asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick as full contributions have been paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
729.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit on 5 January 1983 in respect of an incapacity resulting from an accident at work on 24 December 1982.
Pending the completion of investigations arising from the accident his entitlement to disability benefit on an interim basis was examined. In the absence of any contributions under his RSI number, it was necessary to make further inquiries. The inquiries established that he was entitled to disability benefit from 3 January 1983 and that benefit was paid in respect of the period to 2 June 1983.
Following investigations, injury benefit was awarded from the date of the accident and has been paid in respect of the period to 9 June 1983 over and above the amount of disability benefit already paid.
Pay-related benefit is not payable where the flat rate benefit exceeds the reckonable earnings per week in the relevant tax year. The rate of injury benefit paid was greater than the reckonable weekly earnings with the result that pay-related benefit was not payable.
730.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the irregular payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; when all outstanding payments will be made to him; and when he will be paid regularly.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 13 May 1983 and medical evidence to this effect was received on 23 May 1983.
He was paid at the maximum rate appropriate to a single person from 17 May 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 7 June 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received. In addition he is being paid pay-related benefit from 3 June 1983, the nineteenth day of incapacity. Payments have issued on receipt of medical certificates in the Department.
A claim form in respect of dependants was issued to the claimant for completion on 26 May 1983. It has not been returned to date. A duplicate claim form was issued to the claimant on 15 June 1983. When this form is completed and returned any arrears of benefit due will be issued.
731.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not been paid the pay-related portion of his unemployment benefit; and when it will be paid to him.
The person concerned was qualified for pay-related benefit with his flat-rate unemployment benefit from 9 May 1983 and all arrears due to him were paid on 27 May 1983.
Combined payments at the weekly rate of £42.43 representing flat-rate unemployment benefit £31.65 and pay-related benefit £10.78 continued to be made to him until 6 June 1983 after which he ceased to sign as unemployed.
732.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not been paid deserted wife's benefit as she is the mother of three children and has been deserted for three years.
The claim of the person concerned to deserted wife's allowance-benefit was disallowed because the deciding officer held that her husband did not of his own volition leave her and that she had not made reasonable efforts within the means available to her to trace him and to prevail on him to support and maintain her.
This decision was confirmed by an appeals officer in October 1981 following an oral hearing of the case. That decision is final in the absence of new facts or fresh evidence.
She reapplied last December but the appeals officer decided that her claim contained no new facts or evidence that would warrant a review of the earlier decision disallowing the claim for benefit.
733.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a deserted wife's allowance was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The claim of the person concerned for a deserted wife's allowance was disallowed on 4 February 1982 because the deciding officer held that she had not made reasonable efforts to trace her husband and to prevail on him to support and maintain her. She stated that she wished to appeal against this decision and a form was sent to her on 1 March 1982 to set out the facts and contentions on which she based her appeal. She did not, however, return this form and no further communication has since been received from her.
734.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway as she has made PRSI contributions for two-and-a-half years and has been unemployed for the past few months.
An applicant for unemployment benefit must be available for work and to fulfil this condition she must be genuinely seeking work.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 2 November 1982 but following an investigation of her case her claim was disallowed on the grounds that by not genuinely seeking work she was not available for work. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 4 January 1983 but an appeals officer upheld the disallowance.
She claimed unemployment benefit again on 15 January 1983 and following the completion of extensive inquiries a deciding officer was satisfied that she was available for work from that date. Her claim was allowed at £15.83 weekly, the maximum rate payable to a widow in receipt of a contributory widow's pension and all arrears due were paid to her on 8 June 1983. Further weekly payments continue to be made to her as they become due.
735.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned is currently entitled to unemployment assistance at the rate of £26.00 a week being the appropriate maximum weekly rate in his case of £59.30 less notionally assessed means of £33.30 derived from land and self-employment as an agricultural contractor. However, the total weekly payment of £26.00 is being witheld against an overpayment of £4,830 representing unemployment assistance payments which he obtained irregularly up to 1980.
736.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12, who has applied for a rent allowance will be notified of the outcome.
The person concerned has not yet supplied certain documentation which is necessary to enable his claim to be processed. Until the documentation is made available an award of rent allowance cannot be made. The requirements have been fully explained to the person concerned and a reply is awaited from him.
737.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons for withdrawing payments of disability and pay-related benefits from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 for the period 10 to 17 May 1983.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 11 April 1983 and was paid all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 9 May 1983. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He was notified of the decision to disallow payment and advised of his right to appeal against the disallowance. He subsequently notified the Department that he had resumed employment on 18 May 1983. He did not return the appeal form nor did he submit any medical evidence of incapacity subsequent to 9 May 1983.
738.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the payment of disability benefit will be resumed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 7 January 1982 and was paid to 16 April 1983. Payment was disallowed for a period of six weeks from 18 April 1983 to 28 May 1983 as the claimant failed to attend for an examination by a medical referee on 30 March 1983. The explanation which was subsequently submitted for his nonattendance at the examination was not considered as satisfactory and he was informed to this effect.
Payment was restored from 30 May 1983 and he has been paid to 25 June 1983. In the intervening period, however, the claimant was due to be examined on 9 June 1983 by a medical referee and again he failed to attend. No explanation or medical evidence has been received from the claimant to date regarding his non-attendance at the examination.
