asked the Minister for Health the reason the sum of £9.90 which has been paid to mentally retarded patients in the west of Ireland has been withdrawn by the Western Health Board.
Written Answers . - Social Welfare Benefits .
638.
: The Western Health Board is not reducing the allowances paid to mentally handicapped persons as such.
The Deputy may be referring to the position at the Rehabilitation Institute's community workshop at Castlebar, where disabled persons, who in the opinion of the assessment team are deemed unlikely to benefit from further vocational rehabilitation, have had their disabled person's rehabilitation maintenance allowance withdrawn and replaced by the disabled person's maintenance allowance. Decisions in regard to eligibility for allowances for individual disabled persons, and the nature of these allowances, are matters entirely for the health board and it is not open to me to intervene. However, I shall have a look at the practice generally in regard to payments to workship trainees who are found unsuitable for continued training and I shall deal with the matter in the Green Paper on Services for the Disabled which I hope to publish later this year.
I would emphasise, however, that community workships are primarily intended to prepare disabled people for open employment and are not the appropriate centres for those who have little or no potential in that regard.
639.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when payment will be made.
: The first medical certificate recorded as received from the person concerned is dated 22 February 1983. He has been paid disability benefit from 25 February 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 12 April 1983, date of latest medical certificate received.
The claimant has indicated, however, that his illness commenced on 18 January 1983 and that earlier certificates were submitted under an incorrect RSI number. He has been requested to submit a statement from his employer confirming the period of his absence from work due to illness. On receipt of this statement his entitlement to benefit prior to 25 February 1983 will be considered.
640.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for this delay.
: The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £1.45 being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £24.00 since the commencement of his claim on 28 October 1982. Means in his case are derived from self-employment as a carpenter.
However, his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for a reinvestigation of his means. When these inquiries are completed his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance currently being paid to him will be determined accordingly.
641.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: The person concerned has been awarded an invalidity pension from 2 December 1982.
A pension book, payable from 3 March 1983, was issued on 9 February 1983 and payment in respect of the period from 2 December 1982 to 2 March 1983, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by payable order.
642.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension book will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals and payment has been issued to 23 April 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 her examined by a medical referee on 2 May 1983. Her entitlement to the pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of that examination.
643.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance at the full rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if and when payment will be made.
: The person concerned has notified the Department that on one day each week he is employed driving a bus and as an insurably employed person he is not therefore entitled to unemployment assistance for that day. He is receiving unemployment assistance for five days each week and he is accordingly receiving the correct amount due to him £62.80.
644.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a free telephone rental allowance was refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: Free telephone rental allowance has been applied to the telephone account of the person concerned since telephone service was provided on 1 June 1982.
645.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for this delay.
: Inquiries were necessary in order to determine the means of the person concerned for unemployment assistance purposes. He has been assessed with weekly means of £41.85 derived from his wife's earnings. Unemployment assistance has been authorised at the weekly rate of £2.10, being the appropriate maximum rate in his case of £43.95 less means £41.85. All arrears due will be issued to him this week and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
646.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay an invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: A form on which to claim the pension has been forwarded to the person concerned and on return of the form, duly completed, a pension book will be issued to him.
647.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance at the full rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when it will be paid.
: The person concerned is presently in receipt of unemployment assistance at £22.55 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £2.90. Means in his case are derived from self-employment.
His case was last reviewed in January 1983 and following the completion of inquiries in the matter weekly means of £2.90 were again assessed.
He did not appeal against the decision in his case.
648.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when payment will be made.
: The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 March 1983 and on 12 April 1983 was paid from 18 March 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 26 March 1983, after which date he was certified fit to resume work.
649.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for the delay in making payment.
: The claim of the person concerned, who has not reached old age pension age, to widow's non-contributory pension was refused on the grounds that her means, which were assessed at £53.98 per week derived from land and capital, exceed the statutory limit of £46.00 per week for receipt of pension by a widow under 66 years of age with one qualified child.
The claimant has appealed against the refusal and her case has been forwarded to an appeals officer for determination. She will be notified of his decision as soon as it is given.
650.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was refused social welfare benefit; and if his appeal will be heard as soon as possible.
: The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 7 January 1983 to 8 March 1983 after which date payment was disallowed following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He appealed against the disallowance and, in connection with his appeal, arrangements have been made to have him examined by a different medical referee on 27 April 1983. His entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
651.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit-assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for this delay.
: The person concerned did not fulfil the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit and his claim was disallowed.
