asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
706.
The person concerned did not satisfy the contribution condition for receipt of unemployment benefit when he claimed on 7 February 1983 and the matter was referred to a social welfare officer to pursue the non payment of contributions. Inquiries are still being made in the case but pending the completion of investigations the non-paid contributions were recently treated as paid for the purpose of his unemployment benefit claim and payment at £27.80 weekly has been allowed.
Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week and further payments will be made as they become due.
707.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid 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 particulars of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance of his claim and indicated that he was now prepared to disclose details of his capital which he had previously refused to do. His case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries in the matter and when these are completed his case will be submitted to an Appeals Officer for determination. His Entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the Appeals Officer.
708.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance at the full rate will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned is entitled to unemployment assistance at the maximum rate payable to him £26.25 weekly and all unemployment assistance to which he was entitled has been paid. He was required to sign the unemployed register at his local office on a daily basis and was not paid for days on which he failed to register as unemployed.
His signing arrangements were altered to twice weekly from 5 May 1983 and he has been paid the maximum weekly rate of £26.25 as payments became due since that date. His rate will be increased to £28.90 weekly from 29 June 1983 in accordance with the general increase in rates of unemployment assistance.
709.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned could not be determined until inquiries, which were made by a social welfare officer, had been completed and his contribution record established.
He did not satisfy the contribution conditions for benefit during the period 1 October 1982 to 1 January 1983 but he qualified for unemployment benefit at the maximum rate £31.65 weekly from the commencement of a new benefit year on 3 January 1983 to 26 January 1983 when he ceased to sign as unemployed.
He has been written to and asked to call to his local office for payment of the arrears due to him.
710.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals and payment has been made to 2 July 1983.
A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to him and on its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay.
711.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from capital and the value of board and lodging on his brother's holding, exceeded the statutory limit. He was last in touch with his local office on 16 February 1982.
If the person concerned is unemployed at present it is open to him to apply for a review of his means and to renew his unemployment assistance claim. His case would be investigated by a social welfare officer following which his means would be reviewed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance determined.
712.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned was assessed with means, £33.00 weekly derived from capital and the value of board and lodging on his brother's holding. The means assessed against him exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him, £25.45 weekly and his claim was disallowed.
He appealed against the disallowance and an appeals officer reduced the assessment of his means to £27.60 on 20 October 1982. This assessment still exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him, £25.45 and the disallowance continued to stand. However the rates of unemployment assistance have been increased from 29 June 1983 and from that date he will qualify for payment of unemployment assistance at £0.40 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him, £28.00 less £27.60.
713.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a pension book will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Payment of pension to the person concerned was not recommended on the grounds that his means were not fully disclosed.
The local pension committee recently decided that he is entitled to a pension at the rate of £22.45 plus adult dependant allowance from 3 September 1982. The social welfare officer has appealed against this decision and the matter has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. The claimant will be notified of the outcome.
714.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a disability benefit book will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals and payment has been made to 2 July 1983.
A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to him and on its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay.
715.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a disability book will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of disability benefit.
Invalidity pension is payable in place of disability benefit to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. Accordingly, arrangements have been made to have him examined by a medical referee on 6 July 1983. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of that examination.
716.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin was refused separate payments in respect of her husband's social welfare benefit from 1 June 1982 to 1 November 1982.
The husband of the person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 16 November 1981 and was in receipt of benefit which included an increase for his wife and two qualified children.
According to the records of the local office at which he was claiming, the claimant's wife attended on 18 August 1982 and applied for a separate payment in respect of herself and one of the children. Payment was allowed to her at the weekly rate of £28.00 representing adult dependant rate, £20.50 and one qualified child, £7.50 with effect from 12 August 1982. There was, therefore, no refusal to make separate payments and there is no record of any previous application for separate payments.
The husband's entitlement to unemployment benefit was exhausted on 8 February 1983 when he completed 390 days. He is presently in receipt of weekly unemployment assistance at £32.80 while his wife receives the dependant's portion of his unemployment assistance for herself and one child at £26.40 weekly.
717.
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 old age contributory pension at the weekly rate of £37.80. This is the rate appropriate to her yearly average of 28 qualifying contributions over the average test period which, in her case, is from the beginning of the 1963-64 contribution year to 5 April 1980. She would need a yearly average of at least 48 qualifying contributions to qualify for the pension at the maximum rate.
718.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has been reduced by £4.30 per week in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will, in view of the fact that an appeal has been lodged, arrange to have unemployment benefit granted at the full rate.
The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit. She is, however, in receipt of unemployment assistance at £21.15 weekly being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to her £25.45 less means £4.30 derived from the value of board and lodgings in her parent's home.