If the claimant was unable to attend for examination on the specified date due to incapacity he should submit medical evidence to this effect. Otherwise it will be necessary to impose a further disallowance of six weeks benefit effective from 27 June 1983.
739.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. The inquiries revealed that he resided with his father who is a farmer and proprietor of a licensed premises.
Although requested to do so the applicant stated that he was unable to furnish details of the income of the household. His unemployment assistance claim was accordingly disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish the necessary information he failed to show that his means do not exceed the statutory limit.
740.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate approval of unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The means of the person concerned derived from the profit of his holding and from the value of capital were assessed at £35.90 weekly and as assessment exceeded the maximum rate of assistance payable, £25.45 weekly, his claim was disallowed. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and an appeals officer reduced the assessment of his means to £30.00 weekly but this amount still exceeds the maximum weekly rate of unemployment assistance payable to him and he is not therefore entitled to payment.
741.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £50.00 weekly derived from self-employment as a carpenter.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him but an appeals officer upheld the assessment of his means of £50.00 weekly. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance of £13.75 weekly being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him £63.75 less £50.00 and weekly payments continue to be made to him as they become due.
742.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay a contributory retirement pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed a retirement pension on 25 January 1983. He does not qualify for this pension as he does not satisfy the condition which requires him to have a yearly average of at least 24 paid or credited contributions from 5 January 1953 to 5 April 1981. He had a total of 206 qualifying contributions in this period giving him a yearly average of only seven. Neither does he qualify for old age contributory pension for which a yearly average of at least 20 qualifying contributions is required. He could, however, claim a non-contributory old age pension which is subject to a means test.
Details of his Irish insurance record together with the details supplied by him in respect of his employment in Britain from 1942 to 1946 were sent to the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. That Department will contact him regarding the question of his possible entitlement to a British retirement pension.
743.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment assistance as the means assessed against him £30.20, derived from self-employment, exceed the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him £25.45.
He appealed against the means assessment and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
744.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be reviewed for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The local office dealing with the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned returned the case to the parent employment exchange for clarification of the amount of arrears due for payment.
The inquiries have been completed and the amount of arrears of unemployment assistance due has been calculated at £322.48.
Arrangements have been made for the inclusion of this amount with the weekly payment of unemployment assistance due to the person concerned this week.
745.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when payment will be made.
Pay-related benefit is not payable where the flat-rate benefit exceeds the person's reckonable weekly earnings in the relevant income tax year. The person concerned is in receipt of injury benefit at a rate of £86.90 a week and this is greater than the relevant weekly earnings, £39.42, in respect of the year ended 5 April 1982. Accordingly pay-related benefit is not payable.
746.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason pay-related benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork, as it has now been outstanding for 12 months.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance from 10 August 1981 with intermittent days of casual employment. He became fully unemployed from 11 August 1982 and was paid unemployment assistance until 1 January 1983. He qualified for flat-rate unemployment benefit from 3 January 1983 at the weekly rate of £28.30 and payments are made to him as they become due.
For the purpose of entitlement to pay-related benefit the relevant income tax year is the last complete income tax year before the beginning of the benefit year in which the first day of unemployment in the period of interruption of employment occurred. The income tax period governing his entitlement to pay-related benefit was accordingly the period 6 April 1979 to 5 August 1980 and as he had insufficient reckonable earnings during this period he is not entitled to pay-related benefit with his flat-rate unemployment benefit.
747.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1.
It has not been possible from the information supplied to trace a disability benefit claim for the person concerned. If an RSI number or a social insurance number of the claimant can be quoted this will enable the claim to be identified and the information sought by the Deputy to be supplied.
748.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying a non-contributory widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension including a living alone allowance with effect from 18 February 1983, the date her claim was received. The investigation of means in the case necessitated inquiries regarding the disposal of money received from the sale of a holding.
From 18 February 1983, the rate of pension payable is £15.15 per week. This is the rate payable to a widow over 66 years, living alone, who has no qualified child and whose weekly means exceed £26.00 but do not exceed £28.00. Her means derived from a Land Commission annuity and some capital were assessed at £26.30 per week from 18 February 1983.
An increase in the annuity increased her means to £29.53 per week from 1 May 1983. The rate of pension was consequently reduced to £13.15 with effect from Friday 6 May 1983. This rate will be increased to £17.60 per week from 1 July 1983.
An order book with orders payable from 6 May 1983 has been issued to the post office nominated by her and she has been notified accordingly. Arrears for the period 18 February 1983 to 5 May 1983 will be issued direct to her shortly by payable order.
749.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying a deserted wife's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if this allowance will be back-dated to the date of her original application.
The claim of the person concerned to deserted wife's benefit has been disallowed because the deciding officer held that her husband did not of his own volition leave her. She has been notified of this decision and of her right to appeal against it if she is dissatisfied with it.
750.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 1 December 1982 to 5 April 1983. Inquiries were necessary to establish whether he was entitled to pre-entry credited contributions as a full-time student to enable his entitlement to unemployment benefit to be determined and these inquiries were only recently completed.
