asked the Minister for Social Welfare if payments of deserted wife's allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and is so, when.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
557.
It is a condition of the deserted wives' allowance/benefit schemes that the separation must have preceded the date of claim by at least three months. The claim of the person concerned was refused because she did not satisfy this condition. Her application was received in the Department on 31 January 1984 with the date of desertion given as 6 January 1984. Notification of the disallowance of the claim was sent to her on 2 March 1984 and she was informed that it was open to her to reapply when three months had elapsed. No further claim has been received from her.
The required three months have now elapsed and the Deputy's question is being taken as a renewed application on the claimant's behalf. A claim form has been sent to her and on receipt of the completed form her case will be referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. When inquiries are completed a decision will be given and the claimant will be notified of the outcome. In the meantime she is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
558.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the reduction in disability benefit being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 21 January 1983 and has been paid at the maximum rate for a single person to 29 May 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received. In addition, he was in receipt of pay-related benefit to 23 April 1984 when he exhausted his entitlement to that benefit after 63½ weeks payment. He is currently in receipt of disability benefit at a rate of £34.80 per week.
559.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The regulations provide that the claimant, apart from satisfying the contribution conditions, must be regarded as permanently incapable of work in order to qualify for invalidity pension. The person concerned was examined on 8 May 1984 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was not permanently incapable of work and asked to have him referred again for a further examination after three months. He is not therefore qualified for the receipt of invalidity pension. His entitlement will be reviewed in the light of the next examination by the medical referee. In the meantime he continues to receive disability benefit at the rate of £34.80 a week, the maximum rate appropriate to a single man.
560.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when money due in respect of unmarried mother's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The arrears of social assistance allowance payable to the person concerned will be sent to her within the next few days.
The father of the person concerned had been receiving an increase in his old age contributory pension in respect of her, as his dependent child. This increase is not however payable concurrently with social assistance allowance and it was necessary therefore, before the arrears could be paid, for the father to return the pension increase book he held for her. He has now done so. Appropriate deductions will be made from the arrears in respect of the increase of pension received by the father since the date of the award of the allowance to the daughter, viz. 20 January 1984.
561.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
A claim for disability benefit was received from the person concerned on 29 May 1984 in respect of an incapacity for work which commenced on 2 May 1984. All benefit payable to him to 22 May 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received, has been issued.
562.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 has had her unemployment assistance reduced from £30.35 per week to £6.60 per week; and the appeal procedure that is available to her.
The person concerned was assessed with means at £23.75 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in her parents' home. Due to an oversight, the amount of means assessed against her was not deducted from the maximum weekly rate of unemployment assistance until recently when the matter was corrected. She is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £6.60 weekly being the maximum weekly rate payable to her £30.35 less £23.75.
To enable her to appeal against the amount of means assessed against her she may obtain an appeal application form at her local office and when she completes and returns it her case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to her will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
563.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is only receiving £37 per week invalidity pension; and if she is entitled to a living alone allowance.
The present weekly rate of invalidity pension appropriate to the person concerned is £39.35 which is the maximum personal rate for a pensioner under 66. However the person concerned was overpaid the sum of £422.37 in respect of unemployment benefit claimed during the period 2 October 1980 to 23 June 1982. A deduction of £2 per week is being made from her invalidity pension until the overpayment is recovered. Accordingly a pension rate of £37.75 is payable at present. Living alone allowance is not payable to invalidity pensioners who are under age 66.
564.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason regular payments of disability benefit are not being made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 19 March 1984 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and was examined on 18 April 1984 by a different medical referee who also considered him to be capable of work. His case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of his case. He will be notified of the time and place of the hearing as soon as the arrangements have been made. The claimant was in hospital from 30 April to 7 May 1984 and payment was issued for this period.
565.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 20 December 1982 and payment was made from 23 December 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 31 December 1983. Payment ceased after that date as she had not the required 26 contributions paid or credited for the 1982-83 contribution year that governs her claim from 2 January 1984. According to the records of the Department she had only 15 credited contributions recorded on her behalf for that year. She was not, therefore, entitled to payment of benefit.
Recent investigations have established that the claimant had an additional 39 contributions paid for 1982-83 and all benefit payable from 2 January 1984, less £84 advanced by the health board, has now been issued.
566.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from the profit from land exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance of his claim and his case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
567.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a disablement allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned received injury benefit under the occupational injuries scheme for the maximum period of 26 weeks from 28 November 1980 resulting from an accident at work. He is in receipt of disability benefit since then in respect of the incapacity. A completed claim form for disablement benefit was received on 20 February 1984. Arrangements have been made for his medical examination on 18 June in order to assess the extent of disablement and a decision on the claim will be given as soon as possible.
With regard to claims stated to have been made earlier, according to the details furnished in connection with the question, a claim form was issued on request in February 1983 but there is no trace of it or of any earlier completed claim form having been received in the case. Normally disablement benefit in such circumstances is awarded from three months before the date of claim but consideration will be given to applying an earlier date in this case.
568.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Payment of benefit in respect of this claim is being issued today.
