asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons small farmers' unemployment assistance was removed from a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if a social welfare officer will examine the person's means with a view to having his assistance continued.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
426.
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 disallowance of his claim and the appeals officer also deemed his means to be in excess of the statutory limit. He was notified accordingly on 28 February 1984.
427.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review sympathetically an application for a free electricity allowance from a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
One of the conditions for receipt of a free electricity allowance is that the applicant must be living alone or if living with another person the latter must be an excepted person for the purposes of the scheme. The person concerned is not entitled to a free electricity allowance as his son, who is residing with him, is not a person who comes within the excepted categories for satisfying the "living alone" conditions of the scheme.
428.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason his Department is seeking repayment of one month's children's allowance from a person (details supplied) in County Wexford as she was entitled to payment for that month.
The claimant in this case was in receipt of allowance in respect of her daughter on the grounds that she was serving an apprenticeship. Payment in respect of apprentices was discontinued from 1 July, 1983 and as the claimant received payment for that month she was overpaid £11.25. She was, therefore, requested to refund this amount to the Department.
429.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an invalidity pension will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if so, when.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 19 February 1981 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.
430.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be increased in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £24.90 weekly derived from capital and from the value of board and lodging on his parent's holding. Accordingly, he was entitled to unemployment assistance at the rate of £3.10 per week being the maximum rate payable £28.00 less £24.90 from 23 December, 1983 and all arrears of unemployment assistance due to him were paid on 21 February, 1984. He recently appealed at his local office against the means assessed and arrangements are being made to submit his case to an appeals officer. His means will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
431.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance for five weeks will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
Availability for work is a condition of entitlement to unemployment assistance and to fulfil this condition an applicant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking employment. The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance each week but was ill for the period 17 January 1984 to 12 February 1984 and claimed disability benefit. However, as he had less than the required 26 contributions paid, he did not qualify for payment. He then requested permission to sign back the unemployment register for the period of his illness but was refused on the grounds that he was not capable of work for this period.
Payment of unemployment assistance has been restored from 13 February 1984 at £66.90 per week.
432.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason reduced rates of unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit are being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance at £60.15 weekly from the commencement of his claim. A new benefit year commenced on 2 January 1984 and as he satisfied the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit from that date, his claim was allowed at the weekly rate of £82.50 and weekly payments are being made to him as they become due. This is the maximum amount of flat-rate benefit applicable in his case. He has been asked to furnish details of his earnings from 6 April 1983 to 29 November 1983 and when he does so, his entitlement to pay-related benefit with his flat-rate unemployment benefit will be determined.
433.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons unemployment assistance of only £54 per week is being paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6 who has three dependent children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £55.15 being the appropriate maximum rate £75.10 less means £19.95. He appealed against the assessment of his means and the papers have been returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries are completed, the case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
434.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefits at the correct rate have not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway who was on short time work from November 1982 to March 1983; the reason his disability benefit claim has not been paid; the reason he has not been paid while his colleagues have; the date on which he will be paid; the amount that will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the claimant is available for and genuinely seeking employment. In order to prove unemployment, a claimant must sign the unemployed register. The Department have no record of proved unemployment for the person concerned in the period 17 November 1982 to 5 January 1983. His claim to unemployment benefit in the period from 6 January 1983 to 11 March 1983 was allowed at the maximum rate of £31.65 weekly. Pay-related benefit at £37.62 per week was authorised from 2 February 1983.
The person concerned again claimed unemployment benefit from 26 December 1983 to 12 February 1984 and his claim was authorised at £34.80, being the rate appropriate to this case. He also claimed disability benefit from 2 June 1983 to 11 June 1983 but was not paid benefit due to an administrative error. A cheque for all benefit due in respect of that claim has now been issued.
435.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the long delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and when she will receive payment.
The entitlement to unemployment assistance of the person concerned could not be determined until the investigation of her means was completed. Following the completion of inquiries she was assessed with means at £12.80 derived from the value of board and lodging on her parents holding with effect from 15 December 1983. She is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £15.20 being the maximum rate payable to her £28.00 less £12.80 and arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week.
436.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance at the maximum rate will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following a reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were reassessed at £23.05 weekly derived from the profit from his land. Accordingly he was entitled to unemployment assistance at the rate of £27.70 from 14 December 1983 being the maximum rate payable £50.75 less £23.05 means. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and an appeals officer also assessed his means at £23.05 weekly.
