asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance at the maximum rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
469.
The maximum rate of unemployment assistance is only payable to an applicant with nil means.
The person concerned was assessed with means at £24 weekly derived from the value of capital. She appealed against the amount of means assessed against her but an appeals officer also assessed her with means at £24 weekly. Weekly payments at £6.35, being the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to her, £30.35 less £24 means, continue to be made to her as they become due.
470.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be paid unemployment benefit or assistance; the weekly amount; the total amount of arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution condition for entitlement to unemployment benefit. His entitlement to unemployment assistance could not be determined pending inquiries by a social welfare officer into his circumstances. These investigations were recently completed and he was assessed with means at £16.50 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging on his parents' holding. He is accordingly entitled to £11.50 unemployment assistance a week being the maximum rate appropriate to him, £28 less £16.50 means.
Arrears amounting to £214.68 were paid with the current week's entitlement on 31 May 1984 and further weekly payments are being made as they become due.
471.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway as it has been outstanding for a long period of time; the weekly amount that will be paid; the total arrears that will be paid; the date on which all payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until the inquiries being made by a social welfare officer about her means had been completed. The investigations were recently completed and she was assessed with means of £9.60 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in her parents' home. She is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £18.40 being the maximum rate payable to her, £28 less £9.60 means.
All arrears of unemployment assistance due with a current week amounting to £230.01 were paid to her on 5 June 1984 and further weekly payments will be made to her as they become due.
472.
Mr. M. Treacy
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons unemployment assistance has been discontinued for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if he will now direct his Department to rescind this decision and pay the regular weekly amounts to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following investigation of his means by a social welfare officer the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit applicable to him £2961.40 per annum. He appealed at his local office against this disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim and arising from the contentions raised in the appeal the case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were recently completed 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.
473.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow has been refused unemployment benefit for the last number of months as she has furnished proof that she is available for work.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that an applicant is available for work and to fulfil this condition an applicant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking 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 but an appeals officer also decided that she was not available for work on 3 April 1984. She continued to sign as unemployed and inquiries were made to ascertain if she became available for work. Following the completion of inquiries her claim was again disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work. She appealed against the disallowance of her claim and arrangements are being made to have an oral hearing of her case at the earliest opportunity. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
474.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason occupational injury benefit has not yet been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when this benefit will be paid; and the amount that will be paid.
The person concerned submitted medical certificates for disability benefit in respect of the period from 12 December 1983 to 17 December 1983. Disability benefit is not payable to insured persons who are over pension age (66 years). He was informed that he was not qualified for disability benefit on the grounds that he was over pension age.
A completed claim form for injury benefit was received from him on 19 January 1984 indicating that the incapacity had resulted from an accident at work. Inquiries made from the employers disclosed that they had not received a report of any such accident. The case has been referred to the social welfare officer for investigation and a decision on the claim will be made as soon as possible.
475.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason payment of unemployment benefit was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
An applicant for unemployment benefit is not entitled to payment during any period in which she is in receipt of maternity allowance or disability benefit.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 21 February 1984 to 3 April 1984. During the period she was in receipt of maternity allowance from 21 February 1984 to 17 March 1984 and in receipt of disability benefit from 21 March 1984 to 3 April 1984. Her unemployment benefit claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not capable of work and she was notified accordingly on 23 May 1984. She did not appeal against the disallowance of her unemployment benefit claim.
476.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until inquiries to establish that he fulfilled the condition of being available for work had been completed. The investigations were recently completed and his claim was allowed at £13.65 weekly being the maximum rate payable to him, £28 less means £14.35 derived from the profit from land. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.