asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has been refused to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
630.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for work and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 13 February 1984 and her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work. She appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have her case determined by an appeals officer. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
631.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the conditions that a person be fully available for, and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 24 January 1984 and inquiries were necessary to establish if she satisfied the conditions. On completion of these inquiries her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work. She appealed against the decision on 10 May 1984 and she will be notified when a date for her appeal hearing is set.
632.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish full details of her means she failed to show that her means did not exceed the statutory limit. She recently appealed against the decision and the case has been referred again to the social welfare officer for further inquiries and when they are completed the case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination. Her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
633.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if medical care expenses under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 1981, will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as it is owed for some time.
The person concerned claimed the cost of medical care on 7 February 1984 in respect of an incapacity resulting from an occupational accident on 19 December 1983. He also claimed injury benefit. A questionnaire was issued to the claimant on 10 January 1984 in order to determine whether the incapacity resulted from the accident at work. A reminder was issued on 18 April and following receipt of a reply on 25 April the claim to injury benefit was allowed and paid in respect of the period from 19 December 1983 to 4 February 1984. The claim to medical care was also allowed and a cheque in payment has been issued.
634.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason injury benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
The person concerned claimed and was paid injury benefit under the occupational injuries scheme for the period from 3 December 1981 to 2 June 1982 in respect of an occupational accident on 3 December 1981. Following receipt of injury benefit for the maximum period of 26 weeks he has been in receipt of disability benefit since. He was also awarded disablement benefit at the rate appropriate to disablement assessed at 30 per cent for the period from 9 September 1983, three months before the date of his claim. Due to an administrative error he was not advised of his possible entitlement to disablement benefit when he ceased to be entitled to injury benefit. In the circumstances it has been decided to regard the claim to disablement benefit as having been made in time and to apply the award from 4 June 1982. Disablement benefit at the appropriate rate has been paid in respect of the period to 8 September 1983.
635.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position regarding an application for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned applied to have his means assessed for unemployment assistance purposes and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. Following the completion of inquiries he was assessed with means of £38.45 weekly derived from the profit from his land. However, he has not applied for payment of unemployment assistance and has not signed the unemployed register. Should he decide to do so and subject to fulfilling the condition of being unemployed the would be entitled to unemployment assistance at £9.90 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him as a married man £48.35 less means £38.45.
636.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position regarding an application of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly for an allowance in respect of his son as he applied last year.
The person concerned has been awarded children's allowance in respect of his son with effect from 1 October 1983. An allowance book payable from January 1984 has been issued to the claimant's home address. A payable order for the arrears due from October 1983 to December 1983 is in the course of issue.
637.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a free travel pass issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as he is an old age pensioner and returned his travel pass to the Department 12 months ago but it was never returned to him.
A free travel pass was issued in 1977 to the person concerned who was then an invalidity pensioner. A second pass was issued automatically to him in June 1980 when he was awarded an old age pension. When this duplication came to light he was asked to return one of the passes.
In the light of the information furnished by the Deputy, the person concerned has been written to concerning the whereabouts of the second pass. When his reply is received a replacement pass will, if necessary, be issued without delay.
638.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have unemployment assistance payments made to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, as he has made an application and is awaiting a decision from his Department.
Following a review of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were reassessed at £33.85 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his brother's holding. This assessment exceeded the maximum rate payable to him and he was not entitled to payment from 15 February 1984. He appealed against the assessment and the appeals officer also assessed his means at £33.85 weekly. He applied recently for a review of his means and the case has been referred to the social welfare officer. When the investigations are completed the assessment of his means will be reviewed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
639.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny transferred from disability benefit payments to an invalidity pension.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 21 May 1979 to 3 September 1980. He was transferred to invalidity pension with effect from 4 September 1980.
640.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in payment of unemployment assistance alleged to be due to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin for an intermittent period of approximately four weeks in March-April 1984: and if payment will now be sanctioned.
The person concerned is in regular receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £14.25, £52.25 being the maximum rate payable less means £38.00. Means are derived from benefit from his wife's earnings. It has come to light that he failed to claim his child as a dependant for unemployment assistance purposes. Arrangements are being made this week to advise him of his right to do so. When the appropriate forms are completed his claim will be rerated and arrears due paid. In the meantime payments of £14.25 weekly will continue to be made as they fall due.
641.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is entitled to unemployment benefit; and if so when payments will be made.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 4 May 1984. Inquiries were necessary to ascertain that he satisfied the contribution conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit. Those inquiries were recently completed and his claim was allowed at the rate of £74.85 weekly. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week, less supplementary welfare allowance which was paid to him pending a decision on his case.
Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
642.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the maximum rate of non-contributory old age pension is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It has been decided by the local pension committee that the persons concerned are entitled to old age pensions at the weekly rate of £36.60 each. These are the rates of pension to which they are entitled having regard to the assessment of their means consisting of half the weekly value of capital.
