asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in hearing an appeal against the means assessed for unemployment assistance purposes for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
447.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 21 February 1983 and following the completion of inquiries by a social welfare officer he was assessed with means of £43.00 a week, derived from capital.
He was accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £0.95 weekly being the maximum rate £43.95 less £43.00 means. He appealed against this decision on 26 April 1983 and ceased to sign as unemployed from 3 May 1983. An appeals officer also assessed his means at £43.00 a week, derived from capital and he was notified of the decision on 6 July 1983.
448.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in transferring a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny from disability benefit to an invalidity pension, as he is totally incapacitated and has to be cared for on a full-time basis.
The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals 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.
449.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who claimed unemployment benefit on 29 September 1983 was denied benefit when he had the necessary 26 contributions.
The claim of the person concerned for unemployment benefit on 29 September 1983 was disallowed on the grounds that he did not satisfy the conditions of being available for employment.
Being a landholder he did not satisfy that condition as the daily income from his land exceeded £2.00 a day and he did not have at least 78 employment contributions paid in the previous three years. He was also considered for unemployment assistance but his application was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit in his case of £3,720.60 a year.
450.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons in receipt of the prescribed relative allowance; and the number of those who are male and in receipt of this allowance.
The prescribed relative allowance is paid as an increase in pension to certain pensioners who are receiving full-time care and attention from a prescribed relative. It is estimated that there are 2,600 social welfare pensioners currently in receipt of the prescribed relative allowance of whom approximately 750 are male pensioners.