His claim was allowed at the weekly rate of £31.65 and all arrears due were paid to him last week.
751.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the early payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that having left her employment to care for her child she was not available for work. She appealed against the disallowance and following an oral hearing of her case on 29 March 1983 at which she attended the appeals officer upheld the disallowance.
She continued to sign as unemployed and further inquiries are being made to ascertain whether she has taken steps to make herself available for work. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the inquiries.
752.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate restoration of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was suspended, as there were grounds for believing that he had not disclosed his means fully. Inquiries are being made in the matter and his position will be reviewed when these are completed.
753.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 3 June 1983 and following inquiries to ascertain his contribution record his claim has been allowed at the maximum rate payable to him £31.65 weekly.
He is a postal applicant and arrangements have been made to issue an order to him this week for encashment at his local post office paying all arrears due. Further payments will continue as they become due.
754.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit at the full rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned received flat-rate unemployment benefit from 31 December 1981 to 2 February 1982.
He was requested on numerous occasions to furnish evidence of his average weekly earnings prior to the commencement of his unemployment benefit claim to enable his entitlement to pay-related benefit to be determined but did not do so.
However, details of his earnings were recently obtained from his former employer and on this basis his entitlement to pay-related benefit has been determined at £31.65 weekly.
He is a postal applicant and an order was issued to him last week paying all arrears of pay-related benefit due.
755.
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 Cork.
In order to qualify for unemployment assistance at the full rate a person must be assessed with nil means. The person concerned was assessed with weekly means of £11.30 derived from self-employment. He was, therefore, entitled to £14.15 a week unemployment assistance being the maximum rate £25.45 in his case less means £11.30. All arrears of unemployment assistance due to him have been paid and weekly payments of £14.15 will continue as they become due.
756.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been awarded an invalidity pension from 19 May 1983. The pension book payable from 16 June 1983 was issued to the designated post office of payment.
Arrears in respect of the period from 19 May 1983 to 15 June 1983, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by payable order.
757.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork, as she applied in October/November, 1982.
The claim of the person concerned to deserted wife's allowance/benefit has been disallowed for the reasons that she has not made reasonable efforts to trace her husband and prevail on him to contribute to her support.
She has been informed of the decision and of her right to appeal against it if she is dissatisfied with it.
758.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension at the maximum rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
An appeals officer has decided that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension of £24.45 a week from 9 December 1982 when her late husband died. This is the rate appropriate to the assessment of her means comprising her intestacy share of a holding and capital and represents an increase of £6.00 in her weekly pension.
The appropriate pension book and arrears due have been issued.
759.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The repeat claim to old age pension of the person concerned has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of a pension has not been recommended as the claimant's means are in excess of the statutory limit. If the claimant is dissatisfied with the decision of the pension committee, he will have the right of appeal against it.
760.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have disability benefit continued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as he is still submitting certificates from his own doctor.
The person concerned was disallowed payment of disability benefit from 10 May 1983 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He has appealed the decision to disallow payment and in connection with his appeal arrangements have been made to have him again examined on 21 June 1983 by a different medical referee. When the result of the medical examination is received his claim will be reviewed.
761.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as she has been signing for some time.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 11 May 1983 and inquiries were necessary to ascertain what efforts she was making to find employment. The inquiries were recently completed following which her claim was allowed at the maximum rate of flat rate unemployment benefit £27.80 weekly and pay-related benefit £9.32 weekly and payment of arrears due will be paid when she next calls to her local office. Further combined payments at £37.12 weekly will be made as payments become due.
762.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay an invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, as he was examined by a medical referee on 1 June 1983.
The person concerned has been awarded an invalidity pension from 16 June 1983. The pension book payable from 7 July 1983 has been issued to the designated post office of payment. Arrears in respect of the period from 16 June 1983 to 6 July 1983, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by payable order.
763.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 14 January 1983 to 29 March 1983 after which he ceased to sign as unemployed.
His case was referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries following which his means were assessed at £28.85 weekly derived from land. Accordingly his means exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him £25.45 and his claim was disallowed.
He has been supplied with a form to enable him to appeal his case. When he completes and returns this document his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of his decision.
764.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The application of the person concerned for unemployment assistance on 15 February 1982 was disallowed on the grounds that he did not satisfy the condition which requires that he must be available for and genuinely seeking employment. He appealed against the decision of disallowance and following an oral hearing of his appeal at which he gave evidence on his own behalf the appeals officer confirmed the decision in his case.
765.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is not receiving free travel, a free television licence and the free electricity allowance.
In the normal course, the person concerned would have been issued with a free travel pass when she reached pension age in 1971. A duplicate pass was issued to her on 17 June 1983.
There is no trace of the receipt in the Department of an application for a free electricity allowance in this case. An application form has therefore been issued to her and it should be completed and forwarded in the first instance to the ESB for attention. On receipt of the completed application in the Department the matter will be considered further and she will be notified of the outcome. If she qualifies for a free electricity allowance she may obtain a free television licence by applying to her local post office.
766.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a free electricity allowance granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who is in receipt of an invalidity pension.
