from the value of board and lodging in his parents home and from capital. He was accordingly paid unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £7.05 being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less £18.40 means up to 17 February 1983 after which he ceased to sign as unemployed.
He applied to have his means reassessed on 11 February 1983 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. When the inquiries are completed his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
651.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying pay-related benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
: Inquiries were necessary to ascertain the reckonable earnings of the person concerned before his entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat-rate unemployment benefit could be established.
The investigations were recently completed and pay-related benefit has been allowed from 7 February 1983 and all arrears due were paid last week.
Further combined weekly payments of £59.62 representing flat-rate unemployment benefit £51.00 and pay-related benefit £8.62 will be made as they become due.
652.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a contributory old age pension has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
: In order to qualify for a contributory old age pension a person is required to have at least 156 contributions paid in respect of his employment and to have a yearly average of at least 20 paid or credited contributions from 1953 or the year in which he entered into insurance, whichever is the later, to the end of the last complete contribution year before he attained pension age.
The person concerned has a total on only 60 paid plus 54 credited contributions from his year of entry in 1963 to the end of the 1976 contribution year and as this is not sufficient to satisfy the contribution conditions he does not qualify for a contributory old age pension.
His entitlement to a non-contributory old age pension is being investigated.
653.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an increase in unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
: The person concerned is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance at £20.65 weekly which is the maximum rate payable to him £43.95 less means £23.30 derived from self-employment as a plasterer and from capital.
However if he considers that the circumstances of his means have changed it is open to him to apply for a re-investigation of his case. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
654.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an increase in unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
: The person concerned is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £21.45 which is the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £4.00 derived from land. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him but the assessment at £4.00 weekly was upheld by an appeals officer.
655.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will receive unemployment assistance.
: The person concerned was assessed with means in excess of the statutory limit and his unemployment assistance claim was disallowed. His means were derived from self-employment in cutting timber, selling fuel and sheep shearing. He has indicated his intention to appeal against the decision and he has been supplied with an appeal application form. When he completes and returns this form arrangements will be made to have his case determined by an appeals officer and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of that officer's decision.
656.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will have payment expedited.
: The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 31 January 1983, submitting one medical certificate only indicating that on that date he was incapable of work. Continuing medical evidence is necessary to establish the duration of incapacity before any payments can be made.
A second medical certificate, dated 28 February 1983, was received in my Department on 4 March 1983 and payment of disability and pay-related benefit due to the date of that certificate was issued on the day it was received.
657.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay an invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
: The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals and payment has issued to 19 March 1983.
A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to him and on its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay and a pension book issued.
658.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when duplicate pension counterfoils will be supplied to the legal representatives of a person (details supplied) in County Cork now deceased as he was left short of counterfoils for the weeks ended 16 December 1982 and 10 December 1982.
: As it has been confirmed by the local post office that old age contributory pension for two weeks was still due to the pensioner at the time of his death a payable order for the amount involved, £80.50, is being sent to his son, who is being regarded as the person to whom the payment should be made.
659.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have arrears of a widow's pension from 4 to 25 February 1983 paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare.
: Arrangements have now been made to pay widow's contributory pension to the person concerned for the period 4 February 1983 to 25 February 1983. A pension book containing four orders for this period has been sent to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. The date of the last order in her original pension book was 28 January 1983 instead of 25 February 1983.
In addition, the widow has been awarded a living alone allowance with effect from 4 March 1983 and an order book for this allowance has also been sent to the post office for her.
660.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if he is aware that this person was hospitalised when he was asked to appear before the medical referee; and if he will have this situation corrected and the money paid.
: The person concerned was disallowed payment of disability benefit for the period of six weeks from 22 February 1983 for failure to attend for examination by a medical referee.
The decision was subsequently revised, however, and payment restored on receipt from the claimant of evidence that he had been in hospital on the date that he was due to attend for examination.
All disability and pay-related benefit due to him to 4 March 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received, has been paid.
661.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a lower rate of disability benefit than usual is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 4 November 1981 to 5 November 1982 as a result of the award of pre-entry credits following his statement that he had entered insurable employment for the first time on 4 April 1981. It has since been ascertained, however, that he entered insurable employment on 8 November 1965 and was, therefore, not entitled to the pre-entry credits awarded to him. In the absence of these credits he was not entitled to benefit as he had not the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1979-80 or 1980-81, the contribution years governing his claim.
