asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
405.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit in respect of an incapacity resulting from an occupational accident on 21 June 1984.
Following completion of investigations, injury benefit was awarded from 22 June 1984, the first day of incapacity. Pay-related benefit was also awarded from 15 July, the nineteenth day of incapacity. Payments of benefit have issued to the date of the latest medical certificate received. The claimant appears to be concerned about his entitlement to disablement benefit and the appropriate claim form has been issued to him for completion.
406.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an investigation has not been carried out regarding the payment of a widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned whose claim to pension was received on 11 September 1984 and investigated by a social welfare officer on 27 September 1984 has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at the weekly rate of £56.65 with effect from 5 October 1984. This is the rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years of age with two qualified children and whose weekly means exceed £10 but do not exceed £12. Her means derived from a two-thirds share in the profits from a holding were assessed at £11.07 per week. In calculating her means a deduction of £6 a week per qualified child was allowed. A pension order book payable from 5 October 1984 was sent to the designated post office on 11 October 1984 for collection by the claimant and she was notified accordingly.
Her husband who died on 21 August 1984 had been in receipt of an old age non-contributory pension of £68.65 per week which included an increase in respect of his wife and two qualified children and this pension continued to be paid to her for six weeks after his death, in place of widow's pension.
407.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason, after months have elapsed, it is not possible to provide details of when a person (details supplied) signed on at Gardiner Street and Werburgh Street employment exchanges over a prolonged period.
The person concerned has requested confirmation that he signed on at the employment exchange, Gardiner Street, from May-June 1974 to December 1975. The person concerned is in receipt of contributory old age pension at the maximum rate. His social insurance record shows that he proved unemployment for 26 weeks in both 1974 and 1975.
The insurance record does not specify the particular weeks in respect of which the person proved unemployment and the papers involved are no longer available in the employment exchanges having been disposed of in the normal course of business some time after the person ceased to claim and the relevant details were transferred to his insurance record.
408.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an old age pension book has not been supplied to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
It was decided on 4 September 1984, that the person concerned is entitled to an old age non-contributory pension at the maximum weekly rate of £41.30 from 14 September 1984. However, her husband is at present in receipt of an old age contributory pension, which includes an adult dependant allowance for his wife and as both the pension and the allowance are not payable concurrently his book has been recalled for adjustment. When his book has been returned he will be issued with a book for a single rate old age contributory pension and his wife will be issued with a non-contributory pension book for £41.30 from a current date and any arrears due will be issued separately by payable order.
409.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have an ESB allowance reissued to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny now that it has been confirmed that his daughter is in full time education.
The ESB have now been instructed to reapply free electricity allowance to the account of the person concerned from the date it was terminated.
410.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange payment of medical care expenses to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned claimed travel expenses under the medical care scheme on 27 April 1984 in connection with an occupational accident on 16 March. He also claimed injury benefit in respect of the accident. Following the completion of investigations, injury benefit was allowed and was paid in respect of the period from 17 March to 7 April. The claim to medical care was also investigated. The claim was allowed and payment of the full amount claimed was made on 12 October 1984.
411.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit at the maximum rate has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 19 September 1984, fourth day of incapacity, at £37.25 per week, the maximum rate payable to a single man. He was also paid pay-related benefit at £25.79 per week from 6 October 1984, nineteenth day of incapacity.
All disability and pay-related benefit payable to 9 October 1984, after which date he resumed work, has been issued. There was a delay in issuing payment for the first week of the claim arising from an administrative error. It was also necessary to contact the employer to establish the duration of illness as a final certificate had not been received.
412.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been billed for telephone rental for 1985 even though he is on invalidity pension.
The person concerned was awarded a free telephone rental allowance and he was notified to this effect on 22 March 1984. Telecom Éireann have confirmed that credit for all rental due for the period 4 May 1984 — the date on which telephone service was provided — to 31 January 1985 will be applied to his telephone account for the period ending 31 January 1985. This account will be issued in the near future.
413.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an under age child was not included in the widow's pension recently awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will have the matter corrected.
The person concerned was awarded a widow's contributory pension at the maximum personal rate of £43.45 a week from 12 October 1984. Payment of an increase in respect of a qualified child was inadvertently omitted from the award. The error has now been rectified and she has been awarded the pension at the correct weekly rate of £55.10 from 12 October 1984.
Pension order books at the weekly rates of £43.45 (personal) and £11.65 (child) were sent to the designated post office, for collection by her, on 2 October 1984 and 11 October respectively and she has been notified accordingly.
Her husband was in receipt of invalidity pension at the rate of £79.95 a week which included an increase in respect of his wife and child and this pension continued to be paid to his widow for six weeks after his death on 28 August 1984 in place of widow's pension.
414.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in having a free telephone rental made available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
In order to qualify for a free telephone rental allowance an applicant must be living entirely alone or only with children under 15 years of age or other persons who are so permanently incapacitated as to be unable to summon aid in an emergency.
Before a decision can be given in this case it will be necessary to establish the circumstances of the household. A local officer of the Department has therefore been requested to visit the person concerned and furnish a report. When this report is received a decision will be given in the case and the applicant will be notified of the outcome.
415.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be given in relation to payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 26 March 1984 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance and was examined on 30 May 1984 by a different medical referee who also considered her to be capable of work. Her case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing. She will be notified of the time and place of the hearing as soon as the arrangements have been made.
416.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of unemployment assistance in respect of the month subsequent to 23 March 1984 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 23 March 1984. He was not qualified for benefit at the commencement of his claim as, according to the records of the Department, he did not have the required minimum of 26 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment.
It has now been established that he has sufficent contributions paid to entitle him to benefit. Arrears of benefit for the period 23 March 1984 to 20 April 1984, the date of the latest medical certificate received, have now been issued to the claimant. The person concerned has not claimed benefit or assistance from the Department since 20 April 1984.
417.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 did not receive her unmarried mother's allowance from 15 February 1984 when her child was born; and if she will be paid the arrears due to her.
The person concerned has been paid the increase in her allowance in respect of her second child for the period since 31 May 1984, the Tuesday following the date of receipt of her claim. Further inquiries have been made regarding entitlement prior to the date of claim and a decision has now been made awarding the increase with effect from 16 February 1984. The arrears for the period from 16 February 1984 will be issued to the claimant by payable order within the next few days.
418.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an application for a widow's non-contributory pension made by a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
The claim to widow's non-contributory pension by the person concerned was refused because her means derived from a holding of land were assessed at £50 per week, which exceeded the limit applicable to her as a widow under 66 years of age without any qualified children. She was notified of this decision and of her right to appeal if she was dissatisfied with it. She appealed against the decision and arising from her additional statements in support of her appeal, a social welfare officer was requested to reinvestigate her circumstances. His report has been received and the appeal is at present with an appeals officer for determination. When the case is decided she will be notified of the outcome without delay.
419.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a non-contributory old age pension paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if all arrears will be paid.
It was decided by the local pension committee on 28 May 1984 that the person concerned is not entitled to any pension on the grounds that his means consisting of half the weekly value of a holding exceed the statutory limit. The person concerned appealed against the local pension committee's decision and the matter was referred to an appeals officer for decision. The appeals officer, however, requested further information regarding the transfer of the holding before giving his decision. When the information has been received, the case will be referred back to the appeals officer for determination and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome in due course. If it is decided that pension is payable the appropriate pension book and any arrears due will be issued without delay.