asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
511.
Following investigation of his means by a social welfare officer the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 26 October 1983 on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him. His case was referred to a social welfare officer for further investigation and the inquiries in the case were recently completed. His case is at present in postal transit to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
512.
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 Wexford.
It was decided by the local pension committee on 30 April 1984 that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the maximum rate £38.60 plus over-80 allowance and living alone allowance from 9 March 1984. The social welfare officer has appealed this decision and the matter is being referred to an appeals officer for determination. The claimant will be notified of the outcome.
Pension at the weekly rate of £26.60 plus £2.80 over-80 allowance and £3.00 living alone allowance is at present in payment pending the appeals officer's decision. This is the rate appropriate to the assessment of the claimant's means consisting of the weekly value of capital.
513.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the payment of maternity benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Maternity benefit is currently in payment to the person concerned. She is qualified for payment for the 12-week period 9 April 1984 to 30 June 1984 and cheques are now being issued at regular weekly intervals.
514.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
Where a claimant has 26 but less than 156 contributions paid at the appropriate rate since entry into insurable employment, payment of disability benefit is limited to 52 weeks. In order to requalify for payment of benefit she must resume employment for at least 13 weeks for which contributions at the appropriate rate are paid.
The person concerned has been claiming disability benefit since 28 August 1982. She was not qualified for continued payment because according to the records of the Department she had only a total of 94 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment and had exhausted her 52 weeks entitlement to benefit on 31 January 1981.
However, it has now been established that the claimant had an additional 20 paid contributions in the 1982-83 year which entitled her to payment for a further 52 weeks. Accordingly, payment of benefit from 1 September 1982, the fourth day of incapacity, to 30 August 1983 was issued on 17 May 1984. She cannot requalify for further payment of benefit until she again resumes employment and has at least 13 weeks of insurable employment for which contributions have been paid at the appropriate rate. She should however, continue to submit medical certificates while she remains incapable of work so that credited contributions may be awarded in order to preserve the continuity of her insurance record.
515.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has been refused to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It is a condition for entitlement to unemployment benefit that an applicant must be available for work and to be available for work an applicant must make genuine efforts to find employment.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work. She appealed against the disallowance of her claim but an appeals officer following an oral hearing of her appeal which took place on 10 April 1984 also decided that she was not available for work and she was notified accordingly on 17 April 1984. She continues to sign as unemployed and inquiries are being made to ascertain whether she satisfied the condition of being available for work from 11 April, 1984 and her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined in the light of the outcome.
516.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will clarify the present situation regarding the disablement benefit entitlements of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned was in receipt of disablement benefit at the rate appropriate to disablement assessed at 20 per cent to 29 March 1984.
Following an examination by a medical referee on 1 March his disablement was provisionally assessed at 10 per cent in respect of the further period to 28 February 1985 and he was paid a gratuity at the rate appropriate to the assessment. His claim therefore is due to be further reviewed in February 1985. If however he considers that his condition has deteriorated or would warrant a higher assessment, it is open to him to apply for an earlier review. His recent appeal against a decision terminating disability benefit on the grounds that he was not considered to be incapable of work is being dealt with by way of an oral hearing which will be arranged as soon as possible.