He was notified to this effect on several occasions and was informed that the overpayment would be recovered by deductions of £6.20 per week when he qualified for benefit from 3 January 1983 on the basis of his 1981-82 insurance record.
662.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
: The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Pension at the rate of £32.45 a week plus £2.70 living along allowance has been recommended by the social welfare officer. The assessment of the claimant's means, consisting of the weekly value of a farm and capital, including the capital value of his intestacy interest in a house, entitles him to pension at this rate.
The appropriate pension books and arrears due are in course of issue on a provisional basis pending the pension committee's decision.
663.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is receiving only £7.30 per week and has no other income.
: The person concerned was assessed with means of £18.15 weekly derived from fishing and the value of board and lodging on his father's holding. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £7.30 being the maximum weekly rate of £25.45 less means £18.15.
However, if he considers that his circumstances have changed since his means were assessed it is open to him to apply for a re-investigation of his case. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
664.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: Inquiries were necessary to ascertain the reckonable earnings of the person concerned to enable his entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat-rate unemployment benefit to be determined.
Following the completion of inquiries payment of pay-related benefit was authorised at the weekly rate of £34.42. However the authorisation to pay which issued to his local post office went astray in the post. A duplicate was subsequently issued on 3 March 1983 paying all arrears of pay-related benefit due to him which amounted to £218.00.
665.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 26 January 1982 and was paid a total of 52 weeks benefit to 26 March 1983 based on his insurance record in the 1980-81 contribution year. From 28 January 1983, his entitlement to disability benefit depended on his 1981-82 insurance record and payment of benefit was interrupted while inquiries were being made to establish his entitlements to benefit from that date.
When it was ascertained that he was qualified for continued payment of disability benefit on his 1981-82 insurance record, all arrears due to him were issued. Further payment has continued to be made as medical evidence is received.
666.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will be transferred from disability benefit to an invalidity pension.
: The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals and payment has issued to 19 March 1983.
Invalidity pension is payable in place of disability benefit to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. The person concerned is being considered for the award of an invalidity pension and in this connection arrangements are being made to have him examined by a medical referee of the Department on 24 March 1983. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of that examination.
667.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when dental benefit will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: The person concerned claimed dental benefit on 17 January 1983. As the statutory contribution conditions were not satisfied his claim could not be approved. On 28 February 1983 the claimant was informed of the position and asked to submit details of any further employment he might have had. He has not so far replied.
668.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance and indicated that he was prepared to co-operate in the investigation of his means.
His case was referred to a social welfare officer and inquiries are being made in the matter. It is expected that the inquiries will be completed shortly and the claim will then be referred to an appeals officer for determination. The claim will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
669.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in Dublin who was divorced and who remarried is entitled to any social welfare benefits.
: It has not been possible from the information supplied by the Deputy to trace a social insurance record in respect of the person concerned. She could well be entitled to payment under any one of a range of social insurance or assistance services but in the absence of more precise information about the circumstances of the person concerned it is not possible to be more specific. She is advised, therefore, either to write to the Department or to call to one of the Department's public offices to make a more detailed inquiry. The nearest public office of the Department to the person concerned is at Oisin House, Pearse Street, Dublin 2.
Alternatively if the Deputy wishes to supply more details, the case will be further investigated.
670.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been refused permission to sign for unemployment assistance.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 25 October 1982. His claim was disallowed on the grounds that he was not available for employment as he was working his mother's farm. He appealed against the disallowance and an oral hearing at which he gave evidence on his own behalf was held on 17 February 1983. The appeals officer upheld the disallowance of the claim. The person concerned then ceased to sign as unemployed.
671.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
: It is expected that the inquiries regarding the means of the person concerned will be completed shortly. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will then be determined. When he previously claimed unemployment assistance he failed to make himself available for interview by the social welfare officer who called to investigate his means and his claim was disallowed.
672.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick is only receiving £63.80 per week disability benefit in respect of himself, his wife and one child; and the reason he has not been paid since 2 February 1983.
