asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an invalidity pension.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
488.
Mr. Coughlan
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 8 January 1977 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. Arrangements are being made to have him examined by a medical referee. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
489.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the amount of unemployment benefit being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has been reduced.
Entitlement to continuous payment of unemployment benefit at the maximum weekly rate after receipt of 156 days of benefit is subject to the conditions that an applicant must have at least 280 contributions paid in a seven year period.
The person concerned, who was in receipt of unemployment benefit at the maximum weekly rate of £116.10 exhausted 156 days of benefit on 14 May 1984 and all unemployment benefit due to that date was paid by his local office pending clarification of his contribution record. It was established that he fulfilled the contribution condition for continuous payment of unemployment benefit at the maximum rate and arrangements have been made to pay all benefit due to him this week. Further payments at £116.10 will be made as weekly payments become due.
490.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in replying to previous representations regarding unemployment assistance on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
Due to a filing error the issue of a reply to the Deputy in response to representations made by him on behalf of the person concerned was inadvertently overlooked.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £19.40 weekly being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable £29.40 less means £10 derived from the value of board and lodging on her brother's holding. She has expressed dissatisfaction with the rate of unemployment assistance payable to her but conveyed that she does not wish to complete an application form for the purpose of having her case reviewed.
491.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in returning a pension book belonging to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick whose books are now with the Department for over eight weeks; and when they will be returned to her.
The person concerned was requested on 29 February 1984 to return her old age pension book for reduction from the maximum weekly rate of £38.60 to £32.60. She was also advised that as an alternative to her old age pension entitlement of £32.60 an adult dependant allowance of £33.65 could be paid on her husband's contributory old age pension. No reply was received and a further request was issued to the pensioner on 5 April 1984.
Representations were subsequently received from the Deputy indicating that the pensioner wished to retain her personal entitlement to old age pension and the appropriate pension book was issued on 17 May 1984. The delay in dealing with this case was due in part to delay on the pensioner's behalf in indicating her preference and in part to clerical error.
492.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has ceased in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed for a period of six weeks from 6 April 1984 following his failure to attend for examination by a medical referee. Following a review of his case, however, it has been decided to restore payment from 6 April 1984 and all benefit has been paid to 10 May 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
493.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow has been suspended.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 23 March 1981 to 24 December 1983. She claimed maternity benefit from 26 December 1983 to 17 March 1984 and all benefit due on the claim was paid. On receipt of a medical certificate dated 26 March 1984 her claim was again treated as one to disability benefit and payment for the period from 19 March 1984 to 26 March 1984 has been issued.
There is no trace of any further medical certificates having been received in the Department. If she was incapable of work since 26 March 1984 she should submit covering medical evidence or a statement from her employer giving inclusive dates of her absence because of illness and her case will be reviewed.
494.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow is not being paid social welfare assistance; and if he will set out the reasons he is not being approved for assistance.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that the means assessed against him, £30 weekly, exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him. His means were derived from self-employment. He appealed and further inquiries were necessary before submitting the case to the appeals officer. These inquiries were recently completed and the case was referred to an appeals officer. His means will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
495.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons that an old age pension has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if he is aware of the circumstances of this person; if he will direct his Department to grant a full old age pension to her immediately; the amount of pension to be paid; the total arrears to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been investigaged by the social welfare officer and forwarded to the local pension committee for decision. Payment of pension has not been recommended as her means, consisting of the weekly value of a CIE pension, exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension.
If the person concerned is not satisfied with the committee's decision it will be open to her to appeal against it.
496.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 was reduced from £19.40 per week to £16.75; and if this decision will be reviewed.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance of £19.40 per week being the appropriate maximum rate of £30.35 less means of £10.95 previously assessed against him. Following a review of his case his means were reassessed at £13.60 per week from 9 May 1984 derived from the value of board and lodging in his parents' home. Accordingly his rate of unemployment assistance was reduced to £16.75 from 9 May 1984.
If he is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal and to have his means determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.
497.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an unmarried mother's allowance book was taken from a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if the book will be returned to her.
One of the conditions for the receipt of social assistance allowance for unmarried mothers is that a claimant and any other person must not be cohabiting as man and wife.
The deciding officer held that this condition was not satisfied by the person concerned since 24 March 1983 and her entitlement to the allowance was terminated with effect from that date. She has been notified of this decision and of her right to appeal against it within 21 days if she is dissatisfied with it. She is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance at present.
498.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow has had her deserted wife's allowance suspended; and if he will set out in detail the reasons for it.
One of the conditions for the receipt of a deserted wife's payment is that a claimant and any other person must not be cohabiting as man and wife. The deciding officer held that this condition was not satisfied in this case since 22 December 1983 and the entitlement of the person concerned to deserted wife's benefit has been terminated with effect from that date. She has been notified of this decision and of her right to appeal if she is dissatisfied with it.
499.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unmarried mother's allowance has not yet been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as the application was made last March.
The person concerned has been awarded an allowance at the maximum rate of £47.70 per week with effect from 8 March 1984. An allowance book has been issued to her payable from 24 May 1984 and a payable order for the arrears less an amount in respect of supplementary welfare allowance paid by the South Eastern Health Board, will be issued shortly. A decision on her claim had been held pending receipt of her tax form P.45 which was needed to establish that she had ceased to be employed.
500.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Meath has not received unemployment assistance although he is unemployed since the middle of February.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 5 March 1984 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. Following completion of inquiries he was assessed with means exceeding the statutory limit, in his case £2,587 per annum derived from benefit of his wife's earnings. Accordingly his claim to unemployment assistance has been disallowed. If he is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal against the decision. A form on which to appeal may be obtained from his local office.
501.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, as she is signing for the past nine weeks having had payment of her unemployment benefit discontinued after a period of 15 months.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 19 March 1984 following the exhaustion of her entitlement to unemployment benefit after 390 days of benefit and her claim was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. Inquiries are still being made in the case and when they are completed her means will be assessed and her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
502.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange immediately for a reassessment of means for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
Following a review of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were reassessed at £59.35 per week from 9 May 1984. Means in his case are derived from the profit from his land and from self-employment as a caretaker. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £14.25 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £73.60 less £59.35 means with effect from 9 May 1984. If he is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal and to have his means determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local office.