asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment benefit due to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick for the period between August 1981 and October 1982.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
168.
It is a condition for receipt of unemployment benefit that the claimant must be available for employment. The person concerned first claimed unemployment benefit in August 1981 shortly after her marriage. She stated in connection with her claim that she was not looking for work but she considered that she was entitled to benefit on the basis of earlier contributions paid. The claim was disallowed on the basis that she was not available for work. She appealed against the decision and the appeals officer held an oral hearing of her case at which she attended and gave evidence on her own behalf. The appeals officer however disallowed the claim. She continued to sign as unemployed but her claim was again disallowed on the ground that she was not available for work from 28 October 1981 to 17 August 1982 after which date she ceased to sign as unemployed. A delay occurred in advising her of the decision due to the papers being mislaid at the local office dealing with her claim. It is however still open to her to appeal against the decision to disallow her claim and a form for this purpose may be obtained at her local office.
169.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the correct amount of unemployment benefit is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £25.00 weekly from self-employment and he is being paid at the rate of £0.45 being the maximum rate payable to him, £25.45 less means £25.00. This is the correct rate having regard to the means assessed against him.
If he is dissatisfied with the assessment it is open to him to appeal against it and to have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
173.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension has been reduced by £8 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Pension at the rate of £20.45 a week was awarded to the person concerned by the local pension committee on 29 September 1982. This is the rate appropriate to the assessment of his means, consisting of an intestacy interest in a holding. It appears, from the information given by the Deputy, that the notification conveying the committee's decision mentioned a higher rate of pension. If this is the case it was due to a clerical error and any inconvenience caused is regretted.
203.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of medical benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned has been paid maternity benefit from 14 February 1983 to 7 May 1983. She was previously paid disability benefit in respect of the period from 22 September 1981 to 20 June 1982 and from 9 August 1982 to 3 November, 1982.
On 29 March 1983 arrears of disability benefit in respect of the period from 20 January 1983 to 12 February 1983 were issued to her following a decision by an appeals officer in her favour in respect of that period. Her claim in respect of the period from 4 November 1982 to 19 January 1983 was disallowed following examination by a medical referee and this decision was upheld by the appeals officer. She has therefore been paid all benefit to which she is entitled and no arrears are due.