asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in making a decision on an application for invalidity pension made by a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
533.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 13 October 1980 and payment is 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. Arrangements are being made to have him examined by a medical referee on 8 May 1984. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
534.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals 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.
535.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment on medical certificates submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The person concerned was paid occupational injury benefit from 10 September 1983 to 3 March 1984 when his entitlement to that benefit ceased. His claim was then treated as a claim to disability benefit from 5 March 1984. He was not initially qualified for payment, as investigations were necessary regarding his 1982-83 insurance record, on which his entitlement to benefit was based.
While his claim was being processed, he was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance and before payment of disability benefit could be issued, it was necessary to make inquiries from the health board to establish the amounts of benefit due for refund. All benefit, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the health board, payable to 23 April 1984, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, has been issued.
536.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite approval of contributory widows pension to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at the rate of £53.40 per week with effect from 9 September 1983, i.e., the Friday following the death of her husband. This is the rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years of age with three qualified children and whose weekly means exceed £20 but do not exceed £22. Her means derived from a two-thirds share in the profits from a holding were assessed at £20.46 per week. In calculating her means a deduction of £6 per week for each qualified child was allowed.
One of the children reached 18 years on 15 February 1984 and in the absence of evidence to show that she is receiving full-time education by day she ceased to be regarded as a qualified child from that date. The rate of pension payable was reduced accordingly to £36.55 in respect of the pensioner and two qualified children, based on weekly means of £26.46, i.e., exceeding £26 but not exceeding £28. If the oldest child is still in full-time education, the appropriate form which has been sent to the person concerned should be certified by the school authorities and returned to the Department. Payment in respect of that child will then be reviewed.
A pension order book payable from 27 April 1984 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by the claimant, and she has been notified accordingly. The arrears of pension for the period from 9 September 1983 to 26 April 1984, less the amount of unemployment assistance in respect of her late husband paid to her for six weeks after his death, will be sent direct to her by payable order shortly.
With regard to the claim for a contributory pension the qualifying conditions for receipt of this pension require that there must be at least 156 weeks of insurable employment in respect of which the appropriate contributions have been paid and at least 39 contributions in either the last three or five contribution years prior to the death of the husband. Alternatively, the latter condition may be satisfied if there is a yearly average of at least 24 contributions since entry into insurance. These conditions may be satisfied on the insurance of the late husband or on that of the widow herself.
The combined contribution record under the insurance numbers quoted by the Deputy and under the RSI number of the late husband when calculated from his first date of entry into insurance in 1944 up to the last contribution paid for him in 1974, show a total of only 131 paid contributions.
The insurance record of the widow herself gives a total of 488 contributions between her date of entry into insurance in 1949 and 1957. No contributions are recorded in respect of her after 1957. This figure of 488 gives her an average of only 14 when calculated over the 34 year period, from 1949-50 to 1982-83.
The statutory contribution conditions are therefore not met on either the late husband's or the widow's own insurance. The widow's claim to contributory pension has therefore been refused and she has been notified to this effect.
537.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite a decision regarding the reduction in the unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned applied for a review of the means assessed against him and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. Inquiries are still being made in the matter but it is expected that they will be completed shortly, after which his means will be re-assessed by a deciding officer and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
He continues to be paid unemployment assistance at £21.90 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £50.75 less £28.85 means, pending the review of his means assessment.
538.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when notification of an award of old age pension will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath as all documents have been forwarded since February.
The person concerned reached age 66 on 13 March 1984 and claimed an old age contributory pension on 27 March 1984. He has been awarded the pension at the maximum rate with effect from 16 March 1984. An old age contributory pension book containing orders payable from 27 April 1984 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by him and he has been notified accordingly.
Arrears of pension for the period 16 March 1984 to 26 April 1984 will be issued direct to him by payable order within the next few days.