Weekly payments of £27.70 continue to be made as they become due.
437.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance at the maximum rate under the small farmers' scheme will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following a re-investigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were reassessed at £65.10 weekly derived from the profit from his land and from capital. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £8.50 from 28 December 1983 and weekly payments are being made as they become due. It is open to him to appeal against the amount of means assessed against him. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
438.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 8 December 1982 on the grounds that he failed to co-operate with the social welfare officer during the investigation of his means. The appeals officer also considered that as he had failed to disclose his means, he was not entitled to payment.
He recently re-applied for an investigation of his means and the case has been referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the investigation.
439.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 3 January 1984 and the 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.
440.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal against the withdrawal of disability benefit since October 1983 will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned was disallowed payment of disability benefit from 28 October 1983 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
She appealed against the disallowance and was examined on 20 December 1983 by a different medical referee who also considered her to be capable of work.
Her case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of her claim at the earliest possible date.
441.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 17 June 1982 to 20 November 1982 and from 14 January 1983 to 8 August 1983. The two periods represent a total of 52 weeks for which benefit was paid. Payment ceased after 8 August 1983 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.
In order to requalify for payment of benefit he would require a further 13 weeks employment for which the appropriate contributions have been paid.
The claimant indicated that he was working in France for a period of time and inquiries are being made concerning this employment. When the inquiries are completed his claim for arrears of benefit will be reviewed.
442.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an increase in pension has not been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Due to a clerical error, the additional allowance payable at age 80 did not issue in this case. The appropriate supplementary pension book and arrears due have now been issued.
443.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to a free electricity allowance.
The person concerned had been in receipt of a free electricity allowance. His son came to reside with him and submitted two separate applications for a free electricity allowance, quoting on the first one his father's ESB account number and on the second, his own account number. The son's application was approved and his father's allowance was terminated.
Recent inquiries have confirmed the entitlement of the person concerned and the ESB has been instructed to restore the allowance in his case from the date of termination.
444.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension book will be returned to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned was requested on 7 February 1984 to return his pension book to the Department when it came to light that the pension book was at the incorrect rate.
The book was received in the Department on 14 February 1984 and a replacement book was forwarded to him on 15 February 1984.
445.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid on a regular basis to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 16 December 1983 and was paid from 20 December 1983, fourth day of incapacity. Payment is issued on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity in the Department and on this basis all disability benefit due to 24 February 1984, date of the latest medical evidence received, has been issued.
He is also in receipt of pay-related benefit at £37.85 per week from 6 January 1984, nineteenth day of incapacity.
446.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
Following the completion of investigations by a social welfare officer, the person concerned was assessed with means at £0.25 weekly, derived from the value of board and lodging in his parent's home.
He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £29.15 weekly and all arrears due were paid to him last week.
Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
447.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the result of an appeal for unemployment benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 2 December 1983 but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment.
She has appealed against the disallowance and arrangements have been made to have her case determined by an appeals officer at the earliest opportunity. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
448.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons a decision has not been made on an application for unemployment assistance by a person (details supplied) in County Laois, in view of the fact that he is a widower with five children.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until inquiries about his means had been completed. The inquiries were recently completed following which he was assessed with £1.90 means, derived from land.
He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £61.10 weekly being the maximum rate payable £63.00 less £1.90 means. Weekly payment commenced to be made to him last week. He was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance claim and when the amount to be recouped to his local health board is known the balance of any arrears due to him will be paid.
449.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension was refused to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will reconsider the position because of the limited means of this family.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 10 January 1984 that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as she does not fulfil the statutory condition as to means. Her means, consisting of half the weekly value of her husband's pension from the Department of Education and capital are in excess of the statutory limit of £42 per week.
450.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 who has been refused unemployment benefit.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 8 August 1983 but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 6 December 1983. The appeals officer also decided that she was not available for employment.
She again claimed unemployment benefit on 29 December 1983 and a deciding officer was satisfied that she fulfilled the conditions for unemployment benefit from that date and her case was allowed. Combined payments of flat rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit at £40.60 weekly are being made to her as they become due.
451.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim to unemployment benefit or assistance which refers to the person named in the details supplied.
Further inquiries in the matter will be made if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the claim of the person concerned to be identified.
