asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an unmarried mother's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
523.
There is no trace in the Department of an application for unmarried mother's allowance from the person concerned. However, a form on which to apply has now been issued to her. On receipt of the completed form her entitlement to the allowance will be investigated and she will be notified of the outcome.
524.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the rate of pay-related benefit to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 was reduced from £32.70 to £5.74 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The claim of the person concerned to unemployment benefit on 10 October 1983 was authorised at the appropriate maximum weekly rate in his case of £74.85. In addition pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £32.45 was authorised from 31 October 1983 to 23 November 1983 when pending clarification of the amount of average net weekly earnings in his case the weekly rate was reduced to £5.77 from 24 November 1983. Following the completion of inquiries the weekly rate of pay-related benefit payable from 31 October 1983 has been determined at 29.95 reduced to £25.96 from 6 April 1984. All arrears of pay-related benefit due amounting to £313.44 will be paid to him this week. Further weekly payments of £100.81 including £25.96 pay-related benefit will continue to be made as they become due.
525.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned has been paid all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 2 April 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
There was a delay in issuing benefit from 28 February 1984 to 5 March 1984 caused by an administrative error. Benefit due was issued on 12 March 1984.
526.
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 was in receipt of unemployment assistance of £82.95 weekly being the appropriate maximum weekly rate in his case until 26 July 1983. Following his failure to fully disclose his means when his case was being reviewed his qualification certificate was revoked and payment of unemployment assistance ceased. He appealed against the decision and the appeals officer also decided that he failed to fully disclose his means.
527.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of a burial grant to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
There is no trace of the receipt of a claim for death grant from the person concerned, whose husband died on 14 November 1983. A claim form has been issued. In order to qualify for the grant, certain insurance conditions must be satisfied by the person concerned since 1 October 1970 — the date the death grant scheme was introduced.
528.
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 was in receipt of unemployment assistance of £27.85 weekly until 14 February 1984 when her application was disallowed for six weeks on the grounds that she was not genuinely seeking work. She appealed against the decision and her case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. She will be advised of his decision in her case in due course. In the meantime weekly payment of unemployment assistance of £27.35 was restored from 23 March 1984 on the expiration of the six weeks period of disallowance and these payments will continue to be made as they become due.
529.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 3 January 1984. However, according to the Department's records he has no employment contributions in the governing contribution year 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983. Inquiries are being made to establish his insurability position in that year. When the inquiries are completed his entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined.
530.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; the particular difficulty in awarding him his social welfare credits; and if he is aware of the length of time which he has now waited for the money which is due to him.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 7 March 1983 and was paid a total of 52 weeks benefit to 7 March 1984.
Payment was temporarily suspended from that date as inquiries into his insurance record were necessary to establish if he was entitled to payment of further benefit. These inquiries have been completed and all benefit due to 2 April 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received has been issued.
531.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a recent claim to unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance which refers to the person named on the details supplied. Further inquiries will be made in the matter if the Deputy will furnish additional information about the claimant.
532.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 March 1984 and has been paid to 2 April 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received. The delay in making the initial payment was caused by an administrative error.
533.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 19 September 1983, the fourth day of incapacity, to 25 January 1984. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
In the meantime, however, notification was received to the effect that the claimant was admitted to hospital on 4 February 1984 and payment was restored from 26 January 1984. Payment was again disallowed from 20 March 1984 following a further examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He was notified of this decision and advised of his right to appeal against the disallowance on 27 March 1984, but has not done so to date.
534.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the rate of blind pension being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been reduced from £56 to £2.
A review of the entitlements of the person concerned revealed that there had been an increase in her means consisting of half the weekly value of her husband's earnings. A question for reduction of her blind pension to the weekly rate of £2.00 with effect from 24 February 1984, the date of the first uncashed order, was therefore referred to the local pension committee for decision. The reduction in the rate of pension has been implemented on a provisional basis pending the committee's decision, and she will have the right to appeal against it.