Recent representations made on the pensioners behalf have been accepted as appeals against the committee's decisions and the cases have been referred to an appeals officer for determination. The pensioners will be notified of the outcome in the near future.
643.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in Galway as he has been signing the unemployment register since Christmas.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance cannot be determined until inquiries about his means are completed. The social welfare officer made a number of void calls to his home address before being able to interview him and inquiries in the matter will be completed shortly. As soon as these inquiries are completed his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the social welfare officer's report.
644.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for an old age pension from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It was decided by an appeals officer on 9 January 1984 that the person concerned is entitled to old age pension at the weekly rate of £16.45 from 19 May 1983, which increased to £20.60 from 1 July 1983. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means, consisting of the weekly value of a holding.
645.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason small holder's employment assistance has been cancelled for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will consider accepting an appeal from him.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from the profit from his land exceeded the rate payable to him. He recently appealed at his local office against this disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim and arrangements are being made to submit his case to an appeals officer. His case will be determined by an appeals officer as early as possible and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of his decision.
646.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason children's allowance was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed children's allowance on 22 September 1983 in respect of his daughter who reached 16 years of age on 19 June 1983.
Children's allowance at the rate of £11.25 per month was awarded in respect of the child from July 1983. A payable order for £22.50 in respect of payment due for July and August, 1983, was issued to the claimant on 7 November 1983, and was cashed on 15 November 1983. The claimant has been asked to confirm if he received this payable order. Due to a clerical error, however, no allowance book was issued.
An allowance book payable from January 1984 was issued to the claimant on the 8 May 1984 and a payable order at £45.00 in respect of payment due from September 1983 will be issued in due course.
647.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 20 June 1983 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 order that a person may be considered permanently incapable of work, it is necessary for him to, inter alia, have been continuously incapable of work for a period of one year. Therefore, the earliest date on which the claimant can qualify for invalidity pension is 20 June 1984. In addition it is necessary to have him examined by a medical referee for an opinion as to his future capacity for work. Such an examination has been arranged for 22 May 1984.
648.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Galway is in receipt of the full contributory widow's pension.
The person concerned did not qualify for the full contributory widow's pension under Irish legislation because her husband did not have at least 156 paid insurance contributions in this country since his date of entry into insurance. Her husband also had an insurance record in the United Kingdom and, under the provisions of EEC Regulations, she qualified for both United Kingdom widow's benefit and an Irish pro-rata widow's contributory pension.
The current weekly rate of United Kingdom widow's benefit of £34.32 sterling amounts to approximately IR £42.90 and when added to the Irish pro-rata pension of £3.29 per week gives a total of approximately £46.19, subject to exchange fluctuations from week to week. This figure exceeds the maximum rate of contributory widow's pension payable solely under Irish legislation to a widow under 66 with no children, viz. £40.60 per week.
649.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a free electricity allowance will be sanctioned for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
To qualify for a free electricity allowance, the person concerned would need to have reached the age of 66. As she has not reached that age, she does not qualify for the allowance.
650.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit payments are not being made on a regular basis to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit from 14 February 1984 in respect of an incapacity which he attributed to an accident at work on 21 September 1983.
Pending the completion of investigations he was allowed disability benefit on an interim basis and pay-related benefit was also awarded. Payments issued regularly in respect of the period to 16 April. The person concerned had also made a claim for disablement benefit and in connection with this claim he was requested to attend for examination by a medical referee on 12 April 1984 in order that an assessment could be made of his degree of disablement. Inadvertently another examination in connection with his disability benefit payments was arranged for the previous day. He attended this examination and was found to be incapable of work. However, he did not attend for examination on the followlarl ing day and in error his disability benefit was suspended.
Payments have been restored and all disability benefit and pay-related benefit in respect of medical certificates received to date has been paid. Following investigations injury benefit was allowed in respect of the period from 14 February to 20 March, the end of the injury benefit period which is six months from the date of the accident. Injury benefit over and above the disability benefit already paid has been issued. A further medical examination has been arranged for 16 May in connection with his claim to disablement benefit.
651.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in issuing a decision on an appeal for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The appeal of the person concerned against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim on the grounds that his means exceeded the statutory limit was referred to an appeals officer. The appeals officer required further information and the case has again been referred to a social welfare officer for additional inquiries. It is expected that these inquiries will be completed shortly and his case will again be submitted to the appeals officer. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
652.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a widow's pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's contributory pension at the weekly rate of £40.60 with effect from 13 April 1984, the Friday following her husband's death. This is the maximum rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years with no qualified children. It will be increased to £43.45 per week from 6 July 1984. A pension book with orders payable from 13 April 1984 has been sent to the designated post office for collection by the claimant and she has been notified accordingly.
