asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance at the appropriate rate of £28.80 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin, who has been unemployed for two years.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
350.
The person concerned was assessed with means at £14.55 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in her parents' home. She appealed against the amount of means assessed against her and an appeals officer reduced the assessment of her means to £13.30 with effect from 28 September 1983. An adjusting payment of arrears of unemployment assistance was made to her last week and further weekly payments at £16.10 weekly being the maximum rate payable to her, £29.40 less means £13.30, will continue as they become due.
351.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11.
The regulations provide that the claimant, apart from satisfying the contribution conditions, must be regarded as permanently incapable of work in order to qualify for invalidity pension. The person concerned was examined on 26 October 1983 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was not permanently incapable of work and asked to have him referred again for a further examination in three months time. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of this further examination. In the meantime he continues to receive £49.29 per week: disability benefit at the rate of £33.55 and pay-related benefit at the rate of £15.74.
352.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that disability benefit has been paid only up to 19 October 1983 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make arrangements to ensure that in future payments are made on a regular weekly basis.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 1 April 1983 and has been paid to 10 November 1983, date of the latest medical certificate received. There was a delay, however, in issuing benefit for the period from 21 October to 27 October 1983 due to an administrative error. Payment was issued for the period on 7 November 1983.
353.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as he applied approximately eight weeks ago; and has no income.
It is believed that the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was contained in a mail bag which disappeared in postal transit some time ago. However, arrangements are being made to have his case reinvestigated at the earliest opportunity after which his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.
354.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork, as he is now waiting six weeks; and has a large family.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance cannot be determined until inquiries about his means have been completed. It is expected that the inquiries will be completed shortly after which his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
355.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefit. His original claim for unemployment assistance was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the benefit of his wife's earnings, exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and in the light of the contentions made in support of his appeal his case was referred to a social welfare officer for additional investigations. After extensive inquiries he was assessed with nil means and as he is a postal applicant arrangements have been made to issue him with an order for encashment at his local post office paying all arrears of unemployment assistance due this week. Further payments at £55.55 weekly will be made as they become due.
356.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of social welfare benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
Disability benefit issues at weekly intervals to the person concerned on receipt of medical certificates and all payments due to date have been issued.
357.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when PRSI will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth as he has been on disability benefit since 15 August 1982 and has not yet received any PRSI payment.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 15 August 1983 and has been paid at the maximum appropriate rate for a married couple with two dependent children to 7 November 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received. He is not entitled to pay-related benefit as this benefit is not payable where the total amount of disability benefit payable equals or exceeds 80 per cent of a claimant's average reckonable weekly earnings in the relevant income tax year. The claimant is in receipt of disability benefit at the rate of £74.85 per week. This amount exceeds 80 per cent of his reckonable weekly earnings (£65.46) in the 1981-82 income tax year which governs his claim.