569.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the apparent discrepancy in the weekly amount of disability benefit being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 December 1983 and has been paid to date. He is in receipt of disability benefit at a rate of £34.80 per week, the maximum rate for a single person. In addition he is in receipt of pay-related benefit at a rate of £21.22 per week. In order to facilitate the transfer of his claim from weekly to monthly certification the claimant was paid £93.38 for the period from 2 May 1984 to 12 May 1984, i.e. one week four days (the benefit week is based on a six day week, Sundays excluded). He was subsequently paid at a rate of £56.02 per week.
570.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from profit from his holding exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed and an appeals officer also assessed his means as exceeding the statutory limit. He recently applied for a review of his means and the case has been referred to a social welfare officer for re-investigation. When the inquiries are completed the assessment of his means will be reviewed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
571.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made regarding refusal of an appeal in the payment of disability benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 28 November 1983, following an examination by a medical referee who considered him to be capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and in connection with his appeal, arrangements have been made to have him examined by a different medical referee on 22 June 1984. His entitlement to disability benefit will be reviewed when the result of this examination is received.
572.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made regarding a refusal of an appeal in respect of the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following an oral hearing of an appeal on 29 May 1984 the appeals officer decided that the person concerned fulfilled the condition of being available for work and allowed her unemployment benefit claim with effect from 3 April 1984. She is entitled to unemployment benefit at £30.60 weekly and arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week. Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
573.
(Limerick West) 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 Limerick.
Following a revision of her means, old age pension at the maximum weekly rate plus living alone allowance is being restored to the person concerned with effect from 10 February 1984. Her current pension book has been recalled and on its return a book at the increased rate will issue without delay, and a payable order covering the appropriate arrears due will be issued separately.
574.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed and an appeals officer also decided that his means were in excess of the statutory limit. He last signed the unemployed register as unemployed on 21 April 1984.
575.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the progress that has been made in the appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny to allow him only £31 per week unemployment assistance for himself, his wife and two children; and if he will arrange to have this amount increased.
The appeal of the person concerned against the amount of means assessed against him has been referred to an appeals officer. The appeals officer is making arrangements to hold an oral hearing of the appeal at the earliest opportunity and the applicant will be notified of the time and place of the hearing. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer and in the meantime weekly payments of unemployment assistance at £31.75 continue to be made to him.
576.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit from 19 October 1983 to 7 December 1983 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
Payment of disability benefit was disallowed to the person concerned from 10 October 1983 following his examination on 23 September 1983 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. A further examination by a different medical referee on 30 November 1983 confirmed this opinion. The case was then referred to an appeals officer who upheld the decision to disallow payment of disability benefit from 10 October 1983 to 6 December 1983 the date of the latest medical certificate before him. The claimant subsequently submitted a final certificate which certified him fit to resume work on 7 December 1983.
577.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when 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 £2.10 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £29.40 less means £27.30. The means are derived from board and lodgings in his parents holding. He appealed and an appeals officer also assessed his means at £27.30 weekly. He re-applied for a review of his means but following the completion of inquiries his means were again assessed at £27.30 weekly.
578.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position with regard to an application for small holders unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following a re-investigation of his unemployment assistance claim, the means of the person concerned were reassed at £78.70 weekly derived from the profit from land and from benefit of his wife's income. He was accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at £8.30 weekly being the maximum rate payable £87 less means £78.70.
Further inquiries revealed that his wife had ceased employment on 31 October 1983 and his means were accordingly reduced to £7.70 weekly and payment of all arrears due was made on 8 February 1984. Weekly payments of £79.30 being the maximum rate payable to him £87 less means £7.70 continue to be made as they become due.
579.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payment of pension commenced for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Old age pension was awarded to the person concerned with effect from 28 October 1980. The appropriate pension book was issued on 11 February 1981 and a payable order covering the arrears due was issued on 13 February 1981. These payments were issued on a provisional basis pending the local pension committee's decision which was given on 2 March 1981.
An earlier claim for pension made in August 1978 was disallowed as the pensioner's means exceeded the statutory limit for entitlement. The pensioner is currently in receipt of pension at the weekly rate of £32.60
580.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned has been paid all arrears of disability benefit from 30 September 1983, the fourth day of incapacity to 7 May 1984, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the North Western Health Board during the period.
581.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payment of unemployment benefit will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
An applicant for unemployment benefit who is a landholder but does not satisfy the contribution condition of having 78 contributions paid in a three year period is not entitled to unemployment benefit if the income from his holding exceeds £2 daily.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 28 November 1983 and as he was a landholder who did not satisfy the 78 contributions condition, his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. Following the completion of inquiries which revealed that the value of his holding did not exceed £2 daily his unemployment benefit claim was allowed with effect from 28 November 1983 at the weekly rate of £34.80.
Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week. Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
582.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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 10 January 1984 and her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work as she had not made sufficient efforts to find work. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 17 May 1984. The appeals officer also decided that she was not available for work from 10 January 1984. She was notified of this decision and she ceased to sign the unemployed register after 22 May 1984.
