asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment and pay-related benefits are payable to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
606.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of flat rate unemployment benefit at the appropriate weekly rate in her case of £26.25.
Under the regulations the sum of flat rate unemployment benefit, pay-related benefit and any income tax rebates paid cannot exceed 85 per cent of the average net weekly earnings during the period from the previous 6 April to the date of her claim or where there were not reckonable earnings in that period, the average net weekly earnings in the previous contribution year. As the person concerned had no reckonable earnings in either period she does not qualify for pay-related benefit.
Weekly payments of £26.25 will continue to be made as they become due.
607.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if there is sufficient evidence in his Department to ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny was an insured person for any period in January-February 1962.
According to the records of my Department the person concerned entered insurance on 22 January 1962, and 11 contributions were paid between that date and 1 July 1962. The exact period covered by these contributions cannot be stated.
608.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason deserted wife's benefit has not yet been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and when it will be paid.
The person concerned has been awarded deserted wife's benefit at the rate of £67.30 per week with effect from 11 November 1982. This is the maximum rate payable to a woman under 66 years of age with three qualified children.
A book containing orders payable from 5 May 1983 was issued to the designated post office on 3 May 1983 and the claimant was notified accordingly.
A payable order in respect of arrears for the period 11 November 1982 to 4 May 1983, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance already paid to her, will be issued to her shortly.
The delay in deciding the case arose from efforts made to have the husband interviewed in order to obtain his version of the circumstances and from further inquiries that became necessary as a result. This is a normal requirement in this type of case.
609.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a retirement pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned retired from employment on 31 March 1983 and claimed retirement pension. He was awarded the pension at the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with effect from 7 April 1983. A pension book containing orders payable from 28 April 1983 was issued to the designated post office on 29 April 1983 and he was notified accordingly. The arrears from 7 April 1983 were issued by means of a payable order.
610.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned submitted a claim for disability benefit on 16 March 1983 in respect of an incapacity for work which commenced on 19 February 1983. Payment was disallowed from 23 February 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 8 March 1983, as he failed to give notice of his incapacity within the prescribed time (within seven days from the day on which he became incapable of work).
His claim was authorised from 9 March (seven days before the date on which notice of incapacity was given) and payment was made to 26 March 1983 after which date he was certified fit to resume work.
611.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay arrears of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
All disability benefit payable to the person concerned has been issued. There was an interruption in payment from 25 April 1983 due to the late receipt of medical evidence of incapacity in my Department.
612.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay arrears of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 6 September 1982 and was paid from 9 September 1982, fourth day of incapacity. He was paid all benefit to 16 April 1983, after which date he resumed work.
Following a review of his claim it was discovered that pay-related benefit was not paid for the period from 20 September 1982, thirteenth day of incapacity, to 15 November 1982. A cheque for the arrears of benefit payable for this period was issued to the claimant on 10 May 1983.
613.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will check the delay in paying one week's unmarried mother's allowance for the period 23 February to 3 March 1983 to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The missing payment order in this case was that in respect of the week from 24 March to 30 March 1983. Inquiries were necessary to confirm that payment had not been made on the order in question before issuing a replacement. A payable order in respect of the amount involved was issued to the person concerned on 11 May 1983.
614.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying a portion of unemployment benefit to a separated wife (details supplied) in County Cork.
The applicant for unemployment benefit did not claim an increase for dependants when lodging his claim and only recently completed the appropriate application. Following the completion of inquiries separate payment to his wife has been authorised at £36.40 weekly, the rate applicable to an adult dependant and two qualified children.
Weekly payment will commence this week and when the amount of supplementary welfare allowance which was advanced to her is known, the balance of any arrears due will be paid.
615.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit on 18 April 1983 in respect of an incapacity resulting from an accident at work on 5 March 1983.
Pending the completion of investigations arising from the accident he was paid disability benefit on an interim basis in respect of the period from 10 March, the fourth day of incapacity. Following investigation injury benefit was awarded on 9 May 1983 with effect from 5 March, the date of the accident. All benefit including injury benefit in respect of the period to 7 May 1983 has been paid, over and above the disability benefit paid on an interim basis to 30 April.
Pay-related benefit was not payable on the grounds that the earnings in the relevant tax year were less than the minimum required to qualify for pay-related benefit. The delay in paying benefit resulted from the claimant's failure to indicate his RSI number in his original claim which gave rise to additional inquiries having to be made before the claim could be decided.
616.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £33.00 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his brother's holding. The means in his case exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him and accordingly his claim had to be disallowed.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer, whose decision is final upheld the assessment of means at £33.00 weekly.
617.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying arrears of disability to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and when full payment will be made.
The person concerned is in receipt of disability benefit at the maximum rate since March 1977 and has been paid to 14 May 1983. The claimant was confined to hospital from 18 December 1982 to 19 April 1983.
The recent delay experienced by him in receiving payment of benefit was due to the fact that cheques continued to issue to the hospital after his discharge on 19 April 1983. It has since been confirmed by the hospital authorities that he has received the cheques which issued subsequent to 19 April 1983. Arrangements have been made for future payments to issue to his home address.