He claimed unemployment assistance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. When the inquiries were completed he was assessed with nil means and his unemployment assistance claim was allowed at the maximum rate payable to him £50.50 weekly.
All arrears due, less advances of supplementary welfare allowance which were refunded the health board, were paid to him on 5 April 1983.
Further weekly payments continue to be made to him as they become due.
652.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the decision on an appeal for unemployment assistance in the case for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for the delay.
: When the person concerned appealed against the amount of means assessed against him his case was again referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries.
Following the completion of a full investigation and taking into consideration the limitation of work opportunities now available to the claimant a deciding officer reduced his means from £23.00 weekly to £2.85 weekly.
He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £22.60 being the maximum rate £25.45 less £2.85 and all arrears due were paid on 7 April 1983. Further weekly payments continue to be made as they become due.
653.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for this delay.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 7 October 1982 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. He refused to co-operate with the investigating officer and he was refused a qualification certificate and his claim was disallowed.
He later applied again for unemployment assistance and indicated that he was prepared to co-operate in the investigation of his means. Inquiries in the matter are still being made by a social welfare officer and when they are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
654.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for this delay.
: The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.
He subsequently indicated that he was prepared to co-operate with the investigating officer and again extensive inquiries were undertaken in the case. Following the completion of these inquiries his means, derived from self-employment and from the benefit of his wife's earnings, were assessed as being in excess of the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance of his claim and his case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
655.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when payment will be made.
: Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 23 October 1982 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was not incapable of work. She appealed against the decision to disallow benefit and in this connection was examined by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that she was not incapable of work. The case was referred to an appeals officer and he confirmed the decision to disallow benefit. The appeals officer's decision on the claim is final in the absence of fresh facts or evidence.
656.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when payment will be made.
: The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit could not be determined until inquiries to establish his contribution record were completed. The inquiries were completed recently and his claim was allowed at the reduced flat-rate unemployment benefit £29.30 weekly and pay-related benefit £1.84 weekly. Arrangements have been made to issue him with an order for encashment at his local post office paying all arrears due this week. He ceased to sign as unemployed after 5 April 1983.
657.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for this delay.
: The claim of the person concerned to unemployment assistance was disallowed on the grounds that he was engaged in working his holding and was not available for work. He appealed against the disallowance and an oral hearing of his case was arranged to take place on 30 March 1983. He failed to attend the hearing and his case was relisted for hearing on 13 April 1983. He wrote to the appeals officer and requested that his case be decided in his absence. The appeals officer upheld the disallowance.
658.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for this delay.
: The person concerned was issued with an application form for unemployment assistance on 19 October 1982. He did not return the form nor has he been in touch with the local office since that date.
659.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension was stopped in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will arrange to have it restored to her.
: Following a routine re-investigation of the claim of the person concerned it was determined by an appeals officer that she is not entitled to any pension on the grounds that she does not fulfil the statutory condition as to means. The assessment of her means, consisting of half her husband's earnings, exceeds the statutory limit of £38 a week.
660.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was stopped in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will arrange to have her case re-heard as soon as possible.
: The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 17 September 1979 to 18 October 1982, after which date payment was disallowed following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance and was examined on 30 March 1983 by a different medical referee who also considered her to be capable of work. Her case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of the appeal in the near future. She will be notified of the time and place of the hearing as soon as the necessary arrangements have been made.
661.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay a living alone allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for the delay in making payment.
: Living alone allowance has now been awarded to the person concerned. The appropriate pension book, payable from 1 April 1983, issued on 12 April 1983. Arrears due are in course of issue. The delay in awarding the allowance was caused by a misfiling of the papers dealing with the case.
662.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay an invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
: The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 23 March 1982 and payments of disability benefit and pay-related benefit are being issued to him at regular weekly intervals.
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 invalidity pension and in this connection the medical advisers of the Department have requested a report on his medical condition from his doctor. On receipt of this report his entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed.
663.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for this delay.
: The claim of the person concerned to unemployment assistance was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer upheld the disallowance. The person concerned was notified of the decision and he ceased to sign as unemployed after 10 April 1983.
664.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for this delay.
: The person concerned is presently in receipt of unemployment assistance at £25.30 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £63.75 less means £38.45. Means in his case are derived from self-employment cutting timber. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case was again referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries. When these are completed his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and the rate of unemployment assistance which is at present being paid to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
665.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance at the full rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork in view of his poor circumstances.