: The person concerned was paid disability benefit at £57.30 per week, based on an insurance record of 36 contributions in 1980-81, the contribution year governing his claim. He was also paid £6.50 per week pay-related benefit, giving him a total weekly payment of £63.80.
It has since been established that he has an additional six credited contributions for 1980-81, giving him a total of 42 contributions for that year and entitling him to a weekly disability benefit rate of £58.50. His total weekly benefit entitlement is thus £65.00.
The maximum weekly rate of disability benefit, £59.65, for a married couple with one child dependant, is payable only where the claimant has at least 48 contributions paid or credited in the contribution year governing his claim.
All arrears of benefit due to the claimant, as a result of the revision of his weekly rate, have been paid and normal payments, interrupted since 2 February 1983 due to an administrative error, have been brought up to date.
673.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is not receiving unemployment benefit.
: There is no record in the Department of the receipt of an application for unemployment benefit from the person concerned. If he is unemployed he should call to his nearest employment exchange or branch employment office and lodge a claim. A claim may be made by post if he resides more than six miles from a local office.
674.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
: The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment benefit since 28 October 1982. She is presently being paid at the rate of £26.25 weekly being the rate of benefit payable to a married woman with 39 contributions in the relevant contribution period i.e. 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981.
Weekly payments continue to be made as they become due.
675.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when invalidity benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
: The person concerned has been paid all disability and pay-related benefit due to him from 15 February 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 5 March 1983, after which date he was certified fit to resume work.
676.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay arrears of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as all the certificates have been submitted.
: All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to the person concerned to 9 March 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received, has been paid.
677.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the full rate of contributory old age pension is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
: The person concerned is in receipt of old age contributory pension at the rate appropriate to his yearly average of 46 contributions over the 16 year period from 1963 to the end of the 1978 contribution year. A yearly average of 48 is required to qualify for the pension at the full rate.
He recently submitted a claim for a living alone allowance and this has been sent to the local social welfare officer for investigation. A decision regarding this allowance will be made when the social welfare officer's report is received.
678.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have arrears of invalidity pension paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
: To qualify for invalidity pension an insured person who satisfies the contribution conditions must be permanently incapable of work.
To determine whether the person concerned was permanently incapable of work arrangements were made to have him examined by a medical referee on 21 December 1982. He was, however, medically certified as unfit to attend for examination on that date and the Department's medical adviser accepted that he was permanently incapable of work.
Invalidity pension has accordingly been awarded from 21 December 1982 and a pension book payable from 17 February 1983 was issued and arrears in respect of the period from 21 December 1982 to 16 February 1983, less the amount of disability benefit already paid during that period, will be paid separately within the next few days.
679.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who claimed a deserted wife's allowance fully investigated with a view to having this allowance granted, particularly in view of the fact that this woman lodged an appeal at the beginning of January 1983 and has heard nothing to date.
: The claim of the person concerned to deserted wife's allowance has been submitted to an appeals officer and the case will be dealt with at an early date.
680.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay two weeks maternity benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as she has already been paid for 12 weeks.
: A cheque in respect of all outstanding benefit has now been issued to the person concerned.
681.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
: The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 7 June 1982 to 4 February 1983 after which date payment was disallowed following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She has appealed against the disallowance and, in connection with her appeal, arrangements are being made to have her examined by a different medical referee. Her entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
682.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
: The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 22 June 1982 and maternity allowance in respect of a confinement on 2 December 1982. She is not qualified for disability benefit or maternity allowance as, according to the records of the Department, she has not the required minimum of 26 paid contributions to her credit in respect of weeks of insurable employment.
Her insurance record has been requested from the Northern Ireland authorities as she indicated that she had been employed in Northern Ireland during 1979 and 1980 and investigations regarding her insurable employment in this country are also being made. On completion of the inquiries her entitlements will be reviewed.
683.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason £90 maternity benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork in January 1982.
: The person concerned was paid maternity allowance in respect of the period 14 January 1982 to 10 April 1982. She indicated that she did not receive two of the cheques which issued to her. A form of indemnity was sent to her on 11 March 1982 so as to permit the issue of replacement payments but there is no trace of the completed form having been returned.