653.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The claim of the person concerned for a deserted wife's payment was disallowed. She appealed against the decision and the appeal is at present with an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing on the case. She will be notified of the date and location of the hearing when the arrangements have been made.
654.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an increased rate of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, as his circumstances have changed dramatically in the recent past.
The case of the person concerned was recently referred to a social welfare officer for a reinvestigation of her means and it is expected that inquiries will be completed shortly. The assessment of her means will then be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to her will be determined accordingly. In the meantime weekly payments of unemployment assistance at £17.30 weekly being the maximum rate payable to her £29.40 less means £12.10 continue to be made to her as they become due.
655.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is in receipt of unemployment benefit will be paid the pay-related portion of his benefit and arrears.
The person concerned was paid flat-rate unemployment benefit on his claim of 20 February 1984. No pay-related benefit was paid pending the outcome of his appeal against a decision disallowing him disability benefit from 18 February 1984. Following an oral hearing of his appeal, the appeals officer decided that the person concerned was incapable of work and entitled to disability benefit from 20 February 1984. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due since 20 February 1984, less unemployment benefit and supplementary welfare allowance paid in resepct of the period from 20 February 1984 was issued to him on 14 May 1984.
656.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It was decided by the local pension committee on 27 April 1984 that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the maximum rate plus adult dependant allowance from 2 February 1984. A supplementary pension book payable from 6 April 1984 has been issued and a payable order covering all the arrears of pension due is being issued separately.
657.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the maximum rate of non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It was decided by the local pension committee on 23 April 1982 that the person concerned is entitled to old age pension from 29 April 1982 at the weekly rate of £30.45, which increased to £34.60 from 1 July 1983. These are the rates of pension to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means, consisting of earnings from unemployment. If he feels his circumstances have changed since than it is open to him to apply for an increase in his pension by notifying the Department to that effect.
658.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry was reduced.
Following a review of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed at £69.25 weekly derived from capital and from the profit from land. This assessment leaves him entitled to payment of unemployment assistance at £4.35 weekly from 25 April 1984 being the appropriate maximum rate payable £73.60 less means of £69.25. He recently appealed against the assessment of means and arrangements are being made to have the case determined by an appeals officer after which his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
659.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry had his unemployment assistance reduced.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance at £48.35 being the maximum rate payable to him. Following a reinvestigation of his case his means were reassessed at £34.75 weekly derived from capital and from the capital value of a house. This assessment leaves him entitled to unemployment assistance at £13.60 from 28 December 1983 increasing to £16.00 from 1 February 1984. Payment of unemployment assistance continues to be made to him as weekly payments become due. He has not appealed against the assessment of means even though he has been advised of his right to do so.
660.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made in relation to an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
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.
661.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Galway is in receipt of the maximum amount of unemployment assistance.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 23 April 1984 and his claim was allowed at the maximum weekly flat rate unemployment benefit of £34.80. In addition, pay-related benefit of £2.65 weekly was authorised from 3 May 1984 and a combined payment of £37.45 was made to him on 11 May 1984. He has accordingly been paid all unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit to which he is entitled and combined weekly payments of £37.45 are continuing to be made to him as they become due.
662.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Galway is in receipt of maximum contributory pension; and if he was entitled to any back money in relation to the same pension.
The person concerned is in receipt of a contributory old age pension since 1 July 1983 at the personal weekly rate of £43.70. This is the rate appropriate to his yearly average of 37 contributions over the period from 4 January 1954 to 5 April 1983. A yearly average of 48 contributions is required to qualify for a contributory old age pension at maximum rate. His wife is in receipt of a non-contributory old age pension at a rate which is higher than the amount of the adult dependant's allowance to which he would otherwise be entitled. The original order book issued contained orders payable from 1 July 1983 onwards. No arrears had therefore accrued.
663.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
An appeals officer assessed the means of the person concerned at £18.00 weekly derived from the benefit of his wife's earnings. He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £48.90 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £66.90 less £18.00. He applied for a review of his means and his case was again investigated by a social welfare officer. Following the completion of inquiries he was again assessed with means at £18.00 weekly derived from the benefit of his wife's earnings.
664.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 16 December 1983. Inquiries were necessary to establish that he fulfilled the contribution conditions for payment of unemployment benefit. These inquiries have now been completed and his claim has been allowed at the weekly rate of £30.60 (juvenile rate). Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week. Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
665.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an increased rate of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following a review of his case the means of the person concerned were assessed at £48.05 weekly derived from land. He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £25.55 being the maximum rate payable to him £73.60 less means £48.05. He recently appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and arrangements are being made to have his case determined by an appeals officer. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
666.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an increased rate of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £6.00 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his father's holding. He was in receipt of unemployment assistance at £22.00 weekly being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him £28.00 less £6.00. He did not appeal against the amount of means assessed against him. He ceased to sign as unemployed after 27 April 1984.