asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid for the last number of weeks to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when it will be paid; and if there is any question of reducing the payment to him.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
583.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 14 April 1982 and was paid 52 weeks benefit to 14 April 1983 based on his insurance record in the 1980-1981 contribution year.
From 15 April 1983 payment depended on his insurance record in a new contribution year, 1981-1982, and payment was interrupted while this was being established. Following an examination of his contribution record in that year he requalified for payment of benefit at the appropriate maximum weekly rate from 15 April 1983. All payment due on the claim, including pay-related benefit, has been issued to 2 May 1983, date of the latest medical evidence received.
584.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and when it will be paid.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from self-employment as a plumber exceeded the statutory limit. The disallowance was upheld by an appeals officer.
He applied for a review of his case on 24 March 1983 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for further investigation. Inquiries are still being made in the matter but when they are completed his means will be reviewed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
585.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when occupational injury benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Payment of arrears of injury benefit has been made by cheques issued on 13 May and 17 May 1983.
586.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit on 1 February 1983 in respect of an incapacity resulting from an accident at work on 28 January 1983.
Pending the completion of investigations arising from such accidents, claimants are first considered for disability benefit on an interim basis. The person concerned, however, failed to satisfy the qualifying contribution condition for disability benefit which required him to have at least 26 contributions in the governing contribution year to 5 April 1982.
Following confirmation by the employers of the occupational accident, injury benefit was awarded from the date of the accident. All injury benefit to the date of the latest medical certificate received has been paid less a deduction in respect of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the North-Eastern Health Board which has been refunded to the board. In the absence of an underlying title to disability benefit he was not qualified for pay-related benefit.
587.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the claim of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan who applied for a widow's contributory pension; and the reason for the delay.
The person concerned, whose husband died in March 1972, claimed a widow's contributory pension in September 1975 but this was refused as he did not have the necessary average number of insurance contributions to qualify her for such pension.
In April 1978 she made a further claim stating that her late husband had been a voluntary contributor to the social welfare scheme. There was no record in the Department of any such contributions having been paid by him and her claim was again refused. She appealed against this decision but her appeal was disallowed by an appeals officer.
In May 1980 she claimed on the basis of her own insurance record but this was also refused as all her contributions were prior to 1936 before the widow's pension scheme was introduced and were not reckonable for the average contribution condition.
Following representations received on the widow's behalf the question of payment of voluntary contributions by her late husband was re-opened and is currently under investigation by a local social welfare officer whose report is expected shortly. On receipt of the report her case will be re-considered and she will be notified of the outcome.
588.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is only receiving a very small rate of old age pension.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension with effect from 31 December 1982 at the rate of £37.15 per week. This is the maximum rate of pension payable to her as a widow over 66 years of age with no qualified children and it includes a living alone allowance of £2.70 per week.
In view of this award she has been requested to return the old age pension book for £12.45 per week which she holds at present. As soon as she does so a widow's pension book will be issued to the designated post office and the arrears of pension accrued from 31 December 1982 up to the date from which the new pension is payable will be paid to her by payable order. Appropriate deductions will be made in respect of the amount of her own old age pension paid during the period in question and the six weeks' payment of her late husband's old age pension of £12.45 per week which was made to her after his death.
Claimant's possible entitlement to a widow's contributory pension is at present being investigated. She will be notified of the outcome when inquiries have been completed.
589.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny is in fact receiving his full social welfare disability entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 9 March to 19 March 1983, after which date he was certified fit to resume work. All disability benefit due on the claim was paid to him including increases in respect of his wife and three dependent children.
He made a further claim to disability benefit from 21 March 1983 and was paid at the weekly rate appropriate to a married man. He did not claim for his three dependent children when completing the relevant claim form. A cheque paying arrears for the three qualified children to 7 May 1983, date of the latest medical evidence received, was issued to the claimant on 17 May 1983.
590.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the fact that a person (details supplied) in Dublin has six young children, including triplets which were born recently and of his very low income, he will arrange for a special allowance to be issued to his family who are now finding it impossible to make ends meet; and if he will ensure that this case is treated as a special one and make arrangements accordingly.
The Department make special arrangements for the type of situation mentioned by the Deputy in the question. Children's allowances amounting to £113.75 a month are being paid in respect of the six qualified children in this case. This includes £80 a month, which is double the normal rate of allowance, in respect of the triplets born recently. A grant of £300 in respect of this multiple birth was also paid on 15 April 1983. The Department would need more specific information about the financial and other circumstances of the person concerned before commenting further on the matter.
591.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary is not receiving the full amount of social welfare benefit which should be at the rate of £25.45 per week; and the reasons for this.
The person concerned was assessed with means at £1.65 weekly derived from the value of capital. She is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at £23.80 weekly being the maximum rate payable to her £25.45 less £1.65.
If the person concerned is dissatisfied with the means assessed against her it is open to her to appeal and to have her means assessed by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at her local office.
592.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position in regard to the payment of an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick whose book was recalled about four weeks ago.
A review of the entitlement of the person concerned revealed that there has been an increase in his means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding. A question for reduction of his old age pension is therefore being raised and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Pension at the rate of £33.75 plus £21.90 in respect of three qualified children is in payment pending the pension committee's decision. This is the appropriate rate having regard to the latest means assessment.
593.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay an increase in unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £14.25 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in his parents home. He was accordingly paid unemployment assistance at £11.20 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £14.25 during the period 28 April 1983 to 8 May 1983.
He appealed against the assessment of his means and he has been supplied with an appeal form. When he returns the form 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.
594.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay a death grant to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned qualified for a grant of £80 on the death of her husband. This is the rate appropriate to the 30 weeks of insurable employment credited to the deceased in the 1981-82 contribution year which governs the claim. A cheque for the amount involved is being forwarded to the person concerned.