The application for a free electricity allowance from the person concerned was originally disallowed as his daughter, who is resident with him and is over 18 years of age, did not, from the information supplied on the application form, come within the excepted categories for satisfying the living alone condition of the scheme.
As it has now been ascertained that his daughter is receiving full-time education, the application has been approved and the ESB have been instructed to apply the allowance to his electricity account from the July-August 1983 billing period onwards.
767.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be given on an application for unemployment assistance which was made by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The application of the person concerned for unemployment assistance between 28 February 1983 and 5 April 1983 when he ceased to sign the unemployed register, was authorised at the weekly rate of £70.40 being the maximum rate of £80 in his case less weekly means of £9.60, derived from the profit from a shop. All arrears due were issued to him on 16 June 1983.
768.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 23 May 1983 and was paid from 26 May 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 1 June 1983, after which date he was certified as fit to resume work.
769.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the unemployment benefit claim of a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be paid.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 28 March 1983 but did not satisfy the conditions of having at least 26 contributions in the governing contribution year 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982. Inquiries are, however, being made to establish whether he is entitled to special credits during that year. These inquiries are expected to be completed shortly and his entitlement to unemployment benefit will then be determined. In the meantime he applied for unemployment assistance and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the social welfare officer's report.
770.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a living alone allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned was awarded a living alone allowance with effect from 14 January 1983, the Friday following the receipt of her claim. An allowance book with orders payable from 1 April 1983 was sent to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. The arrears for the period 14 January 1983 to 31 March 1983 were paid direct to her on 8 June 1983 by means of a payable order.
771.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the unemployment assistance application of a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be processed.
The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment assistance at £10.45 weekly, being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £15, since 4 January 1983. Means in his case are derived from self-employment doing painting and odd jobs. He appealed against the means assessed against him but an appeals officer upheld the assessment of his means at £15 weekly on 5 May 1983.
772.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 2 February 1983 to 6 June 1983, date of the latest medical evidence received. Payment of benefit was not, however, authorised as according to the records of the Department he had no contributions, paid or credited, in 1981-82, the contribution year governing his claim. A minimum of 26 contributions is required to establish title to benefit.
He was informed of the position and he indicated that he was last employed in Great Britain. His insurance record was requested from the British authorities on 14 April 1983 and, despite reminders sent, has not yet been received. The British authorities were contacted by phone on 17 June and promised an early reply on the matter. On receipt of the details his claim will be reviewed. In the meantime he is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance from the Mid-Western Health Board.
773.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a full unemployment assistance allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned applied for a review of his means and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. Inquiries are still being made in the matter but when they are completed his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance presently being paid to him will be determined accordingly. In the meantime, he continues to receive unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £14.70 being the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 less means £10.75.
774.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 22 April 1983. He is not qualified for benefit, however, as according to the records of the Department he has not the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1981-82, the contribution year governing his claim.
The claimant indicated on the claim form that he was employed in Great Britain for a number of years. Accordingly, arrangements are being made to obtain his British employment record and in this connection he was asked on 8 June 1983 to complete and return a form giving particulars of his employment in Great Britain. He has not returned this form to date and a duplicate form was sent to him on 17 June. When the information requested is received the Department will request the British authorities to furnish particulars of his insurance record in that country and his claim will be reviewed.
775.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan was refused unemployment assistance.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 12 November 1982 and was assessed with weekly means of £30.00 derived from the value of board and lodgings on his father's farm. As his means exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case, viz. £25.45, he was not entitled to payment. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and the appeals officer reduced the weekly assessment to £15. Unemployment assistance was accordingly authorised at £10.45 a week being the appropriate maximum weekly rate in his case of £25.45 less means £15. All arrears due were issued to him on 7 June 1983 and weekly payments of £10.45 continue to be made as they become due.
776.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
The person concerned completed her full entitlement to unemployment benefit on 23 July 1982. She again claimed unemployment benefit on 17 January 1983. However, when a person has received her full period of entitlement to unemployment benefit she cannot re-qualify until she has qualifying contributions in respect of at least 13 contribution weeks following the 156th day of unemployment benefit. The person concerned had only six such contributions and accordingly her claim was dissallowed. She appealed against this decision but an appeals officer confirmed the decision disallowing her claim.
777.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that she made no specific efforts to obtain work and accordingly she was not available for work. It is open to her to appeal against the disallowance and to have her case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained from her local office.
778.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the ground that she made no efforts to find alternative employment and accordingly she is not regarded as being available for work. She has the right to appeal against the disallowance of her claim. A form for this purpose may be obtained at her local office.
779.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will recieve a contributory pension.
The person concerned reached age 66 years on 18 February 1983 and claimed old age contributory pension on 27 April 1983. He has been awarded this pension at the personal weekly rate of £37.25 per week with effect from 18 February 1983. His wife is in receipt of an invalidity pension in her own right. A pension book containing orders valid for payment from 20 May 1983 was issued to the designated post office on 17 June 1983 for collection by him and he was notified accordingly. The arrears for the period 18 February 1983 to 19 May 1983 will be issued by payable order.
The person concerned was also employed for a period in Great Britain and details of his Irish insurance record have been sent to the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, from whom he claimed a British retirement pension.
