asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for payment of unemployment benefit to Bord na Móna workers for the holiday period December 1983 to January 1984 as workers in other employment have now received benefit in similar circumstances.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
552.
The workers concerned are seasonal workers who at the end of each working season are paid an amount in lieu of holidays not taken. These workers in the normal course have an expectation of re-employment and are not regarded as unemployed for any part of the period in respect of which wages, including holiday pay, are paid. Payment of unemployment benefit commences therefore after the end of that period.
The situation is different in cases where workers are laid off in the ordinary way without a definite prospect of further employment the following season. In such cases entitlement to benefit commences immediately on termination of employment and this was the position in the case of the other workers referred to by the Deputy in his question.
The circumstances in the two situations mentioned are not therefore similar and in determining entitlement to benefit account must be taken of the differing circumstances.
553.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an increased rate of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £4.05 being the maximum rate £58.30 less means £54.25. Means are derived from a pension and self-employment as a water rate collector.
He recently appealed and the case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
554.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Louth against the social welfare officer's decision to curtail his unemployment assistance will be decided upon.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £15.00 weekly derived from contributions from parents and relatives. He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £14.40 weekly the maximum rate payable to him £29.40 less £15.00 means.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him. His case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer required further information about his circumstances and the case was returned to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries. These inquiries were recently completed and the case has been referred to the appeals officer for determination. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
555.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. Following the recent completion of inquiries he was assessed with nil means.
He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him £43.80 weekly and arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week. Further payments will be made as weekly payments become due.
556.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow is not in receipt of unemployment benefit, even though he applied three months ago.
Availability for work is a condition of entitlement to unemployment benefit and to fulfil this condition an applicant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking employment.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 24 January 1984 and his claim was disallowed on the grounds that he was not available for work.
He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have his case heard at the earliest opportunity. He again claimed unemployment benefit from 22 February 1984 to 25 April 1984 and made a further claim on 2 May 1984.
Inquiries are being made at present to ascertain whether he satisfies the condition of being available for work during the periods of unemployment after 22 February 1984 and his entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined in the light of the outcome.
557.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Laois is only being paid fifty five pence per week unemployment assistance in view of the fact that he has no other income and is unable to get employment; and when his oral appeal will be held.
The person concerned was assessed with means at £28.85 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in the household in which he resides. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at £0.55 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him as a single man £29.40 less £28.85.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him. His case was referred to an appeals officer who also assessed him with means at £28.85 weekly and he was notified accordingly on 16 April 1984.
He recently applied for a review of his means. His case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation and when inquiries are completed the assessment of his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined accordingly.
558.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Laois is not being paid the maximum rate of pay-related unemployment benefit from 13 February 1984.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 13 February 1984 and payment at the weekly flat-rate of £30.60 was made to her. Following a review of her contribution record it was established that she is qualified for the maximum flat-rate unemployment benefit payable to her £34.80 weekly and adjusting arrears were paid to her last week.
She is also entitled to pay-related benefit at £3.79 weekly and payment at this rate is being made to her from 5 March 1984.
Further combined payments of flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit at £38.59 weekly are being made as they become due.
559.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly for the period 29 December 1983 to 23 February, 1984.
A payable order has been sent to the person concerned for arrears of deserted wife's benefit due to her for the period from 29 December 1983 to 22 February 1984, together with arrears in respect of her son, who is over 18 years of age but still at school, for the period from 27 October 1983 to 7 March 1984.
560.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when injury benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly for the period 18th February, 1984 to 19th March, 1984.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit from 18 February 1984 in respect of an incapacity resulting from an occupational accident on 26 January 1984. Pending the completion of investigations resulting from the accident, disability benefit was allowed on an interim basis from 6 March, the previous certificates having been associated in error with an earlier injury benefit claim in respect of the period from 27 January to 11 February 1984.
Following investigations injury benefit was awarded from 18 February, the first day of certified incapacity and pay-related benefit was also awarded from 10 March, the 19th day of incapacity. Benefit due over and above the disability benefit paid on an interim basis has been issued in respect of the period to 17 March after which she resumed employment.
561.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a reduced amount of unemployment assistance is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will arrange to have his case reinvestigated and the maximum rate of assistance paid.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £58.50 being the maximum rate appropriate to him £66.90 less means £8.40. Means are derived from benefit from his wife's disabled person's maintenance allowance. He appealed and the appeals officer also assessed his means at £8.40 weekly. He recently applied for a review of his means and his case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. When the inquiries are completed, his means and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed.
