asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension has not yet been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and when it will be paid.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
653.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of a pension at the maximum rate with effect from 28 February 1983 has been recommended by the social welfare officer. The appropriate pension books and arrears due have been issued on a provisional basis pending the pension committee's decision. The pension includes an allowance for the claimant's wife up to 6 May 1983, from which date a maximum rate pension has been granted to her in her own right.
654.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old pension has not yet been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Tippearary; and when it will be paid.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of a pension at the maximum rate from 6 May 1983 has been recommended by the social welfare officer. The appropriate pension books have been issued on a provisional basis pending the pension committee's decision.
655.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension at the full rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The investigation of the old age pension claim of the person concerned will be completed shortly and the case will be referred to the local pension committee for decision on completion of inquiries. If a pension is recommended by the social welfare officer it will be put into payment on a provisional basis pending the pension committee's decision.
656.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free telephone rental allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned has been approved for free telephone rental allowance and a notification to this effect issued to him on 23 June 1983.
The Department of Posts and Telegraphs has been advised of the decision and will arrange to apply the allowance from the date on which telephone service is provided.
657.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance payments will be continued at the full rate to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
It was ascertained by a social welfare officer that the person concerned who had been previously living alone had taken up residence with his parents. Following the completion of inquiries his means have been revised from nil to £13.40 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in his parents home with effect from 13 July 1983.
The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be £14.60 being the maximum rate £28.00 less £13.40. If he is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal and to have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
658.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was assessed with nil means and his unemployment assistance claim has been allowed at the maximum rate payable to him £26.25 weekly increased to £28.90 from 29 June 1983.
Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due next week and further payments will be made as weekly payments become due.
659.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be approved for 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 9 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.
660.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare (1) the number of unemployed in Counties Sligo and Leitrim at the end of May 1983; and (2) the number of people in receipt of old age pensions in Counties Sligo and Leitrim.
(1) The total number of persons registered as unemployed on 20 May 1983 in County Sligo was 3,020 and in County Leitrim 1,195, according to the latest area of residence quarterly return. (2) Statistics are not maintained in a way which would enable the information requested by the Deputy to be furnished.
661.
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 9 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.
662.
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 9 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.
663.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a non-contributory old age pension has been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned is under investigation and will be referred to the local pension committee for decision on completion of inquiries. If a pension is recommended by the social welfare officer it will be put into payment on a provisional basis pending the pension committee's decision.
664.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned is under investigation at present. On completion of inquiries it will be referred to the local pension committee for decision. If a pension is recommended by the social welfare officer it will be put into payment on a provisional basis pending the pension committee's decision.
665.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting a non-contributory old age pension to a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
It has been decided by the local pension committee that the person concerned is not entitled to a non-contributory old age pension as the assessment of her means, consisting of the weekly value of her occupational pension and capital, exceeds the statutory limit. She has been informed accordingly.
666.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been stopped in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Following a review of his case the person concerned was disallowed unemployment assistance from 11 May 1983 on the grounds that his means, derived from self-employment and the benefit of his wife's earnings exceeded the statutory limit.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the disallowance and his case was re-investigated by a social welfare officer after which his means were revised to £44.80 weekly. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £35.20 weekly from 11 May 1983 increasing to £43.25 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him from 29 June 1983, £88.05 less £44.80. Weekly payment commenced this week and the balance of any arrears due will be paid with his weekly payment next week.
667.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the grounds on which unemployment benefit has been disallowed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
To satisfy the condition for entitlement to unemployment benefit of being available for work an applicant is required to make genuine efforts to find employment.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that she was not making specific efforts to find work and accordingly she was not available for work.
She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her appeal on 14 June 1983. An appeals officer upheld the disallowance of her claim. She last signed as unemployed on 21 June 1983.
668.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow as she has been waiting for payment since 4 May.
Under the provisions of the Social Welfare Acts a person must have at least 156 contributions paid since entry into insurance in order to qualify for payment of disability benefit for a period exceeding 52 weeks.
According to the records of the Department, the person concerned had a total of only 111 such contributions since entry into insurance. Her entitlement to disability benefit was exhausted on 26 August 1977 when she had received benefit for 52 weeks but she was subsequently paid in error.
In order to requalify for payment of disability benefit, a person whose entitlement to benefit is exhausted needs a total of at least 13 weeks of insurable employment, in respect of which contributions at the appropriate rate have been paid, after the date on which the title to benefit became exhausted. According to the records of the Department the person concerned had seven such weeks of employment in 1978-79 and has not been in employment since. She therefore needs a further six weeks of insurable employment before she can requalify for disability benefit.
669.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an increase in unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from land and capital exceeded the statutory limit.
He has appealed against the disallowance of his claim and arrangements are being made to have his case determined by an appeals officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
670.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Galway can have her teeth extracted and get lower dentures under his Department's scheme.
A claim to dental benefit was received from the person concerned on 16 March 1983. The employment contributions paid on her behalf were recorded in the Department at the wrong contribution class and on this basis her claim was originally rejected.
Inquiries made have now established that her employment was insurable at the standard rate of PRSI contribution. Her claim has now been approved and both herself and her dentist have been notified accordingly.
671.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork even though she is supplying doctor's certificates.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 18 February 1982 and was paid for 52 weeks from 22 February 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 18 February 1983. Payment ceased after that date as she had not the necessary 156 paid contributions since she commenced employment to entitle her to payment in excess of 52 weeks. According to the records of the Department she has only 89 paid contributions. She was notified of the position on 15 February 1983.
In order to requalify for payment of disability benefit the claimant would require a further 13 contributions in respect of insurable employment.