452.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when small holders unemployment assistance at the maximum rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned applied to have his means reviewed on 2 December 1983. Following reinvestigation by a social welfare officer the assessment of his means derived from the profit from land was increased to £61.50 weekly with effect from 7 March 1984.
He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment asistance at £12.10 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £73.60 less £61.50 means and weekly payments will 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 and to have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
453.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance at the maximum rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance at £18.35 weekly, which is the maximum rate payable to him £28.00 less means £9.65, derived from the value of board and lodgings on his father's holding.
He recently obtained an application form at his local office for the purpose of having his means reinvestigated. When he returns this form his case will be referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the report.
454.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from land and capital exceeded the statutory limit.
He has appealed against this decision and the case has been submitted to an appeals officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
455.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has now been paid all benefit due to 29 February 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
456.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's contributory pension at the rate of £50.40 per week with effect from 2 December 1983. This is the rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years with one qualified child where the yearly average number of insurance contributions, based on her late husband's record since his date of entry into insurance, was 40. For pension at the maximum rate (in her case £51.50) an average of 48 or more contributions is required.
A pension order book with orders payable from 2 March 1984 has been sent to the local post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. Arrears of pension from 2 December 1983 to 1 March 1984, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to her by the Southern Health Board, will be issued to her shortly by means of a payable order.
457.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the correct rate of old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The latest assessment of his means, comprising half the weekly value of a holding and capital, entitle the person concerned to an old age pension of £36.20 a week. He was overpaid pension in the period from 24 January 1980 to 17 June 1983 due to the concealment of means and the amount overpaid is being recovered by deduction from his current entitlement. When the overpayment is fully recovered these deductions will cease. Pension at the rate of £30.20 a week is being paid in this case at present.
458.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 29 January 1982 and all payment due to 22 February 1984, the date of the latest medical certificates received, has been issued. Payment was temporarily suspended from 2 February 1984 pending investigations into her insurance record for 1982-83, the contribution year on which her entitlement to benefit is based from that date.
459.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the long delay in holding an oral hearing on an appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry against the decision to reduce the rate of unemployment assistance being paid to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and following the completion of additional inquiries by a social welfare officer his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer did not consider an oral hearing of the case was necessary and it was decided summarily on 17 February 1984. The person concerned was assessed with means of £42.30 weekly derived from the profit from land and he was notified of the decision on 22 February 1984. Weekly payments of unemployment assistance at £31.30 continue to be made to him as they become due.
460.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The entitlement of the person concerned to pay-related benefit with his flat-rate unemployment benefit could not be determined until inquiries to establish the amount of his reckonable earnings during the relevant income tax period 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982 had been made. These inquiries were recently completed and his entitlement to pay-related benefit has been determined. The rate of pay-related benefit payable to him is limited to 85 per cent of his average net weekly earnings which in his case amounts to £99.57. He is in receipt of flat-rate unemployment benefit at £97.80 and accordingly the weekly rate of pay-related benefit payable to him is £1.77. The arrears of pay-related benefit due will be paid this week and further combined payments of unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit at £99.57 will be made as weekly payments become due.
461.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 12 October 1983 on the grounds that his means derived from self-employment exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer. In the meantime he is in receipt of supplementary allowance pending the outcome of his appeal.
462.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as she applied last October.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 25 October 1983, but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she had insufficient contributions during the governing contribution period 6 April 1981 to 5 April 1982. She continued to sign the unemployment register for credited contributions.
Her entitlement to unemployment benefit was reviewed in the light of her availability for employment from the commencement of the new benefit year on 2 January 1984. Her claim was disallowed from this date on the grounds that she was not available for work. It is open to her to appeal against the disallowance of her claim and she may obtain a form for this purpose from her local employment office.
463.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as he is awaiting payment since October 1983.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim to unemployment benefit which refers to the person named in the details supplied. Further inquiries in the matter will be made if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the claim to the person concerned to be identified.
464.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the means being assessed against a person (details supplied) in County Limerick as he has recently been refused unemployment assistance.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that the means assessed against him derived from the profit from his land exceeded the statutory limit of £4,053.40 per annum in his case.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer also decided that this means exceeded the statutory limit. However, it was ascertained that the appellant wished to furnish further details about his means in support of contentions on which he based his appeal. The appeals officer instructed that the case be referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries are completed, the case will again be submitted to the appeals officer for reconsideration of his decision and the entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome.
465.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision on an appeal against a decision to reduce unemployment assistance will be made for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was furnished with an appeal application form to enable him to appeal against the amount of means assessed against him but he has not returned it to date. When he does so his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of his decision. In the meantime unemployment assistance continues to be paid to him at £27.90 weekly being the maximum rate £73.60 less £45.70 means.
466.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an appeal against a reduction of unemployment assistance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Following a reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were reassessed at £24.35 per week from 21 September 1983 derived from benefit from his wife's earnings and board and lodging on his father's holding.
He reapplied in October 1983 to have his means reassessed as his wife had ceased working. Following further investigations his means derived from the value of board and lodging on his father's holding were reduced to £3.80 per week with effect from 10 October 1983. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £46.95 weekly from 10 October 1983. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week and further payments will be made as weekly payments become due.
467.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Donegal who has been on sick leave for several weeks has been unable to obtain disability allowance as the local employment exchange had no record of her PRSI payments being forwarded; and the steps that are planned to ensure that the PRSI contributions for other employees of a firm (details supplied) in County Donegal are put in order.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 6 January 1984 and all disability benefit due from 10 January 1984, fourth day of incapacity, to 2 March 1984, date of the latest medical evidence received, has now been issued. Supplementary welfare allowance paid to her during the period of her claim has been deducted from benefit due. Her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and payment due, if any, will issue on completion of the investigations.
Following receipt of the claim the question of non-payment of PRSI contributions by the claimant's employer was investigated by an outdoor officer of the Department. The rights of the employees of the firm concerned are not adversely affected as the contributions due have been treated as paid pending their collection.
468.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit was disallowed for a period for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary as the reason given was that he was not available for work but this is not true as he and other workers have been dismissed by their employers and their union advised them that they had an excellent chance of getting back their jobs and for this reason they did not enrol with the National Manpower Services.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that to be available for work a claimant must be genuinely seeking employment.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 6 April 1983. He was paid the appropriate rate of unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit from that date. His claim was disallowed from 14 July 1983 to 13 September 1983 on the grounds that he was not available for employment as he had failed to attend for interview at the National Manpower Office with a view to securing employment. He appealed against the disallowance and an appeals officer also decided that he was not available for work.
Weekly payments were resumed from 14 September 1983 and are continuing to be made as they become due.
469.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution condition for entitlement to unemployment benefit during the relevant contribution period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983.
He claimed unemployment assistance but following an investigation of his case by a social welfare officer his claim was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit.
It is open to him to appeal against the amount of means assessed against him. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
470.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
A payable order for the arrears in question covering the period from 23 September 1983 to 1 December 1983 and amounting to £515.20 was sent to the person concerned on 15 February 1984. The actual amount of arrears due to her was £631 but a deduction of £115.80 was made in respect of unemployment assistance paid to her for six weeks after her husband's death on 20 September 1983.
471.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance at the maximum rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as he is in poor financial circumstances.
The application of the person concerned for unemployment assistance on 12 December 1983 was authorised at £14.15 per week being the appropriate maximum rate in his case £28 less means £13.85 derived from self-employment as a jarvey. He appealed against the assessment of his means and his claim has been referred back to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. On completion of these inquiries his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
472.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is being paid at such irregular intervals to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and when payment will be regularised.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 26 December 1983 and has been paid to 18 February 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the South-Eastern Health Board. The claim was not received in the Department until 10 January 1984 and the initial payments were affected by the adjustments necessary due to the fact that the claimant was receiving supplementary welfare allowance from the health board. Future payments will be issued on receipt in the Department of medical evidence of incapacity for work.
473.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary whose employment ended on 20 January 1984; when it will be paid to him; the amount that will be paid; and the amount of retrospective payments that will be made.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 23 January 1984. Following inquiries to ascertain his contribution record, his claim was allowed at £34.80 weekly, being the maximum flat-rate unemployment benefit in his case from 23 January 1984 and pay-related benefit of £20.12 weekly from 13 February 1984. He is a postal claimant and an order for £160.24 was issued to him on 23 February 1984 for encashment at his local post office, which included arrears of £105.32. Further weekly payments are being made as they become due.
474.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
One of the conditions for receipt of a free electricity allowance is that the applicant must be living alone or if living with another person the latter must be an excepted person for the purpose of the scheme. The person concerned is living with her son who is not an excepted person. The son is in receipt of unemployment benefit on the basis that he is available for full-time employment. He is not for this reason an excepted person for the purposes of the free electricity scheme and the person concerned does not satisfy the conditions for receipt of an allowance.