780.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 April 1983 to 13 June 1983, date of the latest medical evidence received. Payment of benefit was not, however, authorised as according to the records of the Department he had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions registered in 1981-82, the contribution year governing his claim. He was notified to this effect. He has now been requested to furnish details of his insurable employment in the 1981-82 year and on receipt of this information his claim will be reviewed.
781.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 22 September 1982 and was paid from 25 September 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 11 April 1983, date of the latest medical evidence received. He has been requested to furnish appropriate medical evidence if he has been ill since that date and on its receipt in the Department further payment will be made.
782.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a replacement cheque for £104 which was stolen will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
A replacement cheque for £104.43 representing payment of disability benefit and pay-related benefit for the period from 25 October 1982 to 13 November 1982 was issued to the person concerned on 17 June 1983.
783.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not been granted unemployment assistance as he has been signing since 22 March 1983.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 21 March 1983 and was assessed with weekly means of £3.20 derived from the value of board and lodgings on his father's farm. Inquiries are being made to establish whether he is available for and genuinely seeking work and when these inquiries are completed shortly his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.
784.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 April 1983 and a cheque for the amount of benefit payable from 22 April 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 13 June 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received, less amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the South Eastern Health Board, was issued on 17 June 1983. The delay in issuing payment was due to an administrative error.
785.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 7 April 1983, and has now been paid all benefit due from 11 April 1983, fourth day of incapacity, to 6 June 1983, after which date he was certified as fit to resume work. In addition, he was paid pay-related benefit from 28 April 1983, nineteenth day of incapacity. The claimant has indicated that his incapacity was due to an accident at work and inquiries are being made in this connection. When these inquiries are completed his position in regard to occupational injury benefit will be reviewed and he will be notified of the outcome.
786.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who had her disability benefit stopped on the grounds that she was fit for work and who was told at her employment exchange that she could not be given unemployment benefit or assistance as she was considered unfit for work, is being denied disability and unemployment benefits.
The disability benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She did not appeal against the disallowance of her claim. She subsequently claimed unemployment benefit and her unemployment benefit claim was disallowed on the grounds that by reason of her not genuinely seeking work she was not available for work. When interviewed in connection with her claim she stated that she was not looking for work. She has not so far lodged an appeal against the disallowance of her unemployment benefit claim.
787.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Pension at the maximum rate of £34.45 per week from 4 March 1983 has been recommended by the social welfare officer. Her husband is in receipt of retirement pension at the rate of £69.75 a week. This includes an allowance of £30.05 in respect of her which may not be paid concurrently with old age pension. When his book is returned to the Department, pension books for £39.70 and £34.45 a week will be issued to them. Payment in her case will be on a provisional basis pending the committee's decision on her claim.
788.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 as she applied in March 1983 and was told that payment would be made within three weeks of making application.
Payment of unemployment assistance at the maximum weekly rate of £26.25 will commence this week and when the amount of supplementary welfare allowance which was advanced to her pending the determination of her claim is clarified by the health board the balance of any arrears due will be paid. All new applications for qualification certificates require investigation by social welfare officers and the assessment of applicants means by deciding officers. The investigations in this case were more extensive than might normally be expected.
789.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment and pay-related benefits will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 7 August 1982 and his claim was allowed at the maximum flat-rate benefit £68.05 weekly. He exhausted 156 days of unemployment benefit on 8 February 1983 and as he did not fulfil the contribution conditions for continued payment at the maximum rate, his weekly flat-rate benefit was reduced to £59.20 from 9 February 1983.
His entitlement to pay-related benefit with his flat-rate unemployment benefit is governed by the condition that the sum of weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit, pay-related benefit and income tax rebate may not exceed 85 per cent of his average net weekly earnings. The 85 per cent limit applicable to him is £65.53 weekly.
Consequently he was not entitled to pay-related benefit during the period he was in receipt of flat-rate unemployment benefit at £68.05 when the weekly sum of flat-rate unemployment benefit exceeded the 85 per cent limit.
However, he qualified for pay-related benefit at £6.33 weekly from 9 February 1983 when his flat-rate unemployment benefit was reduced to £59.20 weekly and all benefit due was paid. He ceased to sign as unemployed after 12 February 1983.
790.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid following an appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
Following a re-investigation of the means of the person concerned, he was assessed with weekly means of £5 derived from self-employment as a plumber. He is, therefore, receiving unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £52.95 being the appropriate maximum rate in his case £57.95 less £5 means. All unemployment assistance due to him has been paid subject to deduction of the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to him in the meantime, which was due to be refunded to the health board.
791.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
Following an investigation of the means of the person concerned his yearly means derived from self-employment as a painting contractor were assessed by a deciding officer on 13 April 1983 as being in excess of the statutory limit of £3,078.40 in his case. He was informed of this decision and was issued with a form on which to appeal, if dissatisfied, to have his means determined by an appeals officer. If he decides to lodge an appeal his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
792.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment assistance on the grounds that his means, derived from self-employment, exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance but an appeals officer upheld the assessment of his means as being in excess of the statutory limit. If, however, his circumstances have changed in the meantime it is open to him to make a fresh application.
