asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons that investigations into an old age pension application by a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not been concluded; the reason the pension has not been granted to this person who has a history of illness; the date on which it will be granted; the amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
292
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated and forwarded to the local pension committee for decision. Pension at the weekly rate of £8.60 plus £3.00 living alone allowance has been recommended by the social welfare officer from 28 September 1983. These are the rates of pension to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means consisting of the weekly value of a holding and capital. The appropriate pension books payable from 20 January 1984 have been issued and any arrears due in respect of the period 28 September 1983 to 13 January 1984 will be issued separately.
293.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons that unemployment benefits have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the date on which they will be paid; the amount of arrears that will be paid; the weekly amount that will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim to unemployment benefit, unemployment assistance or disability benefit which refers to the person named in the details supplied. The PRSI number quoted does not refer to a person of the address shown. Further inquiries in the matter will be made if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the person concerned to be identified.
294.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons unemployment benefits/assistance have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the date on which he will be paid; the amount of arrears to be paid; the weekly amount that will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned, who is a postal applicant, does not satisfy the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit. He claimed unemployment assistance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. Following the completion of inquiries he was assessed with means at £4.25 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in his parent's home. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £23.75 weekly being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him £28.00 less £4.25.
An order for £292.92 representing arrears of unemployment assistance due issued to him last week for encashment at his local post office and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
295.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons unemployment benefits at the correct rate are not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the date on which he will be paid; the weekly amount that will be paid; the amount of arrears that will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The rate of unemployment benefit payable to the person concerned was reduced from £33.55 weekly to £28.90 weekly on the grounds that he did not fulfil the contribution condition of having at least 280 paid contributions in a seven year period. Following a review of his contribution record it was established that he fulfilled the condition and payment of unemployment benefit at the full rate of £33.55 has been restored. Arrangements have been made to pay arrears amounting to £56.58 to him this week and further weekly payments at £33.55 will follow. His entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat-rate unemployment benefit cannot be determined until he furnishes evidence of his earnings from 6 April 1982 to the commencement of his unemployment benefit claim on 28 April 1983 to enable the 85 per cent limit to be calculated. He has been asked to submit a form P.45 or statement of earnings but to-date he has not done so.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare how means amounting to £4,657.40 from 29 June, 1983 were assessed for unemployment assistance purposes in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dingle, County Kerry; if he will give details of the exact composition of the means assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was previously in receipt of unemployment assistance with means assessed on the notional value of his holding. His case was referred to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation and following the completion of inquiries, he was assessed with means in excess of the statutory limit applicable to him £4,225.00 per annum.
The assessment of his means took into account the income received by him from the sale of milk and the profits from the sale of cattle and sheep and the value of capital. Allowance was made for expenses actually and necessarily incurred in earning that income and included in such expenses were the costs of feeding stuff, fertilisers, milking costs. His profit from his holding and from capital was estimated at £9,000.00 per annum. He has not signed as unemployed since 28 June 1983.