asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason social welfare assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; the reason it has taken so long to have the case fully processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
534.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 19 January 1983 following the completion of an investigation of his case by a social welfare officer, on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of his income he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance and his case was referred again to a social welfare officer to afford him an opportunity of disclosing his means before his case was submitted to an appeals officer. However he refused to co-operate with the investigating officer and his case was submitted to an appeals officer who upheld the disallowance. The decision of the appeals officer is final in the absence of fresh facts or new evidence.
535.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit was reduced from £24.00 to £8.15 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Following a review of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed at £17.30 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his mother's holding with effect from 30 March 1983. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him was reduced from £24.40 weekly to £8.15 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less £17.30.
He has appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case has been 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.
536.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason social welfare payments were suspended eight weeks ago in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin and if these payments will be resumed forthwith; the basis of the current payment to him having regard to the fact that he was in employment from 1975 to May 1982; and when the appropriate pay-related payments due to him will be made.
The person concerned is in receipt of flat-rate unemployment benefit at the personal rate only. The dependant's portion of his benefit including an increase for his three children is being paid separately to his wife.
He received 156 days of benefit on 29 March 1983 and as he did not satisfy the contribution condition of having 280 paid contributions in the seven years preceding his claim the personal rate of benefit was reduced from £31.65 to £26.25. A further deduction of £1.00 weekly is being made to recover an overpayment of unemployment benefit which had been made to him.
He is not qualified for pay-related benefit. Entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat-rate unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the total weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit, pay-related benefit and income tax rebate may not exceed 85 per cent of an applicant's average net weekly earnings. The 85 per cent limit applicable to him is £8.10 weekly and as the weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit exceeds this amount pay-related benefit is not payable in his case.
537.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite an appeal for a reduction of unemployment assistance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The weekly amount of unemployment assistance payable to the person concerned was reduced from £47.65 to £41.10 from 16 April 1983 when his child reached 18 years of age. He has requested a re-investigation of his means at present assessed at £2.85 a week and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer. His entitlement will be reviewed in the light of the social welfare officer's report.
538.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway following a review which took place on 7 March 1983.
The person concerned was paid unemployment assistance from 14 November 1982 at the weekly rate of £7.95 being the appropriate maximum rate in his case of £57.95 less means £50.00 derived from self-employment as a carpenter. The weekly rate was increased to £13.75 from 21 January 1983 following an increase in the number of qualified child dependants.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and following the completion of further inquiries into his means the appeals officer reduced the weekly means to £35.00. Accordingly the person concerned is entitled to arrears of £240.00 in respect of the period from 14 November 1982 to 6 March 1983 after which he ceased to sign the unemployed register.
When he called to his local office on 25 May 1983 he was offered the £240 but he refused to accept payment of the arrears as he was not satisfied with the means assessed against him by the appeals officer. The decision of the appeals officer is final in the absence of fresh facts or new evidence.
539.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of social welfare benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway, which was stopped on 8 March 1983.
Unemployment assistance was paid to the person concerned up to 12 April 1983, at the weekly rate of £18.65, being the appropriate maximum rate in her case £25.45 less means £6.80 derived from the value of free board and lodgings.
In completing the signing docket for unemployment assistance, claimants are required to write the letter "X" opposite each day of the week on which they were unemployed and the letter "O" opposite each day for which they are not claiming. However, in the signing docket for 19 April 1983 the person concerned had put the letter "O" opposite every day of that week and it was therefore assumed by the local office that she had taken up employment and they ceased to issue her with further signing dockets.
She contacted the local office recently in the matter and signing dockets for the period from 13 April to 24 May 1983, have been issued to her for completion and certification by the Garda. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due to her this week.
540.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a contributory widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The entitlement of the person concerned to a contributory widow's pension has been examined on the basis of her own and her late husband's insurance records.
The examination has shown that the statutory condition requiring 156 paid contributions is not satisfied on his insurance record and as she was not insurably employed prior to his death in 1966 the conditions cannot be satisfied on her record.
A decision that she is not entitled to such pension has been given and the person concerned has been informed accordingly.
541.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been approved for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned is not qualified for unemployment assistance because his yearly means derived from his holding exceed the statutory limit in his case of £3,983.20. He has appealed against the amount of means assessed and his case has been sent to the social welfare officer to confirm the assessment before being referred to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
542.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a medical appeal will be arranged in a claim for invalidity benefit for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Arising from inquiries made by the Department, it has been established that the person concerned was previously in receipt of an invalidity benefit from the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. At the request of the UK authorities, the person concerned was examined by a medical referee of this Department and was found capable of work. As a result, payment of the invalidity benefit was disallowed by the Department of Health and Social Security with effect from 25 February 1983.
An appeal against this decision was recently lodged with the UK authorities by the person concerned. This Department has been advised that arrangements are being made to convene the appeal at an early date at a North London venue, which is acceptable to the person concerned. It is understood that he will be represented at this appeal. In the meantime if the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet his needs, it is open to him to apply to the local community welfare officer for a supplementary welfare allowance.