: The person concerned was assessed with means of £38.90 weekly derived from self-employment as a painter and from capital. He was paid unemployment assistance at £24.85 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him as a married man with three qualified children £63.75 less £38.90. He did not claim an increase in respect of a fourth child but he has been supplied with a form to enable him to do so. He appealed against the assessment of his means. His case was referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries and when these are completed his case will be determined by an appeals officer and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of his decision.
666.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for this delay.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 1 April 1983 and following the completion of inquiries to ascertain his contribution record his claim was allowed at the maximum rate of £52.15. Pay-related benefit in addition to his flat-rate unemployment benefit was allowed payable from 15 April 1983 at the rate of £6.70 weekly. Arrangements have been made to pay arrears due this week and further combined payments at £58.85 representing flat-rate unemployment benefit £52.15 and pay-related benefit £6.70 will be made as weekly payments become due.
667.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for this delay.
: The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 19 January 1983 but he did not satisfy the contribution conditions for payment of benefit. Investigation of the non-payment of contributions is being made. A claim for unemployment assistance was received from him and the case was referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries about his means. The inquiries were completed recently and his means will now be assessed and entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.
668.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as he is now on monthly certificates, having suffered from a serious illness.
: The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals and payment has been made to 23 April 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 on 2 May 1982. His entitlement to the pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of that examination.
669.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who first signed on 29 March 1983 and has still received no payment.
: Following the completion of inquiries to ascertain his contribution record the unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was allowed at £28.30 weekly. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
670.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
: The claim of the person concerned to unemployment assistance is at present being investigated. Inquiries have not yet been completed but as soon as they have been completed means will be assessed and entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
671.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway as he has been signing for benefit since 17 May 1982.
: The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit but a claim for unemployment assistance was accepted from him. The case was referred to a social welfare officer who made numerous void calls to his home address before being able to complete his investigations. In the light of the inquiries a deciding officer disallowed his claim on the grounds that he was not available for work and that he was not genuinely seeking employment. He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made for a hearing of his appeal early next month. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
672.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if and when a free electricity allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: To qualify for a free electricity allowance the person concerned, who is in receipt of a widow's pension, would need to have reached the age of 66. As she has not reached that age her application for an allowance has been disallowed and she has been notified accordingly.
673.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has only received one payment of unemployment benefit since he started signing on 1 September 1982.
: The person concerned is a postal applicant and certificates of unemployment were erroneously associated at the local office dealing with his claim with a claimant of the same name whose entitlement to payment had lapsed.
The matter was recently corrected and an order paying all arrears of unemployment assistance due, less advances of supplementary welfare allowance due for recoupment to the health board is being issued to him this week for encashment at his local post office. Further weekly payments at £21.95 being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £3.50 derived from the value of board and lodging on his father's holding, will issue as they become due.
674.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will reconsider his decision regarding free travel for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if in the meantime she may use her husband's free travel pass as he does not use it.
: The person concerned does not satisfy the conditions for entitlement to free travel in her own right and she is not therefore, entitled to travel free when alone. Her husband is, however, entitled to free travel and she may, under the conditions of the scheme, travel free when accompanied by him.
675.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will increase the rate of old age pension being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway, as she is in ill health and her single daughter has to care for her.
: The person concerned is in receipt of a widow's contributory pension at the maximum rate payable to a widow over 66 years of age who has no qualified children. It is possible however that she may qualify for a prescribed relative allowance in respect of her daughter who is looking after her. A form on which to claim this allowance has been sent to her and will be attended to without delay when returned to the Department duly completed.
676.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will reconsider his decision to reduce the rate of old age pension being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The claim of the person concerned for an increase in her old age pension has been referred to an appeals officer for decision. The pensioner will be notified of the outcome in due course.
677.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been reduced from £14.50 to £7.25 per week in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The weekly amount of unemployment assistance being paid to the person concerned was reduced with effect from 8 February 1983, from £14.40 to £9.25 because one of his two qualified children reached 18 years of age and was therefore no longer a qualified child. The amount payable in respect of her was £5.15.
678.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been reduced from £25.45 to £22.45 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The person concerned was assessed with means at £3 weekly derived from self-employment doing contract work. The rate of unemployment assistance presently payable to him is accordingly £22.45 weekly being the maximum rate £25.45 less £3. It is open to him to apply to have his means reinvestigated after which the means assessed against him would be reviewed. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
679.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will increase the rate of old age pension being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway as he is in great need of assistance.
: The claim of the person concerned for an increase in his old age pension has been partly investigated and will be referred to the local pension committee for decision on completion of inquiries.
680.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is only receiving £27.80 per week unemployment assistance.
