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.
342.
The person concerned applied for unemployment benefit from 3 October 1983 as a systematic short-time worker engaged in employment on three days each week but when making his claim he was unable to furnish his PRSI number to enable his contribution record to be identified. This information was recently made available and his claim has been authorised for payment at the weekly rate £34.80. All arrears due were paid last week and further payments in respect of the days on which he is unemployed will be made as they become due.
343.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford and if not, if his case will be reviewed.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 10 November 1983 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as his means, consisting of a British retirement pension and capital, exceed the statutory limit. The appeals officer's decision is final and conclusive and may only be revised in the light of new facts or evidence or a change in circumstances since the decision was given.
344.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 18 September 1978 and payment is being made at regular weekly intervals. Invalidity pension is payable in place of disability benefit to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. In this connection arrangements are being made to have him examined by a medical referee on 8 December 1983. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
345.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the decision on a claim for unemployment assistance will be reviewed for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that she had made no effort to find work and accordingly she did not fulfil the condition of being available for work. She appealed against the disallowance of her claim and attended an oral hearing of her appeal on 28 October 1983. The appeals officer, whose decision is final, upheld the disallowance of her claim.
She continues to sign as unemployed and inquiries are being made to ascertain whether she is now available for employment. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit from 29 October 1983 will be determined in the light of the inquiries.
346.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if payments of an orphan's allowance will be continued for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford after he reaches 18 years of age, and if not the allowance that will be made towards his subsistence.
A condition for continuation of payment of an allowance in respect of an orphan after he or she reaches 18 years of age is that he or she is receiving full-time education by day. In the case in question, the orphan will be 18 years of age on 3 December 1983 and a form was issued to the orphan's guardian on 14 November 1983 to ascertain if full-time education by day will be continuing after that date. When this form is returned to the Department, duly certified by the school authorities confirming that the orphan is continuing in full-time education, arrangements will be made to continue the payment of the allowance without interruption. This allowance may be paid up to the orphan's 21st birthday provided that full daytime education continues to that date.
347.
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 9 August 1983. He was not qualified for benefit at the commencement of his claim as according to the Department's records he had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1981-82, the contribution year governing his claim. It was subsequently established that he was employed in Great Britain in 1981-82 and is qualified for benefit on the basis of his British insurance record. Accordingly a cheque for the amount of benefit payable to 11 November 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received, was issued to him on 16 November 1983.
348.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a non-contributory old age pension will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated and was referred to the local pension committee for decision on 21 June 1983. The social welfare officer recommended that no pension be awarded as her means, consisting of the weekly value of capital, exceed the statutory limit.
The local pension committee, to whom the claim was submitted, have not, given a decision on the matter. In such circumstances it is open to the social welfare officer to refer the case to the chief appeals officer for decision and this is now being done. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome.