asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who is in bad health and has had his medical card withdrawn will be considered for a medical card if he reapplies.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
182.
The medical card referred to was not withdrawn but was due for review at the end of December 1983. The health board will be writing to the holder in the near future giving details of the new arrangements governing the eligibility of persons between the ages of 16 and 25 years for medical cards.
183.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry did not qualify for unemployment assistance even though he has been signing since 22 August 1983.
The entitlement of the person concerned could not be determined until inquiries about his means had been completed. Several void calls were made by the social welfare office before the necessary information could be obtained from the applicant. The inquiries were recently completed following which he was assessed with nil means.
He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £48.35 a week, the maximum rate payable in his case. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week. Further payments will be made as weekly payments become due.
184.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the problem being experienced by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 regarding his application for unemployment assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 14 October 1983 and his case was referred to a special welfare officer for investigation of his means. Following the completion of inquiries he was assessed with nil means.
He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the maximum rate of £28.90 weekly with effect from 14 October 1983. He was, however, in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance claim and the amount which he received was recouped to his local health board from arrears of unemployment assistance due to him.
He has accordingly received all unemployment assistance to which he is entitled, and weekly payments at £28.90 continue to be made to him as they become due.
185.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason dental and optical benefits were refused to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 in 1983.
186.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of PRSI contributions paid by a firm in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 (a) in 1981-82 and (b) from April 1982 to 2 February 1983; and if his Department are satisfied that the firm have paid all the PRSI contributions for which deductions were made from employees in those periods.
189.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of PRSI contributions paid by a firm (details supplied) in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 for the year 1979-80; and if his Department are satisfied that the firm concerned have paid all contributions for which deductions were made for the said period.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 185, 186 and 189 together.
According to the records of the Department only 20 Class A1 contributions have been paid on behalf of the person concerned since the PRSI scheme commenced on 6 April 1979. These were paid in respect of the period October 1980 to February 1981, which is in the 1980-1981 contribution year. There is no record in the Department of any contributions having been paid in respect of the 1979-1980, 1981-1982 or the 1982-1983 contribution year.
The person concerned claimed dental benefit on 28 April 1983 and optical benefit on 18 July 1983. In order to qualify for these benefits a claimant must satisfy certain statutory contribution conditions one of which requires persons over 21 years of age to have not fewer than 26 contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. The governing contribution year for all claims in respect of treatment in the calendar year 1983 is the 1981-1982 contribution year, 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982. As only eight credited contributions in respect of the payment of unemployment benefit were recorded in the 1981-1982 contribution year, her claims to dental and optical benefit could not be approved. Inquiries were issued to her in June 1983 and again in August 1983 about her employment record but she did not reply.
In view of the Deputy's statement indicating that the person concerned had several employments since April 1979, arrangements have been made to have the question of outstanding employment contributions investigated by an outdoor officer of the Department. On completion of these inquiries the claims made by the person concerned will be reviewed.
187.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons that unemployment payments were not continued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason unemployment assistance was not automatically paid after his unemployment benefits ceased; the date on which he will now be paid; the weekly amount he will receive; the amount of arrears to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was advised to apply for a qualification certificate and was furnished with an application form on 27 September 1983 but only returned it to his local office on 2 November 1983. His case was then referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means and the inquiries in the matter were only recently completed. He was assessed with means at £0.15 weekly derived from capital, and his claim has been allowed at £86.85 weekly being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him, £87 less £0.15, with effect from 14 December 1983 the date after which he exhausted his title to unemployment benefit on completion of 390 days of benefit.
He is a postal applicant and arrangements have been made to issue an order to him for encashment at his local post office, for an amount of £434.35 representing all arrears due, on 19 January 1984. Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
188.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when 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 24 September 1981 and payment has been made to date. 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.
190.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an increased level of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £26.40 per week derived from the value of board and lodgings in his parents' home. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £1.60 per week being the maximum rate payable to him, £28 less £26.40. The family income of the household was assessed following investigation by a social welfare officer. The claimant appealed against the assessment of means but the appeals officer upheld the assessment.
191.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position regarding the application of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly for an increase in his unemployment assistance for which he applied three months ago.
The person concerned applied for a review of the assessment of his means on 17 November 1983 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. Inquiries are still being made in the matter but it is expected that they will be completed shortly. His means will be reviewed in the light of the report and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly. In the meantime he continues to be paid unemployment assistance at £36.10 weekly, being the maximum rate payable to him, £80.30 less means £44.20 derived from the beneficial occupation of holdings and from the sale of turf.