asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
373.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from self-employment exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance of unemployment assistance but an appeals officer also decided that his means exceeded the statutory limit. He applied to have his means reviewed and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for further investigation. Inquiries have now been completed and the case is in transit to a deciding officer in headquarters for a reassessment of his means on the basis of the report of the social welfare officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the outcome.
374.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who was in receipt of £88 per week disability benefit (PRSI) for three months and who, after regaining his health, attempted to start a business which failed after a further three months, now is in receipt of only £65 per week unemployment assistance; and if he is aware that if the person had not attempted to start a business and had been restored to his unemployment benefit which would have been related to his PRSI record, would be in receipt of £88 instead of £65 per week as at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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 may not exceed 85 per cent of the net average weekly earnings of a claimant.
The person concerned is in receipt of the maximum rate of unemployment benefit payable to him £65.60 weekly. However, the 85 per cent limit applicable to him is £52.46 and as the weekly flat-rate unemployment benefit payable to him exceeds this amount pay-related benefit is not payable to him.
While on disability benefit the person concerned was entitled to flat-rate benefit at a rate of £65.60 a week and pay-related benefit of £23.30 a week. Unlike the 85 per cent wage-stop in the case of persons claiming unemployment benefit where it is related to earnings in the current tax year, in the case of the 80 per cent limit that applies to persons on disability benefit, earnings in a previous income tax year are used. The claimant's level of earnings in the relevant tax year were such that the 80 per cent limit did not affect his rate of benefit.
375.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned exhausted her maximum entitlement of 312 days unemployment benefit on 2 October 1983. To requalify for unemployment benefit she would require to have a minimum of a further 13 weeks of insurable employment for which the appropriate rate of contribution has been paid. Her entitlement to further benefit from 3 October 1983 could not be determined until inquiries to establish the insurability of her part-time employment had been completed. These inquiries have recently been completed and a deciding officer has decided that her part-time employment is insurable for occupational injuries benefit only and does not provide cover for unemployment benefit. It is open to her to appeal against this decision and she may obtain a form for this purpose from her local employment office.
376.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment and pay-related benefits will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The entitlement of the person concerned to flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit could not be determined until inquiries about his availability for work had been completed. The investigations were recently completed and his claim was allowed at flat-rate unemployment benefit £82.50 weekly and pay-related benefit at £14.88 weekly. Arrangements have been made, to pay all arrears due this week less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to him pending the outcome of his unemployment benefit claim and further combined payments at £97.38 weekly will be made as payments become due.
377.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Following a reinvestigation of his means by a social welfare officer the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 4 November 1982 on the grounds that his means, which were derived from benefit from his wife's earnings, exceeded the statutory limit. He did not appeal against this decision and ceased to sign the unemployed register in June 1983. It has been ascertained that he again applied for unemployment assistance at his local office in October 1983. His claim papers were forwarded to headquarters but they were never received having gone astray in postal transit. Arrangements have been made to have duplicate papers prepared after which his case will be investigated by a social welfare officer at the earliest possible date and his entitlement to unemployment assistance determined in the light of his report.
378.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not been paid unemployment benefit at the correct rate, although he has been signing since 12 January 1984; the date on which weekly benefits at the correct rate and all arrears due will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 13 January 1984 and his claim was allowed at £74.85 weekly, being the maximum rate appropriate in his case. His first payments which covered the period up to 25 January 1984 and amounting to £99.81 was made to him on 27 January 1984. Further weekly payments continue to be made as they become due.
379.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the special allowance for old age pensioners over 80 years will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned who is in receipt of a widow's contributory pension has been paid at the over 80 rate since 5 November 1982, the Friday following her 80th birthday on 3 November 1982. At present she is in receipt of £44.20 weekly which is the maximum personal rate payable to a widow over 80 years of age. This will be increased to £47.30 from 6 July next.
380.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the issue of disability payments to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit and submitted one medical certificate only indicating that on 6 December 1983 he was incapable of work. Continuing medical evidence is necessary to establish the duration of incapacity before any payment can be made. He again claimed disability benefit from 16 January 1984 and all benefit payable from 20 January 1984, fourth day of incapacity, to 18 February 1984, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, has been issued.
381.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when renewed unemployment payments will be issued again to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; if he is aware that this person is a married man with six children and is existing under extremely straitened financial conditions; and if he will undertake to have his case finalised as quickly as possible.
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 the disallowance and the appeals officer also decided that by failing to furnish details of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He applied for a reinvestigation of his means on 14 December 1983 and his case has been referred to the social welfare officer for inquiries. His means will be reviewed in the light of the report and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly. In the meantime he is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance claim.
382.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason greatly reduced rates of social welfare payments are being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Longford; if he is fully aware of the financial and social commitments of this family and that the person did not receive an appeal form; and if he will arrange for a form to be issued immediately and to have the case carefully reviewed.
The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment assistance since 1973. In October 1983 his case was sent to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation. Following the completion of inquiries his means were reassessed at £50 a week, derived from land. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £16.90 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £66.90 less means £50 and payments continue to be made to him as they become due. He appealed against this decision and completed an appeal form on 28 November 1983. Following inquiries an appeals officer also determined his means at £50 a week. He was notified accordingly on 4 January 1984.
383.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the decision to stop the payment of benefits to a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will take account of the very valid points put forward on the appeal form.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 23 November 1983 on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed and the case has been returned to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries. When these inquiries are completed the case will be submitted to an appeals officer and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
384.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for a further appeal on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
Availability for work is a condition of entitlement to unemployment benefit and to fulfil this condition a claimant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 30 November 1983 but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance and she attended an oral hearing of her appeal on 30 January 1984. The appeals officer also decided that she was not available for work and she was notified of this decision on 2 February 1984. She continues to sign the unemployment register and her entitlement is at present being reviewed in the light of her availability for employment from 31 January 1984.
385.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have an appeal case held for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned is a married woman whose entitlement to unemployment benefit expired on 26 January 1984 when she exhausted the maximum period of unemployment benefit payable to her, 312 days. She has no requalifying contributions paid and accordingly her claim was disallowed. If she wishes to appeal against the disallowance of her claim a form for this purpose may be obtained from her local office.
386.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath has not been allowed to continue signing for credits even though she has submitted a satisfactory explanation; and if he will review the case in the light of that explanation.
Entitlement to unemployment credits is subject to the condition that a claimant must be fully available for and genuinely seeking work. In the course of inquiries she advised her local office that she was available for part-time work only and that she had made no specific efforts to find employment. Her unemployment benefit claim was disallowed with effect from 6 December 1983. She has appealed against the disallowance of her claim and arrangements are being made to have her case heard at the earliest opportunity. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
387.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will initiate a change in the regulation whereby unemployment benefit paid to short-time workers from local authorities and the Office of Public Works can be transferred to the Department of the Environment and the Office of Public Works so that this money can be used to keep those workers in employment.
The unemployment benefit scheme is a statutory scheme to provide income for insured persons during periods of unemployment. It is part of the social insurance system which is financed mainly by employers and employees with a residual contribution by the Exchequer. The Social Insurance Fund has specific functions and the income of the fund cannot be used for purposes other than those contained in the legislation.
The funds to be provided to local authorities and the Office of the Public Works are determined in a different context and subject to available resources. Deficiencies in the funds available to these organisations are matters for consideration by the agencies directly concerned. The use of the social insurance funds in the manner proposed would involve a major change in the role of the fund and there are no plans at present for the fund to take over functions which are the responsibility of other agencies.