asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
452.
Following the completion of inquiries to establish his contribution record the claim of the person concerned to unemployment benefit on 14 November 1983 has been authorised at the appropriate rate in his case of £33.55 a week. In the meantime he had been paid unemployment assistance at the appropriate maximum weekly rate in his case of £28.00. All arrears of unemployment benefit less the amount of unemployment assistance he received will be paid to him this week. Further weekly payments of £33.55 will continue to be made as they become due.
453.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has been refused to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The claim of the person concerned to unemployment benefit on 14 November 1983 was disallowed on the grounds that he did not satisfy the contribution conditions. His application for unemployment assistance has been authorised from 14 November 1983 at £28.00 a week being the appropriate maximum rate in his case. All arrears due will be paid to him this week. Weekly payments of £28.00 will continue to be made as they become due.
454.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat rate unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the weekly sum of pay related benefit, flat rate unemployment benefit and income tax rebate paid may not exceed 85 per cent of the net average weekly earnings of a claimant.
The 85 per cent limit applicable to the person concerned is £79.08 weekly. He is, however, in receipt of flat rate unemployment benefit at £82.50 weekly and as this amount exceeds the 85 per cent limit in his case, he is not entitled to pay related benefit.
455.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid at regular intervals to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when it will be paid; and the amount that will be paid.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 26 February 1983 and was paid to 31 December 1983. In the meantime, however, he submitted a final certificate which certified him as fit to resume work on 11 December 1983. He subsequently submitted continuing medical evidence in respect of the same incapacity and payment has been made to date. His current weekly rate of benefit is £34.80, the maximum rate payable to a single person.
456.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The claim of the person concerned to unemployment benefit on 9 January 1984 has been authorised at the appropriate maximum rate in his case of £74.85 a week. All arrears due have been paid and further payments of £74.85 weekly will continue to be made as they become due.
457.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the rate of disability benefit being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned has been paid disability benefit from 2 June 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to date. His current rate of benefit is £82.50, the maximum rate payable to a married man with three dependent children. His entitlement to pay-related benefit has ceased since 5 April 1982.
458.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will change the regulations in relation to self-employed persons who suddenly become unemployed due to various reasons arising from the present recession so that unemployment assistance can be paid to them in the same way as to former employees, without reference to their income over the previous 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Income in cash is one of the items which must be taken into account in assessing the means of any applicant for unemployment assistance. The income to be taken into account is the income which the person may reasonably expect to receive in the year succeeding his claim. This applies to both employees and the self-employed. However, unemployment for an employee involves the complete cessation of earnings and the level of his previous earnings cannot therefore give any indication of his likely income in the future.
In the case of self-employed people, however, where there is no other way of ascertaining his likely cash income, the income actually received by him in the previous year may be taken into account. Where this is done, regard is had to all the circumstances and in particular to the availability or otherwise of opportunities for self-employment in the case. If an applicant is assessed with income in excess of what he actually earns it is open to him to apply for a review of his means assessment.
It is considered that the present method of assessing means for unemployment assistance is a reasonable one and it is not considered that any change is necessary in the method of assessment of the means of persons engaged in self-employment.
459.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 29 December 1983, and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries into his means. When these inquiries are completed his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the means assessed against him.
460.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the payment of unemployment benefit at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The application of the person concerned for unemployment assistance on 3 January 1984 was authorised at £22.25 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate in his case of £63.75 less means £41.50 derived from self-employment as a painter. All arrears due have been paid and weekly payments of £22.25 continue to be made as they become due. If he is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal against the decision. A form on which to appeal may be obtained from his local office.
461.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Following the completion of inquiries to establish that he satisfied the condition of being available for employment the claim of the person concerned to unemployment benefit on 16 December 1983 has been authorised at the maximum weekly rate in his case of £74.85 flat rate unemployment benefit and £9.20 pay-related benefit. All arrears due were issued last week. Further combined weekly payments of £84.05 will continue to be made as they become due.
462.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the payment of a widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at the weekly rate of £7.70 with effect from 14 October 1983, i.e., the Friday following her husband's death on 9 October 1983. This is the rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years with one qualified child whose weekly means exceed £44 but do not exceed £46. Her means, derived from a farm and some capital, have been assessed at £44.68 per week.
A pension order book with orders payable from 16 December 1983 was sent to the designated post office on 6 February 1984 for collection by the claimant and she was notified accordingly. Arrears of pension from 14 October 1983 to 15 December 1983 have been paid direct to her by means of a payable order.
463.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the payment of unemployment benefit from January 1984 to date to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Availability for work is a condition of entitlement to unemployment benefit and to fulfil this condition an applicant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 25 January 1984 and his claim was disallowed on the grounds that he was not available for work or genuinely seeking work. He has been notified of the decision and advised of his right to appeal.
464.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The claim of the person concerned to a deserted wife's payment was received on 5 January 1984 and is at present under investigation by a local officer of the Department. When inquiries are completed and a report received a decision will then be given in the case and the claimant will be notified.
465.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position regarding a dole application by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and the reason for the delay in processing it.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that the means assessed against him, £28.80 weekly, exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him. His means are derived from board and lodging on the holding of an ex-employer. If he is dissatisfied with the means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal and to have his means determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.