793.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £9.90 being the appropriate maximum rate in his case, £57.95 less means £48.05 derived from self-employment. He appealed against the amount of means assessed in his case and following an oral hearing an appeals officer reduced his means to £38.50. He was, therefore, entitled to unemployment assistance up to 23 May 1983 when he ceased to sign the unemployed register, at the increased rate of £19.45 a week being the maximum weekly rate in his case £57.95 less means £38.50. All arrears of unemployment assistance due to the person concerned, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to him which was due to be refunded to the health board, have been paid.
794.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed with effect from 20 April 1983 on the grounds that being a landholder, he did not satisfy the requirement of either having 78 paid contributions in the previous three years or alternatively that the income from the land did not exceed £2 a day and he was not, therefore, unemployed for unemployment benefit purposes. He applied for unemployment assistance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined when his report is received. In the meantime he is receiving supplementary welfare allowance pending a decision on his unemployment assistance entitlement.
795.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned had been in receipt of unemployment assistance of £25.45 a week being the appropriate maximum weekly rate in his case, from 20 October 1982 to 19 April 1983.
His application was, however, disallowed for six weeks from 20 April 1983 on the grounds that he was not genuinely seeking work in that he failed to attend an interview for suitable employment. Following inquiries it has been established that he now satisfies the condition of genuinely seeking work and accordingly unemployment assistance has been authorised from 1 June 1983.
All arrears due will be issued to him by post this week and weekly payments of £25.45 will continue to be made as they become due.
796.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as certificates have been submitted to date.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 17 March 1982 and was paid to 23 February 1983. Payment was discontinued after that date following a review of his case when it was discovered that he had insufficient contributions paid or credited on his behalf for him to have a title to benefit. It was subsequently established that the claimant was working in Great Britain at intermittent intervals during the period from 1963 to 1972. Inquiries are being made concerning his British employment record for this period and when they are completed his claim for benefit will be reviewed.
797.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have the rate of disability benefit increased in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as there is an additional child in the family.
The person concerned is in receipt of disability benefit from 7 February 1979 and has been paid to 25 June 1983. He was paid at the maximum rate appropriate to a married couple with two dependent children to 28 May 1983. In the meantime, however, he submitted a claim for an increase of benefit in respect of an additional child born on 1 May 1983. An adjustment cheque for the arrears of benefit payable on his claim was issued on 17 June 1983.
798.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have an electricity allowance granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as the application has been made since 23 May 1983.
There is no trace of the receipt of an application for a free electricity allowance from the person concerned either in the Department or in the district ESB office. An application form has therefore been issued to him and it should be completed and forwarded in the first instance to the ESB for attention. On receipt of the completed application in the Department the matter will be considered further and he will be notified of the outcome.
799.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have either unemployment benefit or assistance at the full rate and arrears paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as he has been out of work since July 1982.
The person concerned qualified for unemployment benefit at the appropriate maximum rate in his case of £52.15 from the date of his claim on 17 August 1982 until 18 February 1983 when he had received 156 days benefit. He was paid at the special reduced rate in his case of £45.20 from 19 February 1983 as he did not satisfy the condition of having 280 employment contributions at the appropriate rate in the seven years prior to his claim.
He was not entitled to pay-related benefit as the amount of unemployment benefit payable to him exceeded 85 per cent of his average net weekly earnings in the period from 6 April 1982 to the date of his claim namely £42.99. All unemployment benefit due has been paid.
800.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an invalidity pension at the full rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and, if she were entitled to a contributory old age pension, the rate at which she would be paid.
The person concerned is being paid invalidity pension at the rate of £31.25 which is the rate payable to a married woman who is living with her husband. Her husband is in receipt of an old age contributory pension since 27 May 1983. No increase for an adult dependant may be paid with that pension where the dependant is in receipt of an invalidity pension. However, if the person named in the question reverts to disability benefit, which would be payable at a rate of £27.80 per week, then her husband could be paid the adult dependant's increase at a weekly rate of £25.50. She is being advised of this position. She will have an entitlement to old age contributory pension at the weekly rate of £43.70 when she reaches pension age.
801.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a contributory old age pension at the full rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned is in receipt of a contributory old age pension at the rate appropriate to his yearly average of 34 qualifying contributions over the required period which, in his case, is from 1 January 1963 to 5 April 1983. He would require a yearly average of 48 contributions to qualify for pension at maximum rate. His wife is in receipt of an invalidity pension at a rate which exceeds the amount of the adult dependant's allowance to which he would otherwise be entitled.
802.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will sanction dental benefit for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
There is no trace of a claim to dental benefit having been received from the person concerned. It has been confirmed that he was employed in a permanent and pensionable capacity with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs from 1948 until his retirement. The contributions payable in respect of this employment (PRSI class B) provide cover for widows' and orphans' pensions, deserted wife's benefit and occupational injury benefit only. The contributions do not provide cover for dental benefit and he is not therefore entitled to that benefit.
