asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
406.
The entitlement to unemployment benefit from 3 January 1984 of the person concerned could not be determined until inquiries to establish why she had left her employment and if she was capable of, available for and genuinely seeking work, had been completed.
These inquiries have recently been completed and her claim has been allowed at the maximum weekly rate of £34.80. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week. Further payments will continue as they become due.
407.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a free electricity allowance will be granted to an old age pensioner (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if so, when.
The application for a free electricity allowance from the person concerned has been approved and the ESB has confirmed that the allowance will be applied to his electricity account from the February/March 1984 billing period onwards.
408.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when invalidity benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The regulations provide that the claimant, apart from satisfying the contribution conditions, must be regarded as permanently incapable of work, in order to qualify for invalidity pension.
The person concerned was examined on 31 January 1984 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was not permanently incapable of work and asked to have him referred again for a further examination in six months' time. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of this further examination.
In the meantime, he continues to receive disability benefit at the maximum rate of £65.60 appropriate to a married man who has one qualified child.
409.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when invalidity benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 8 October 1976, and payment is being made at regular weekly intervals.
Invalidity pension is payable in place of disability benefit to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. In this connection, arrangements are being made to have him examined by a medical referee. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
410.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting a contributory old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
There is no record of receipt of either an old age contributory pension or retirement pension claim from the person concerned. The Department's records show that he reached age 65 on 25 November 1983 and he should, therefore, if he has retired from work, submit a retirement pension claim as quickly as possible. A claim form has been sent to him for this purpose. The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance.
411.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned payment was disallowed from 7 September 1983 on the grounds that by failing to furnish particulars of his means he had failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance of unemployment assistance and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer also decided that by failing to furnish particulars of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.
If the person concerned is now prepared to co-operate with the social welfare officer in the investigation of his means his case will be reviewed if he notifies his local office.
412.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned does not fulfil the contribution condition for unemployment benefit. He claimed unemployment assistance but his claim 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 from 28 December 1983.
He appealed against the disallowance of his claim and his case has been referred again to a social welfare officer to afford him another opportunity to disclose full details of his means. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the outcome of the inquiries. In the meantime he is in receipt of a weekly supplementary welfare allowance.
413.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 18 February 1982 to 29 December 1983 when payment was suspended as medical evidence of incapacity beyond that date was not received in the Department. The necessary medical evidence has since been received and all benefit due has been paid to date.
414.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and when payment will be made.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 30 January 1984. There was a delay in issuing payment, however, as it was discovered that disability benefit was already in payment under the RSI number quoted by the claimant to a person of the same name.
The matter has been rectified and all disability benefit due from 2 February 1984, fourth day of incapacity, to 27 February 1984, date of latest medical certificate received, has been issued. The person concerned is also being paid pay-related benefit from 20 February 1984, 19th day of incapacity.
415.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance payments will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 2 December 1983 and he is being paid at £31.25 a week being the appropriate maximum rate, £36.60 less means of £5.35 previously assessed against him.
He applied for a review of his means and the case has been referred to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation. Inquiries are still being made in the case and when they are completed his means will be reviewed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
416.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be given in respect of an application for a contributory old age pension made by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
A claim for retirement pension was received from the person concerned on 1 February 1984. He has been awarded this pension with effect from 3 November 1983 at the rate appropriate to his yearly average of 39 contributions calculated on the basis of his total of 1,079 contributions from the beginning of the 1956 contribution year, in which he entered into insurance under the Social Welfare Acts, to 5 April 1983.
Arrangements are being made to withdraw his present unemployment assistance claim and to issue his retirement pension book to the designated post office for collection by him. The arrears of retirement pension, less the amount of unemployment assistance paid to him since 3 November 1983 will be sent direct to him by payable order.