562.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details on how means were assessed for a person (details supplied) in County Galway whose social welfare assistance has been cancelled; and if he will have his Department's decision reconsidered.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means £29.70 weekly derived from the profit from land and from capital exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him. He recently completed an appeal form at his local office and arrangements are being made to refer the case to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
563.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an appeal against a decision to reduce unemployment benefit in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
An appeals officer assessed the means of the person concerned at £36.00 weekly. His case was subsequently reviewed and following an investigation by a social welfare officer his means were reduced to £25.35 weekly derived from the benefit of residing on his father's holding. He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £32.95 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £58.30 less £25.35. He was advised of his right to appeal against the amount of means assessed against him following the review of his case but to-date he has not done so. If he now wishes to appeal he should complete an appeal application form which may be obtained at his local office and his case will be forwarded to an appeals officer for determination.
564.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid at a more realistic level to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £40.40 weekly derived from the profit from his holding and capital. He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £26.50 weekly being the maximum rate unemployment assistance £66.90 less £40.40 means. 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 assessed him with means at £40.40 weekly and he was notified accordingly.
565.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total amount of disability benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal since 7 September 1983.
566.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payment of occupational injury benefit and arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 565 and 566 together. The person concerned claimed injury benefit from 12 September 1983 in respect of an incapacity which he attributed to an accident at work on 10 April 1983.
Pending the completion of investigations arising from the accident, he was considered for disability benefit on an interim basis. In the absence of any contributions recorded under his RSI number, he failed to satisfy the qualifying contribution conditions.
Following inquiries it was determined that he had 30 employment contributions in the contribution year 1982-83 which qualified him for reduced rate disability benefit from 2 January 1984. Disability benefit amounting to £1,210.40 was awarded to 28 April 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received. Benefit amounting to £700.70 was, however, withheld from this amount and refunded to the North Western Health Board, in respect of supplementary welfare allowance advanced.
Inquiries made from his employer revealed that he had no report of an occupational accident to refer. The case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigations. Inquiries having been completed his claim was rejected on the grounds that an occupational accident could not be confirmed. The claimant has appealed against this decision and he will be advised regarding the outcome of his appeal as soon as possible.
567.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is entitled to payment of a non-contributory old age pension.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigated by the social welfare officer and forwarded to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of pension has not been recommended as his means, consisting of the weekly value of his British retirement pension, exceeded the statutory limit for entitlement to pension.
568.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
There is no record of a claim for disability benefit having been received from the person concerned. If she is ill and incapable of work she should submit medical evidence to this effect and her claim to benefit will be examined.
569.
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 claimed disability benefit from 4 April 1983 and was paid to 3 April 1984. Payment ceased at that date as according to the records of the Department 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. It has since been confirmed by the claimant's employer that he has sufficient contributions paid to entitle him to continuous payment of benefit while he remains incapable of work. Payment has been restored from 4 April 1984 and all benefit payable to 25 April 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received has now issued.
570.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the basis on which means were assessed for a small farmer (details supplied) in County Galway whose social welfare assistance has been cancelled; and if he will reconsider his decision.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means £33.45 weekly derived from the profit from land and from capital exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance applicable in his case. He recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against him. His case is being referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries arising from the statements he made in support of his appeal. When these inquiries are completed, his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination.
571.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when children's allowance will be restored for a person (details supplied) in County Cork as he is still attending school.
A claim for extended children's allowance in respect of the child in question for the period May 1984 to April 1986 was received in my Department on 11 April 1984. The claim was approved on 30 April 1984 and an allowance book payable from May 1984 has been issued to the claimant. The claimant is now in receipt of £33.75 children's allowance per month which is the correct rate for three qualified children.
572.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free telephone rental will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
An application for a free telephone rental allowance from the person concerned was rejected in February 1981, as she did not satisfy the living alone condition of the scheme at that time. Arrangements have been made for a social welfare officer to visit her in order to establish whether she would now qualify for the allowance. She will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
573.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford and if so, when.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until inquiries about his means were completed. The investigations were recently completed and he was assessed with means at £2.50 weekly derived from the benefit of board and lodgings in his parents' home. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £25.50 weekly, £28.00 being the maximum rate payable less means £2.50. All arrears due together with a current week were paid to the applicant last week. Weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
574.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 21 December 1983. He is not qualified for payment as he has not the required minimum of 26 paid or credited contributions in 1981-82 or 1982-83, the contribution years governing his claim. He has no contributions paid or credited since 1977.
The question of determining entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance or disabled person's maintenance allowance is a matter for decision by the appropriate health board. It is understood from the South Eastern Health Board, which is responsible for the administration of these schemes in Co. Wexford, that an application for disabled person's maintenance is being examined at present. The claimant will be advised of the outcome as early as possible.
575.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if payments of prescribed relative's allowance will be reconsidered for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of the fact that she is providing full time care and attention to a pensioner and without whom no such care would be provided.
The application of the person concerned for prescribed relative allowance was disallowed on 17 April 1984 as the conditions of the scheme were not satisfied in her case. The condition which provides that, apart from the prescribed relative, the pensioner must be living alone was not satisfied in her case. If the pensioner feels that as a result of a change in her domestic circumstances she would qualify for the allowance, it is open to her to renew her application.