803.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive unemployment assistance as she applied 11 weeks ago.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £32.18 including pay-related benefit from 13 September 1982 up to 12 March 1983 when her entitlement was reviewed in regard to her availability for employment. Following inquiries her claim was disallowed from that date on the grounds that she was not genuinely seeking work. She has been informed of this decision and of her right, if dissatisfied, to appeal to have her case decided by an appeals officer. A form on which to do so may be obtained from her local office who will advise her as to the procedure. The person concerned is in the meantime receiving unmarried mother's allowance at the rate of £42.60 a week.
804.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit payments which are due for the period 27 April to 21 June 1982 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
A cheque for £253.20 representing payment of disability benefit for the period from 30 April 1982, the fourth day of incapacity to 24 June 1982 was issued to the person concerned on 20 June 1983. Her claim was governed by the 1980-81 contribution year. Her claim was not paid initially because she had only nine contributions paid in that year. A minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited is required for entitlement to payment.
Following representations received on her behalf from the Deputy a social welfare officer called on her employer to obtain information about her employment. It was then established that she had commenced insurable employment on 3 February 1981 and was therefore entitled to 43 pre-entry credits in respect of the period back to the beginning of the 1980-81 contribution year.
805.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 17 February 1983 but he was not available on three occasions when the social welfare officer called at his home to investigate his means. His entitlement to unemployment assistance cannot be determined until his means have been assessed. If he wishes to proceed with his claim he should contact his local office as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made to have his means assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance determined.
806.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The claim of the person concerned to unemployment benefit was disallowed as it was considered that the contributions payable in respect of her employment are appropriate to a contribution class which does not provide cover for unemployment benefit. She has appealed against the disallowance of her claim and her case has been referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries before submitting the case to an appeals officer. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
807.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford as she recently had to leave work.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 15 November 1982 to 8 March 1983. Her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She stated herself that she was not available as she had to look after her two children. She appealed against the decision but the appeals officer confirmed the deciding officer's decision in her case.
808.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was awarded deserted wife's benefit with effect from 21 October 1982 and was issued with a benefit book containing orders from 10 February 1983.
A payable order was sent to her on 17 June 1983 in respect of arrears for the period from 21 October 1982 to 9 February 1983, less deductions in respect of unemployment benefit paid to her during that time.
809.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when maternity benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned claimed maternity benefit in respect of her confinement expected on 4 July 1983. Her claim has been authorised for payment from 30 May 1983 and payment will be made at regular weekly intervals up to 20 August 1983 when her entitlement ceases.
810.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
Following the completion of inquiries the person concerned was assessed with means £14.00 weekly derived from land. Accordingly he is entitled to unemployment assistance at £61.35 weekly being the maximum rate £75.35 less £14.00 from 5 May 1983 and arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week.
Further payments will be made as weekly payments become due.
811.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as she has been signing for the past 12 weeks and is destitute.
There is no record in the Department of an unemployment assistance application from the person named by the Deputy. However, a person with the same address applied for unemployment benefit on 28 March 1983 which she was refused in May 1983 on the grounds that she had insufficient contributions. She then applied for unemployment assistance and her case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of her means. He has not yet completed his inquiries and he has been asked to expedite his report. A decision on her application will be given when his report is received.
812.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as he has been signing for the past 12 weeks; and if he will arrange to pay the arrears due to him as a matter of urgency.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 6 April 1983. Following inquiries by a social welfare officer he was assessed with nil means. Payment of unemployment assistance has been authorised at maximum rate of £63.75 a week in his case. All arrears due, less supplementary welfare allowance he received, will be issued to him this week and weekly payments of £63.75 will continue to be made as they become due.
813.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will not get an increase in his unemployment assistance; and if he will make a statement on this urgent matter.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £18.60 being the appropriate maximum weekly rate in his case of £21.20 less means notionally assessed by reference to PLV of £2.60 derived from his farm. He is therefore receiving the correct rate of unemployment assistance based on the means notionally assessed in his case.
The increases in social welfare payments generally due at the end of June 1983 will not apply to notionally assessed smallholders. This follows from the High Court decision of July 1982, that the PLV system was unconstitutional and the granting of increases by reference to PLV would as a result be unlawful.
All notionally assessed smallholders have been advised of this by letter. They were advised at the same time that their means for unemployment assistance purposes would be factually assessed in due course. Smallholders whose means are factually assessed will receive the benefit of the general increase in unemployment payments from the end of June. Statutory provision for this matter was contained in the Social Welfare Act 1983 and provided that entitlements based on notional assessments must be reviewed within a period of three years. These smallholders were also advised that they could apply for early assessment of means on a factual basis if they considered this would be to their advantage.
814.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth as he applied on 7 March 1983.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on eight days between 7 and 23 March when he was on short-time working. There was some delay in obtaining his insurance record. However, this was recently obtained and his entitlement to five days benefit, amounting to £26.40 after allowing for the three-days waiting period, has been authorised and he has been written to that he may collect this amount on calling into his local office.
815.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 28 May 1983 and has been paid to 3 June 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received. Further payments will be made on receipt of medical certificates in my Department.
816.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay unemployment benefit immediately to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who according to her P.45 has in excess of the required number of contributions.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit in respect of two separate periods 15 November 1982 to 8 December 1982 and from 25 April 1983 to 27 April 1983. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit fell to be governed by her contribution record during the contribution period 6 April 1980 to 5 April 1981 and 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982 and during these periods she had less than 26 paid or credited contributions and her claims were accordingly disallowed.
