asked the Minister for Social Welfare when PRSI benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
667.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 20 December 1982 and was paid from 23 December 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 30 May 1983, after which date he was certified fit to resume work.
He was not entitled to payment of pay-related benefit as he had insufficient earnings in 1980-81, the tax year relevant to his claim. He was informed of the position at the commencement of his claim and again in May 1983.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 2 June 1983 and he will be paid all benefit due from 31 May 1983 to 15 June 1983 this week.
668.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 19 February 1977 and was awarded an invalidity pension from 7 December 1978. Invalidity pension was paid to her at the rate appropriate to a married woman who is living with her husband.
The husband of the insured person died on 5 March 1983 and she was awarded a widow's pension from 22 April 1983 at the weekly rate of £36.25. Her late husband's old age contributory pension was paid to her for six weeks after his death.
The Social Welfare (Overlapping Benefit) Regulations preclude concurrent payment of invalidity pension with widow's pension. However, disability benefit is payable at a reduced rate in addition to widow's pension. The person concerned was therefore advised that it was to her advantage to revert to disability benefit which would be payable to her at a weekly rate of £15.83 in addition to the widow's pension at a weekly rate of £36.25 — total £52.08.
Should invalidity pension only continue in payment it would be at the weekly rate of £35.50 resulting in a cash reduction of £16.58 in her weekly income.
However, if she did continue to receive invalidity pension she would remain entitled to a free travel pass. Free electricity allowance, free (black and white) television licence and free telephone rental are also available to invalidity pensioners subject to certain conditions.
Invalidity pension was paid up to 25 May 1983 and the amount of invalidity pension paid after 21 April 1983 was regarded as on account of disability benefit. Disability benefit has been restored from 26 May 1983 and payment has been made up to 18 June 1983.
The person concerned is being advised of the position and asked to state whether, in the circumstances, she wishes to remain on disability benefit or whether she wishes to have invalidity pension restored to her, in which event she would lose the widow's pension.
669.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The application of the person concerned for a qualification certificate is being investigated by a social welfare officer. He has already interviewed him in connection with his means but is awaiting a statement from the bank concerning his bank account before submitting his report. A decision as to the entitlement of the person concerned will be made in the light of the social welfare officer's report. The person concerned has been advised if he is in need that he may apply to his local community welfare officer for supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance application.
670.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the payment of occupational injury benefit will be resumed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was paid occupational injury benefit for the maximum period of 26 weeks in respect of an accident at work on 21 January 1982. Her entitlement to disability benefit was then considered. However, she failed to qualify for payment of that benefit as she had no income contributions at the appropriate rate paid on her behalf in the relevant governing contribution year. Neither is she eligible for credited contributions as she has an insufficient insurance record. She was referred for examination on 27 April 1983 by a medical referee who was of the opinion that she was capable of work. Following an appeal lodged on her behalf by the Deputy a further examination by a different medical referee has been arranged for 22 June 1983.
A claim for disablement benefit was received from the person concerned on 1 June 1983 in respect of injuries resulting from the accident and the degree of disablement, if any, will also be considered at the examination on 22 June 1983.
671.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will reconsider his decision not to pay a widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The claim of the person concerned to widow's non-contributory pension was refused in August 1982 because her means, derived mainly from a news-agency business, exceeded the statutory limit of £36 per week for receipt of a pension by a widow under 66 years of age with no child.
Her claim to a widow's contributory pension based on her insurance record prior to her husband's death on 16 August 1953, was examined in 1979 at her request but this was refused as she did not have sufficient contributions. Her husband was never insurably employed.
In view of the Deputy's question a means declaration form has been sent to her for completion. On the return of this form her entitlement to a widow's non-contributory pension will be examined again.
672.
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 Wexford.
In order to qualify for unemployment assistance at the maximum rate a person must be assessed with nil means. The weekly means of the person concerned are assessed at £1.95 and he is receiving unemployment assistance at £23.50 a week, being the maximum rate in his case £25.45 less £1.95 means. If he considers that the means assessed in his case are excessive he may apply to his local office to have his case re-examined. His local office will be glad to supply him with an application form for this purpose.
673.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned who claimed unemployment benefit on 13 December 1982 was requested on a number of occasions to furnish the relevant form P.45 or a statement from his employer of his earnings from 6 April 1982 up to the date of his claim which was necessary in order to calculate the amount of pay-related benefit due to him. The information sought has only recently been received and pay-related benefit has been authorised at the weekly rate of £2.23. All arrears due will be paid to him this week. Further weekly payments of £70.28 including £2.23 pay-related benefit will continue to be made as they become due.
674.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been refused to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 in respect of her child on the grounds that she is not dependent within the meaning of the sections 21 and 135 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981, when the child is her own and no other person is claiming for her and she has been dependent entirely on her mother for the last ten years; if he will clarify this; and if he will ensure that all arrears are paid as soon as possible.
The claim of the person concerned for an increase of unemployment assistance in respect of her daughter was disallowed on the grounds that the child was not a qualified child for benefit purposes. She appealed against the decision and on review of her case her application for an increase in respect of the child has been allowed.