: The person concerned has been receiving unemployment benefit since December last but the information necessary to calculate her pay-related benefit entitlement only recently became available. Weekly payments will now be increased to £67.53 to include £39.73 pay-related benefit. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due to her in the coming week.
681.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The application of the person concerned for a free electricity allowance was approved last November and he was notified accordingly at the time. The ESB has advised that the allowance has been applied to his electricity account since 1 December 1982.
682.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding an application for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway who has been signing for some time.
: The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance from 28 February 1982. He was assessed with weekly means of £25.80 derived from the benefit of board and lodgings on his brother's farm. However as his means exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case he did not qualify for unemployment assistance. He appealed against the decision but an appeals officer confirmed the means assessed in his case.
683.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will have her children's allowance book returned to her.
: The person concerned has been awarded children's allowance in respect of her only child with effect from April 1983. An allowance book at the monthly rate of £11.25 was issued to the nominated post office of payment on 14 April 1983.
684.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason for the delay.
: The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 26 March 1983 and has been paid from 30 March 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 9 April 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received. The delay in the issue of payment arose as a result of the claimant quoting an incorrect RSI number on the first medical certificate submitted by him.
685.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of pay-related disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway for the period 9 February to 27 March 1983.
: The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 21 February 1983 to 26 March 1983, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. All disability and pay-related benefit payable to him has now been issued.
686.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of unemployment benefit at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: The person concerned is a systematic short-time worker and flat rate unemployment benefit is payable at the maximum rate payable to him, £75.00 weekly in respect of days of unemployment each week since the commencement of his claim. However inquiries were necessary to determine his entitlement to pay-related benefit and these were recently completed. He is entitled to pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £29.00 in respect of days of unemployment up to 2 April 1983. All arrears of pay-related benefit due will be paid when he next attends his local office. His entitlement to pay-related benefit terminated after 2 April 1983.
687.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the entitlement of a person (details supplied) in County Galway to a prescribed relative's allowance.
: Prescribed relative allowance has been restored to the pensioner concerned and payment of all allowance due has been made in full.
688.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the method employed in assessing income on a factual basis of persons who have applied for unemployment assistance and old age pensions from his Department.
: The items which constitute means for unemployment assistance purposes are set out in section 146 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1981 and in the Unemployment Assistance (Calculation of Means) Regulations 1934 as amended. The rules for the calculation of means for old age pension purposes are contained in the Third Schedule to the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981.
The assessment of means on a factual basis under both codes is carried out by social welfare officers who visit the homes or farms of applicants for the purpose.
The actual value of the cash income of the applicant is taken into account with certain specified exceptions. The exceptions include such items as income from social welfare schemes and in the case of unemployment assistance wages received while working under a contract of service since this income would have ceased when the applicant became unemployed.
Account is taken of the yearly value of investments, or capital or property (e.g. house property) which is not being personally used by the applicant and this value is calculated in the manner prescribed by the legislation. Income derived from a shop or farm is determined in accordance with the actual position on an income/expenditure basis. In the case of a farm which is worked the income is assessed by reference to income derived from the sale of stock, crops, milk and other farm produce. Account is also taken of farm produce consumed on the premises and of any grants or subsidies received. On the expenditure side all expenses necessarily incurred in earning the income are allowed for, including interest actually paid in respect of loans obtained in connection with the running of the farm. The difference between income and expenditure is taken as the yearly means of the applicant. In the case of old age pensions, the income of each of a married couple is taken as half of their joint incomes.
There is right of appeal in all cases to an appeals officer if the applicant consiers that the means assessed in his case are excessive.
689.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a living alone allowance which was applied for in October 1982 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare.
: An application for living alone allowance was received from the person concerned in January. There is no trace of an earlier application having been received from her.
The social welfare officer has been asked to investigate the person's claim and if his inquiries confirm that she is living alone the allowance will be put into payment without delay.
690.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to the free electricity allowance as this applicant submitted an application two months ago.
: An application for a free electricity allowance from the person concerned was disallowed, as he is not in receipt of one of the specified pensions or allowance which would enable him to be considered for this benefit.
691.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will reconsider his decision in regard to the granting of an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
: It was decided by the local pension committee on 16 April 1983 that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the rate of £20.45 a week from 21 October 1982. The social welfare officer has appealed against the decision on the grounds that the claimant's means, consisting of half the weekly value of capital, the disposal of which has not been satisfactorily accounted for, exceed the statutory limit of £38 weekly.
The case will be referred to an appeals officer for decision and the claimant will be notified of the outcome in due course.