The contributions recorded on her form P.45 refer to the period 6 April 1982 to 29 October 1982 and do not govern her entitlement to unemployment benefit during the two periods of her claim.
817.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay social welfare assistance at the full rate to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford as he is a diabetic living alone.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 24 January 1983 and following an investigation of his claim he was assessed with nil means.
He is presently in receipt of unemployment assistance at the maximum rate payable to him £25.45 weekly.
818.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 8 December 1982. Her claim from that date to 1 January 1983 is governed by her contribution record for 1980-81. There are no contributions paid or credited on her behalf for that year.
From 3 January 1983, the commencement of a new benefit year, entitlement to benefit in her case is based on her 1981-82 insurance record. She has 5 contributions paid in that year which is less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited to entitle her to payment of disability benefit. She does not therefore satisfy the contribution conditions for entitlement to benefit.
819.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if social welfare benefit will now be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal as it has been established that additional contributions have been credited.
No additional contributions have been credited to the record of the person concerned. Additional contributions referred to by the Deputy were already included in the total of 147 contributions which the person concerned has on her record. In order to clarify the position a detailed summary of her entire insurance record has been sent to her.
820.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason social welfare benefit has never been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The last claim to benefit recorded in respect of the person named in the question was-one to unemployment benefit from 13 December 1979 to 3 July 1980.
On receipt of the question an inspector contacted the person concerned to ascertain what benefit has not been paid. It transpires that she is complaining that she has not been paid maternity benefit in respect of three children born in 1979, in 1980 and in April 1983.
There is no trace of any claims in respect of these births. It is therefore necessary to make further inquiries and in this connection an inspector of the Department will again call on the person concerned shortly.
821.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 8 April 1983 and has been paid to 11 June 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
Further payment will be made on receipt of medical certificates in the Department.
822.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a prisoner's wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The claim of the person concerned to a prisoner's wife's allowance is at present under investigation and it is hoped to have all inquiries completed in the near future. A decision in the case will then be given without delay.
823.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance is being refused to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance and he was afforded an opportunity to disclose his means before his case was submitted to an appeals officer. He refused to co-operate with the social welfare officer investigating the case and his case was referred to an appeals officer who upheld the disallowance.
He recently applied for a review of his means and his case has been referred again to a social welfare officer for an investigation of his means. The assessment of his means will be reviewed in the light of the social welfare officer's report and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
824.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying social welfare benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 11 March 1982 and was paid 52 weeks benefit to 12 March 1983 based on his contribution record in the 1980-81 contribution year. His entitlement to further payment then depended on his contribution record for 1981-82 and as in that year he had paid only Class K1 contributions, which are not reckonable for disability benefit purposes, he was not entitled to further payment. A notification to this effect was issued to him.
825.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from land and from self-employment exceeded the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance but an appeals officer upheld the decision that his means exceeded the statutory limit and accordingly he is not entitled to payment.
826.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a living alone allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned is in receipt of old age contributory pension.
She claimed a living alone allowance on 31 March 1983 and this was awarded with effect from 18 February 1983. A supplementary book for the living alone allowance, containing orders for payment from 1 April 1983, was forwarded to the designated post office on 8 June 1983 for collection by her and she was notified accordingly.
Arrears for the period 18 February 1983 to 31 March 1983 are in the course of being issued by payable order.
827.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It has been decided by the local pension committee that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the rate of £20.45 per week from 18 January 1983. The assessment of her means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding and capital, entitles her to pension at this rate. The appropriate pension book and arrears have been issued.
828.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an increase in old age pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It was decided by the local pension committee recently that the person concerned is entitled to a pension at the increased rate of £12.45 plus £6.30 adult dependant allowance from 1 February 1983.
A pension order book at the appropriate rate and all arrears due have been issued to the pensioner.
829.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The claim of the person concerned to unemployment benefit from 18 February 1983 was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment as she had not shown to the satisfaction of the deciding officer that she was genuinely seeking employment. She appealed against the disallowance and her case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
830.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free telephone rental allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The application for free telephone rental allowance which was received from the person concerned on 24 May 1983 was approved on 8 June 1983 and she was notified accordingly. The Department of Posts and Telegraphs recently advised that the telephone in respect of which she claimed the allowance is registered to another subscriber who already benefits from free telephone rental allowance. In the circumstances, the local social welfare officer has been asked to investigate the position. The matter will be further considered on receipt of his report.
831.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will refund PRSI payments to a person (details supplied) in Wexford.
When the person concerned made a claim to unemployment benefit her record showed a number of contributions paid at the PRSI Class A rate.
Following inquiries by the Department into the insurability of the employment, the information which became available indicated that the person was not mainly dependent on the employment which was for less than 18 hours a week and that a reduced rate of PRSI contribution at the Class J rate was payable.
She has appealed against the disallowance of her claim for unemployment benefit and further inquiries are at present being made to determine which class of contribution was properly payable in the case. If it is decided that a Class J contribution was properly applicable, a refund will be made of the contributions overpaid.