583.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to urgently restore unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Payment in this case was regrettably stopped in error due to a mismatching of the person's claim with that of another claimant of the same name residing in the same district.
The matter has been corrected and payment of unemployment assistance restored. All arrears due were paid on 22 May 1984 and weekly payments at £27.40 are being made as they become due.
584.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position regarding the unemployment assistance application of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until extensive investigations by the social welfare officer to enable his means to be assessed had been completed.
The inquiries were recently completed following which he was assessed with means at £26.90 weekly derived from the profit from his holding. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £1.10 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £28 less £26.90. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week. Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
585.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Following the completion of inquiries the person concerned was assessed with means of 35 pence weekly derived from capital. He was accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £27.65 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him £28 less means 35p. All arrears due to him were paid on 8 May 1984 and payment continued up to 16 May 1984 after which he ceased to sign as unemployed.
586.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was not granted the extra amount of pension.
The person concerned is in receipt of old age pension at the maximum weekly rate payable to a person over 80 years of age who resides alone. The supplementary pension books implementing the July 1984 increase have been issued to the local post office and will be available for collection by the person concerned later this month.
587.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who applied approximately eight weeks ago.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 9 April 1984 but she was not qualified for payment as according to the records of the Department she had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions recorded for the 1982-83 year on which entitlement to benefit is based. The claimant was requested to supply details of her insurance record for the 1982-83 year and when these were received all benefit payable from 12 April 1984, fourth day of incapacity, was issued to her.
588.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive free spectacles.
Under the optical benefit scheme spectacles of a standard type are available free of charge to qualified insured persons. If a more expensive type of frame is chosen the claimant is liable for the difference in costs.
The person concerned first claimed optical benefit on 4 November 1982. This claim was approved on 6 December 1982 and the claimant obtained spectacles from his optician on 20 December 1982. A second claim, submitted on 17 June 1983, was also approved and the letter of authorisation was issued on 28 June 1983. The optician concerned has confirmed that the claimant presented this letter of authorisation to him and chose spectacles costing a total of £69.45. He was informed that the Department would contribute £22.35 towards this cost and that he was liable for the balance.
The spectacles were made up as ordered but the claimant has not yet returned to collect them. The optician issued a reminder to him on 10 September 1983 but has not received a reply to date.
589.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be granted a free travel pass as he is on a non-contributory old age pension.
A free travel pass was issued to the person concerned on 7 June 1984.
590.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person in County Wexford started employment in a factory (details supplied) according to social insurance records.
The social insurance record of the person concerned does not show the date on which he commenced employment in a factory in County Wexford. Information of this nature is not normally available in respect of insurance records prior to April 1979 under the old stamped card system. Under this system there was no obligation on an employer to record details of commencement of employment.
591.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow and if so, when.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £24.65 weekly being the maximun rate payable to him £71.55 less means of £46.90. His means are derived from benefit from his wife's earnings. He was paid £250.61 on 7 June 1984 which included all arrears due to him plus the current week. Weekly payments of £24.65 will continue to be paid as they become due.
He is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him and he has been issued with an appeal from at his local office. When he completes and returns the form, arrangements will be made to refer his case to an appeals officer. His rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
592.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will agree to have disability benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It has not been possible to trace a benefit claim for the person concerned. If further details of the claimant such as his full name and address and RSI number can be quoted this will enable the claim to be identified and the information sought by the Deputy to be supplied.
593.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will have an old age pension book forwarded to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It is understood from the local post office that a renewal pension order book payable from April 1984 in respect of another person of the same surname and living on the same road was mistakenly obtained by the person concerned. This book has been recalled and a book at the correct rate has been sent to her. The question of any financial adjustment arising from the incorrect encashment is being pursued.
594.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit due from 7 May 1984 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
595.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit in respect of the period 18 April 1984 to 7 May 1984 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
It is proposed to take Question Nos. 594 and 595 together.
The person concerned claimed and has been paid injury benefit up to 24 April, the latest date in respect of which medical evidence has been received from him. He has been asked for medical certificates of incapacity for the period subsequent to that date to enable further injury benefit to be paid and he has also been asked for evidence showing the date on which he became fully capable of work to enable his claim for unemployment benefit to be processed. His claim for both benefits will be dealt with on receipt of the necessary medical evidence.
596.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when four weeks disability pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 October 1983 and the records show him as having been paid to 30 May 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received. Payments have been made on receipt of medical certificates in the Department and there does not appear to be any benefit outstanding.
597.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether any further assistance can be given to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is in extreme financial difficulty.
It is understood from the South Eastern Health Board that the person concerned applied for and was granted assistance under the supplementary welfare allowances scheme towards funeral expenses under a provision in the scheme which enables a health board to make a single payment to meet an exceptional need.
The question of determining entitlement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme is a matter for decision by the health board. If the person concerned is dissatisfied with the decision in this case it is open to her to appeal by writing to the appeals officer, South Eastern Health Board, Dublin Road, Kilkenny. The person concerned would not be entitled to payment in respect of these expenses under any other scheme administered by the Department.