She has been issued with a form to enable her to appeal. When she completes and returns it arrangements will be made to have her case determined by an appeals officer. The rate of unemployment assistance being paid to her at present will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
719.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from self-employment cutting turf and from land, exceeded the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. It is expected that the inquiries will be completed shortly after which the assessment of his means will be reviewed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
720.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a widow's pension at the full rate paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
Following an appeals officer's decision the person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at the rate of £3.80 per week with effect from 27 August 1982 increased to £7.85 per week with effect from 1 July 1983. These are the rates of pension payable to a widow under 66 years of age who has no qualified child and whose weekly means exceed £34.00 but do not exceed £36.00. Her means derived from a holding have been assessed at £34.61 per week.
A pension order book at the rate of £3.80 payable from 6 May 1983 together with a pension order book at the rate of £4.05 payable from 1 July 1983 have been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly.
The arrears of pension for the period from 27 August 1982 to 5 May 1983 will be paid direct to her shortly by means of a payable order.
An appeals officer's decision is final and conclusive and can only be reviewed in the light of new evidence or new facts which were not available at the time of the appeal or in the event of any relevant change of circumstances.
721.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have an increased rate of widow's pension paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been allowed a rate of £5.80 per week and who has practically no other income.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £33.25 per week derived from a farm and capital and was accordingly awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at the reduced rate of £5.80 per week with effect from 11 March 1983 increased to £9.85 per week from 1 July 1983.
She has appealed against this decision and a form on which to set out all the facts and contentions on which she relies in support of the appeal has been issued to her. On return of the form duly completed her case will be submitted to an appeals officer for consideration and she will be notified of the outcome.
722.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if there are any pay-related benefits still to be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7.
Following a review of the 85 per cent limit applicable in the case of the person concerned as a recipient of unemployment benefit the rate of his payrelated benefit entitlement was increased. All arrears due, amounting to £280.65 and representing the balance of pay-related benefit due, were paid to him on 16 June 1983.
723.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a children's allowance will be paid in respect of December 1982 and January 1983 to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
According to the Department's records the person concerned has been paid all allowances due to date in respect of her three qualified children.
In view of the Deputy's question the person concerned is being contacted with a view to ascertaining what the problem is and resolving it.
724.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has applied for work, without success.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that, having 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 9 June 1983 at which she attended and gave evidence on her own behalf an appeals officer upheld the disallowance.
If her circumstances have changed and if she considers that she is fully available for work it is open to her to reapply for unemployment benefit and her case will be reviewed.
725.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who is in receipt of unemployment assistance at a reduced rate, will be informed of the result of his appeal.
Unemployment assistance was paid to the person concerned on the basis of an existing qualification certificate with means of £13.50 giving him a weekly payment of £12.75 being the appropriate maximum weekly rate in his case of £26.25 less means £13.50. He applied for a review of his means and following inquiries his means were reduced to nil. Payment has now been authorised at the appropriate maximum weekly rate in his case of £26.25. All arrears due will be paid to him this week and further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
726.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow as he has been unemployed since January 1983 and has not been in receipt of any allowance or benefit.
The claim of the person concerned to unemployment benefit on 24 January 1983 was disallowed on the grounds that he was not available for employment as he had not shown to the satisfaction of the deciding officer that he was genuinely seeking employment. He appealed against this decision and at an appeal hearing on 17 May 1983 the appeals officer upheld the deciding officer's decision.
His claim has since been considered again by a deciding officer who decided that he was not available for employment with effect from 18 May 1983. He has appealed against this latest decision and his appeal has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
727.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the system of dealing with the matter of partial pensions payable to persons in receipt of British retirement pensions in view of the typically long delays in deciding their eligibility.
The British insurance record of a retirement pension claimant who has been insurably employed in Ireland and in Britain must be obtained in order to determine his entitlement under EEC regulations on social security, if his Irish record is not sufficient to qualify him for the pension under the Social Welfare Acts. The British record is normally supplied by the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, within three weeks if the claimant quotes his British National Health Insurance number. The delays referred to by the Deputy usually occur in cases where the claimants cannot quote their British numbers.
The procedures followed in these cases are necessary in order to comply with the provisions of the EEC regulations on social security, insofar as they affect the pension entitlements of persons who have worked in more than one EEC Member State. The persons concerned are advised to send in their claims well in advance of retirement pension age in order to enable the relevant records to be obtained in good time. Under the regulations a claim may be made up to three months before reaching pension age.
728.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the decision to reduce the partial non-contributory old pension payable to persons (details supplied) in Dublin 9 who also have English retirement pensions.
Non-contributory old age pension at the rate of £8.45 a week is in payment to each member of the couple concerned. This is the rate appropriate to the assessment of their means comprising British retirement pensions.
