asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position regarding an application for a non-contributory old age pension by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
301.
It was as decided by an appeals officer on 13 January 1984 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as he does not fulfil the statutory condition as to means. The assessment of his means, consisting of the weekly value of a holding, exceeds the statutory limit of £42 per week.
302.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an unemployment assistance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following a re-investigation of his case the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means from land exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him. An incorrect number was quoted on his appeal application form which caused delay in dealing with the case. The matter has now been rectified and arrangements have been made to have the case determined by an appeals officer at the earliest opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
303.
(Limerick West): asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 10 November 1983 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension on the grounds that he has failed to establish that he fulfils the statutory condition as to means. He has failed to produce the necessary information required in relation to his bank accounts.
If the person concerned is now prepared to make a full disclosure of his means, he should notify the Department to that effect and his case will be re-investigated.
304.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the rate of social welfare assistance being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow was reduced; and if he will have the matter investigated.
The person concerned requalified for unemployment benefit from 16 January 1984 and he is in receipt of weekly benefit at £74.85 from that date. He was in receipt of unemployment assistance from 13 July 1983 to 26 September 1983 at £29.60 weekly being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance £65.15 less means £35.55. His means were derived from the benefit of his wife's earnings. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case papers were transmitted to headquarters for transmission to an appeals officer on 13 December 1983. The documents were not received at headquarters and appear to have gone astray with other postal items which were transmitted by the local office on that date.
Steps are being taken to have duplicate papers prepared and when all inquiries have been completed the case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination of his means. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him in respect of the period 13 July 1983 to 26 September 1983 will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
305.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an old age pension at the maximum rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as he is at present in receipt of £41.40 per week.
The person concerned is in receipt of a contributory widow's pension at the rate of £41.40 per week, the maximum rate payable to a widow who is over 66 years and under 80 years. The pension was awarded on the basis of her late husband's insurance contributions.
To be eligible for the award of contributory old age pension the person concerned would herself need to have been insurably employed and to satisfy the contribution conditions. There is no indication on her claim form for widow's pension that she was ever insurably employed and the Department have found no trace of an insurance record in respect of her. On the available evidence therefore she is not eligible for contributory old age pension.
It would not be in her interest to claim non-contributory old age pension because the maximum rate of this pension is less than the contributory widow's pension at present in payment to her.
306.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a reduced rate of unemployment assistance is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny over the last six months; and if he will arrange to have this particular case reinvestigated with a view to having the maximum rate paid.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 21 May 1983 and, following investigation, he was assessed with means of £5.00 per week derived from benefit in kind from his parents-in-law. He is accordingly paid at £53.30 per week being the maximum rate payable to him £58.30 less £5.00 means. It is open to him to apply to have his means re-investigated. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
307.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance at the maximum rate is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as he should qualify for the maximum rate.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 10 June 1983 and is paid at the rate of £25.35 being the maximum rate payable to him £28.00 less £2.65 means. His means are derived from board and lodgings in his parents home. It is open to him to apply to have his means re-investigated. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
308.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as the application has been made since 1 January, 1984 and she has sufficient contributions.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the conditions that a claimant must be fully available for work. When the person concerned claimed benefit, she stated that she was available for part-time work only and consequently her claim was disallowed and she was notified accordingly. It is open to her, if dissatisfied, to appeal against this decision and she may obtain a form for this purpose from her local employment office.
309.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when it is expected to pay pay-related social insurance benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway whose family are experiencing severe financial hardship as a result of the loss of his income.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 30 December 1983 and was paid from 3 January 1984, fourth day of incapacity, to 20 January 1984, date of the latest medical certificate received. Pay-related benefit was paid from 20 January 1984, nineteenth day of incapacity.
310.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a widow's non contributory old age pension will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of her low income.
One of the conditions for the receipt of widow's non-contributory pension is that the widow's means must not exceed the statutory limit applicable in her case. In the case of a widow under 66 years of age with no qualified children the statutory limit is £40.00 per week. This is increased to £50.00 per week if she has one qualified child.
The means of the person concerned were originally assessed at £51.69 per week derived from a farm and allowing a deduction of £6.00 per week in respect of a qualified child. They were increased to £57.69 per week from 1 September 1983 when the child ceased to be qualified on reaching 18 years of age. Because her means at all times exceeded the statutory limits applicable, her claim to widow's non-contributory pension was refused. She appealed against this decision and her case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. She will be notifed as soon as he gives his decision in the matter.
311.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against this decision and an appeals officer confirmed the disallowance.
He applied for a review of his case on 7 December 1983 and the case was referred to a social welfare officer. The investigation has now been completed and the case is in transit to a deciding officer at headquarters for determination of his means. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome.
312.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and when these payments will be made.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 21 April 1982 and was paid 52 weeks benefit to 22 April 1983. Payment ceased after that date as he had less than the required minimum of 156 paid contributions to his credit since his entry into insurance to entitle him to further payment. He cannot requalify for further payment of benefit until he resumes employment and has at least 13 weeks of insurable employment for which contributions at the appropriate rate are paid.