The two cheques referred to by the claimant were for £183 and £45.75. In order to clarify the matter, an inspector of the Department will call on the claimant shortly and show her all the cashed cheques in respect of her claim.
684.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
: Following the completion of inquiries to establish that the person concerned continues to fulfil the conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefit arrangements have been made to pay all arrears of flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit due this week. Combined weekly payments at £48.07 representing flat-rate unemployment benefit £31.65 and pay-related benefit £16.42 will continue to be made as they become due.
685.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of farmers receiving small-holders' unemployment assistance under (a) the notional system and (b) the factual system.
: The number of smallholders receiving unemployment assistance whose means are assessed (a) on the notional system is approximately 14,460, (b) on the factual system is approximately 6,200.
686.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a farmer (details supplied) in County Laois who is the holder of a five acre holding and who has no other income, has had his unemployment assistance of £4 per week terminated; and if he will give urgent consideration to having this case investigated and benefit approved in accordance with his circumstances.
: The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was reviewed and following the completion of inquiries his claim was disallowed for six weeks from 5 January 1983 and for a further six weeks from 16 February 1983 on the grounds that he was not genuinely seeking employment. However it is open to him to appeal against the disallowance and to have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
687.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if in view of the circumstances of a case (details supplied) in County Dublin he will ensure that a deserted wife's allowance is paid forthwith to a person.
: The application of the person concerned for deserted wife's benefit was disallowed as the deciding officer held that her husband did not leave her of his own volition and that she did not make reasonable efforts to prevail on him to support her. In arriving at the decision the deciding officer took account of the version of events given by both the wife and the husband.
The person concerned was notified on 5 July 1982 of the decision and of her right to appeal against it but she did not appeal.
688.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a national teacher who left Ireland before the introduction of the contributory pension scheme will be entitled to any pension rights for 18 years of service from 1935 to 1953.
: In general a person who had no social insurance contributions paid in respect of him since 1953 could not satisfy the contribution conditions for contributory old age pensions under the social welfare Acts. In any event the employment of national school teachers is insurable at the modified rate for public servants under the social welfare Acts and such contributions do not give cover for contributory old age pension.
689.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when enquiries will be completed in respect of an appeal regarding the refusal of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: An investigation officer of the Department called to the home address of the person concerned on a number of occasions to contact him. Arrangements are being made to notify him of the date of next call for the purpose of interviewing him about his means. When the inquiries are completed his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination of his entitlement to unemployment assistance in respect of intermittent periods of unemployment between 28 June 1982 and 3 January 1983. The person concerned qualified for unemployment benefit from 14 February 1983 and he is being paid at the rate of £31.65 as weekly payments become due.
690.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the non-payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
: The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit on 14 February 1983, in respect of an incapacity resulting from an accident at work on 10 January 1983.
Pending the completion of investigation of the accident he was awarded disability benefit as an interim measure on 16 February 1983 from 14 January 1983, the fourth day of incapacity. Pay-related benefit was also awarded from 25 January, the thirteenth day of incapacity. All benefit due up to 4 March 1983 in respect of medical certificates received has been paid.
Following confirmation of the occupational accident, injury benefit was allowed on 10 March 1983 from the date of the accident and an adjusting cheque was issued for the additional benefit payable over and above the amounts already paid less a refund made to the Mid-Western Health Board in respect of supplementary allowance advanced.
691.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will forward an application form for invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will consider the application favourably for the person.
: The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at weekly intervals and payment has been issued to 19 March 1983. A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to him and on its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay and a pension book issued.
692.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
: On 23 July 1982 a claim for disability benefit with effect from 13 March 1982 was received from the person concerned. Under the regulations a person who fails to give notice of incapacity or to submit medical evidence within seven days of the commencement of incapacity is disqualified from receiving disability benefit in respect of any period more than seven days before the date on which such notice or medical evidence is received unless there is good cause for the delay. A satisfactory explanation for the failure of the person concerned to submit the claim in good time was not received. The claim was allowed from 16 July 1982, seven days before its receipt, and payment has been made accordingly. The person concerned has therefore received all benefit to which she is entitled.