475.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 22 October 1983. He is not qualified for benefit as he had less than the required minimun of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1981-82 and 1982-83 the contribution years governing his claim.
476.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit payments and pay-related benefit payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit could not be determined until inquiries to establish that he fulfilled the condition of being fully available for work had been completed. The investigations were recently completed and his claim has been allowed at the maximun flat-rate of unemployment benefit £34.80 with pay-related benefit at £0.52 weekly. All arrears due were paid last week and further combined payments at £35.32 will be made as they become due.
477.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
All disability benefit due from 6 January 1984, fourth day of incapacity, to 28 February 1984, date of latest medical certificate received, was issued on 2 March 1984.
478.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if payments of a non-contributory widow's pension will be increased for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Following a re-investigation of her circumstances in June 1983 the weekly rate of widow's non-contributory pension payable to the person concerned was reduced to £20.60. This is the rate of pension payable to a widow over 66 years of age with no qualified children whose weekly means exceed £22 but do not exceed £24. Her means, derived from a holding of land and a capital sum, were assessed at £23.12 per week. She is, in addition to her pension, receiving a living alone allowance of £3 per week. She appealed against the decision reducing her rate of pension but the decision was upheld by an appeals officer who had before him all relevant facts concerning her interest in the holding and the quality of the land. The appeals officer's decision which was conveyed to the claimant on 17 January 1984 is final and conclusive and can only be reviewed if there should be a change in her circumstances.
479.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from land and capital exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance of his claim but the appeals officer also decided that his means exceeded the statutory limit.
480.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in dealing with a widow's pension application made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick and when a decision will be conveyed to her.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at the rate of £52.55 per week with effect from 30 December 1983. This is the rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years of age with two qualified children and whose weekly means exceed £10 but do not exceed £12. Her means derived from a two-thirds share in the profits from a holding were assessed at £11.07 per week. In calculating her means a deduction of £6 per week per qualified child was allowed. Her husband who died on 14 November 1983 had been in receipt of old age non-contributory pension of £78.20 per week which included an increase in respect of his wife and two qualified children and payment of this pension was continued for six weeks after his death, in place of widow's pension. One of the children reached the age of 18 years on 27 January 1984 and as she is not still receiving full-time education by day she ceased to be a qualified child with effect from that date. The rate of pension payable was accordingly reduced from that date to £35.70 per week in respect of the pensioner and one qualified child, based on weekly means exceeding £16 but not exceeding £18.
A pension order book payable for 27 January 1984 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. The arrears of pension for the period from 30 December 1983 to 26 January 1984 will be paid direct to her by payable order within the next few days.
The claim to pension in this case was made on 23 November 1983 and it was necessary before the pension could be awarded to investigate fully the widow's means. This required a visit to her by a local officer of the Department.
481.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the means assessed against a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 22 February 1984 on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit. He indicated his intention to appeal against the decision and obtained a form for this purpose at his local office. He has not so far returned the form but when he does his case will be referred to an appeals officer and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
482.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position in regard to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who had his farmers unemployment assistance withdrawn from him last July and whose appeal against the decision is with the Department for consideration since last September.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance with means assessed at £0.30 derived from the value of board and lodging on his mother's holding. In the course of inquiries he advised his local office that he was not available for work outside his mother's holding. His claim was disallowed from 24 August 1983 on the grounds that he did not satisfy the condition for receipt of unemployment assistance of being fully available for work.
He appealed against the disallowance of his claim on 10 October 1983 but his appeal was inadvertently mislaid. The error in filing was recently corrected and arrangements are being made to have his 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.
483.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing an old age pension application made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; when a decision will be made on her application; and whether or not the pension officer has visited her.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated and referred to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of pension was not recommended by the social welfare officer for the period 25 October 1983 to 13 January 1984 as the claimant's means consisting of the weekly value of a holding were in excess of the statutory limit of £42 per week. However, payment of pension was recommended at the maximum weekly rate of £38.60 from 14 January 1984, the date of transfer of the holding. A pension book payable from 20 January 1984 issued to the person concerned on 2 March 1984.
Submission of the claim to the committee was deferred in this case pending receipt of satisfactory evidence of age and a copy of a deed of assignment which was drawn up in respect of the holding.