Pension books for £4.15, payable from 1 July 1983, were recently issued to each of the pensioners. These cover the increase due to them under this year's budget and are intended to be cashed in conjunction with their current books.
729.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was not paid to a person (details supplied) in Roscommon who has no means whatsoever.
The means of the person concerned, derived from self-employment as a builder, were assessed as being in excess of the statutory limit and his unemployment assistance claim was disallowed.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him but an appeals officer upheld the assessment on 27 May 1983.
He last signed as unemployed on 16 June 1983.
730.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will have arrears up to 21 March 1983 of an old age pension paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
From the particulars supplied, it has not been possible to trace an old age pension application from the person concerned in the records of the Department. If the Deputy could supply further details, particularly the person's pension reference number, the matter will be further examined.
731.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the amount of the contributory old age pension paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 in respect of himself and his spouse was less than the combined amounts of the non-contributory old age pension granted to the spouse and a contributory old age pension granted to the person concerned.
The rate of non-contributory old age pension can exceed the rate of adult dependent's allowance paid to a contributory old age pensioner in respect of his wife, depending on the claimant's means. Consequently, this can result in the combined total of the contributory and non-contributory pensions paid to a husband and wife being greater than the amount of contributory pension, including adult dependant's allowance, paid to a husband where his wife has not claimed or is not entitled to a higher rate of non-contributory pension.
The person concerned is in receipt of old age contributory pension since 7 October 1977. His rate of pension included an adult dependant's allowance in respect of his wife, the current rate of which is £30.05 per week where the dependant is of age 66 years or over. His wife claimed a non-contributory old age pension on 11 February 1983 and following an investigation of the couple's means this was awarded to her at the maximum rate of £34.45 per week with effect from the date of claim. Unfortunately, she died before any payment of the non-contributory pension was made but arrears of £44 being the amount of the non-contributory old age pension payable from 11 February 1983 up to her death on 21 April, less the amount of the adult dependant allowance paid in respect of her during this period, were issued to her husband by payable order on 20 June 1983.
732.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
An application for free electricity allowance in this case was disallowed in March 1983 on the grounds that the person concerned had not reached 66 years of age. In the light of the evidence regarding his date of birth which was recently furnished by the Deputy, the application has now been approved. The ESB have been instructed to apply the allowance to his electricity account form the May-June 1983 billing period onwards.
733.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit was disallowed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Clare as she outlined her difficulties to the officers concerned.
Following the completion of inquiries to ascertain why the person concerned did not register with National Manpower Service, her unemployment benefit claim was disallowed from 3 March 1983 on the grounds that she was not available for work.
She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her appeal on 10 May 1983. However, the appeals officer upheld the disallowance of her case.
She continued to sign as unemployed and her case was reviewed. A deciding officer was satisfied that she was making genuine efforts to find work and that she fulfilled the condition of being available for work from 12 May 1983. Her claim was allowed at the weekly rate of £30.50 from 12 May 1983 to 6 June 1983 after which she is known to have resumed work.
She is being written to and asked to call to her local office for payment of the arrears due to her.
734.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Clare who has a wife and four dependant children will have his free electricity allowance renewed.
From the information available to the Department in this case, three of the applicant's children, who are resident in the household, are over 18 years of age and are not in receipt of full time education. The living alone condition of the scheme is not, therefore, satisfied in this case and the allowance which applied to the electricity account of the person concerned was terminated with effect from March 1983.
735.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The application of the person concerned to unemployment assistance on 24 March 1983 has been authorised at the weekly rate of £25.45, being the appropriate maximum weekly rate in her case. She was assessed with nil means. All arrears due were paid to her on 24 June 1983. Weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
736.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a widow's pension at the full rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned has been paid widow's non-contributory pension at the rate of £33.80 per week with effect from 25 February 1983. This was the maximum personal rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years of age.
In accordance with the budget provisions this rate will be increased to £37.85 per week with effect from 1 July 1983. A supplementary pension order book for the amount of the increase has been issued to the post office of payment for collection by her.
Her entitlement to a widow's contributory pension is at present being examined. A decision on this will be issued when inquiries have been completed.
Arrangements have also been made to have her entitlement to a pension from the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne examined and that Department will notify her of the outcome.
If she qualifies for a contributory pension her non-contributory pension will be reviewed and any necessary adjustments made.
737.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork only received £208.00 unemployment benefit as it was stated by his Department that he received £255.00; the reason for this difference; and when the outstanding money will be paid to him.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 18 April 1983 to 6 June 1983 after which he ceased to sign as unemployed. His claim was allowed at the maximum weekly rate of flat rate unemployment benefit payable to him £31.65 and pay-related benefit at £10.78 weekly. The records of the local office at which he claimed show that he received all flat rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit, amounting to £255.94 to which he was entitled and, accordingly, there are no arrears of benefit due to him.