asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will examine favourably the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Clare who has lost his disability benefit entitlement recently.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
383.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 January 1984 and was paid to 17 September 1984. He did not attend for examination by a medical referee of the Department on 17 September 1984 and as a result payment of benefit was disallowed for the statutory period of six weeks.
The claimant's explanation has not been accepted as showing good cause for his non-attendance for examination. Arrangements are now being made to have him examined by a medical referee at the earliest possible date and his claim to benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report.
384.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned has been awarded deserted wife's benefit with effect from 23 February 1984 at the weekly rate of £63.45 increased to £67.90 from 5 July 1984 which are the maximum rates payable to a woman with two qualified children.
Two order books, payable from 16 August 1984, were issued to the designated post office for collection by the claimant on 16 and 30 August and she was notified accordingly. A payable order in respect of arrears for the period from 23 Febarury to 15 August 1984 less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid by the Mid-Western Health Board to her during that period will be issued direct to the claimant within the next few days.
385.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit payments have been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 31 October 1981, the fourth day of incapacity, to 6 October 1984. Payment was suspended after that date as he failed to attend for a medical referee examination on 7 September 1984.
Notification was subsequently received to the effect that the claimant was admitted to hospital on 1 September 1984 and payment was restored from 8 October 1984. All disability benefit payable to date has been issued.
386.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for payment of unemployment benefit due to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment benefit at the maximum rate appropriate to her as a married woman £32.75 weekly in addition to pay-related benefit at £16.72 weekly.
She has however applied for an increase in the rate of unemployment benefit payable to her on the grounds that neither she nor her children are being supported by her husband. Inquiries are still being made in this matter and when they are completed the rate of unemployment benefit payable to her will be reviewed in the light of the outcome.
387.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It was decided on 16 October 1984 that the person concerned is entitled to old age pension at the weekly rate of £28.60 from 15 June 1984 increasing to £31.30 from 6 July 1984. This is the rate to which she is entitled having regard to the assessment of her means, consisting of half the weekly value of her husband's British retirement pension and a holding.
Her husband is at present in receipt of retirement pension which includes adult dependant allowance at £36 weekly in respect of her. This adult dependant allowance and old age pension are not payable concurrently and, therefore, the allowance, which is at a higher rate, will remain in payment. The delay in investigating this claim was caused by pressure of work in the social welfare station concerned.
388.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny has not received a reply to his appeal against the decision to reduce his unemployment assistance in April, 1984.
The person concerned was notified of the appeals officer's decision in his case on 20 August 1984. The appeals officer also assessed his means at £21.85 weekly derived from benefit from his wife's retirement pension.
He is therefore entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £34.60 being the maximum rate payable £56.45 less means £21.85. Weekly payments of £34.60 continue to be made as they fall due.
389.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been in receipt of unemployment benefit since 13 August 1984 has not received any pay-related benefit.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit with flat-rate unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that the weekly sum of pay-related benefit, flat-rate unemployment benefit and income tax rebate may not exceed 85 per cent of the net average weekly earnings of a claimant.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 13 August 1984 and is in receipt of the maximum flat-rate unemployment benefit to which he is entitled £80.15 weekly. The 85 per cent limit applicable to him is £94.21 and accordingly, the weekly amount of pay-related benefit to which he is entitled is limited to £14.06 weekly. All pay-related benefit arrears due to him were paid on 28 September 1984 and combined weekly payment of £94.21 are continuing to be made as they become due.
390.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a rate less than £34.80 disability benefit per week for sixteen weeks was paid to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan following the appeals officer's decision.
The reason the arrears of disability benefit due to the person concerned for the period 2 November 1983 to 11 February 1984 came to £34.40 was that the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced to her during that period fell to be recouped to the health board from those arrears.
391.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not now being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 22 June 1984 and was paid to 31 August 1984. He did not attend for examination by a medical referee of the Department on 30 August 1984 and, as a result, payment of benefit was disallowed for the statutory period of six weeks from 1 September 1984 to 12 October 1984.
He was informed of the disallowance of benefit on 10 September 1984 but did not offer any excuse for his non-attendance. If he would care to communicate with the Department on this point, his case will be reviewed. If he still is incapable of work, he should continue to forward evidence of his incapacity.
392.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an appeal for an increase in widow's pension for a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan.
The appeal of the person concerned is at present with an appeals officer for determination and will be dealt with at the earliest possible opportunity. As soon as a decision has been given the claimant will be notified without delay.
393.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the basis of assessment of unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; the reason his allowance was reduced; and if he will re-examine the entitlement of this person in the light of the information furnished by him.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £21.05 weekly being the maximum rate payable, £62.95 less means £41.90. His means are derived from the benefit of his wife's earnings and from capital.
He has appealed against the amount of means assessed against him. Arising from contentions made by him in support of his appeal it was necessary to refer his case to a social welfare officer for further investigation. When these inquiries are completed his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination, and his rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
394.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension book will be sent to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
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 18 April 1984 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was not permanently incapable of work and asked to have her referred again for a further examination after nine months. She is not therefore qualified for the receipt of invalidity pension. Her entitlement will be reviewed in the light of the next examination by the medical referee. In the meantime she continues to receive disability benefit at the rate of £37.25 per week, the maximum rate appropriate to a single person.
395.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in making a decision on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick regarding his entitlement to an increased rate of unemployment assistance.
In the light of contentions made by the person concerned in support of his appeal against the assessment of his means the case was referred to a social welfare officer for further investigations. Extensive inquiries were recently completed and the case has been submitted to an appeals officer for determination. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed when his means are assessed by the appeals officer.
In the meantime unemployment assistance payments at £47.10 weekly being the appropriate rate £54.80 less £7.70 means continue to be made to him as weekly payments become due.
396.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expendite the payment of arrears of children's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
A payable order in respect of all arrears due in this case is in the course of issue and will reach the claimant shortly.
397.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payment of disability benefit and arrears will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 10 February 1984. He is not qualified for benefit as regulations provide that where a claimant has no contributions paid or credited for any two consecutive contribution years preceeding his claim, he cannot qualify for payment of disability benefit, or the award of credited contributions in respect of periods of incapacity for work, until he has a further 26 weeks of insurable employment for which the appropriate contributions have been paid.
According to the records of the Department, the person concerned had no contributions paid or credited in the period from 1960 to 1966 and has not had 26 weeks of insurable employment since that time. He states that he worked in Great Britain during that time and efforts are being made to establish his British insurance record. When this information has been received his entitlement to benefit will be reviewed without delay.
398.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason old age pension was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork during the week ended 5 October 1984; and the reason no replacement book was available when her old book expired.
The old age pension book for the person concerned payable from 5 October 1984 did not issue to the local post office due to a clerical error which did not come to light until representations were received on 12 October. The appropriate pension book has been issued to the person concerned. Any inconvenience caused to the pensioner is regretted.
399.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason only a single person's rate of unemployment benefit is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 23 January 1984 and payment was issued at the maximum rate appropriate to a single man.
He notified the Department on 18 September 1984 that he had forwarded a completed claim form in respect of his wife on 20 August 1984.
There was no trace of this form having been received in the Department and a further claim form was issued to him on the same day.
There is no trace of this form being returned to the Department and a further claim form has now been issued to him.
When this form is returned duly completed his entitlement to an increase in benefit in respect of his wife will be dealt with without delay.
400.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the blind pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It was decided on 2 October 1984 that the person concerned is entitled to a blind pension at the maximum weekly rate of £41.30 from 3 August 1984. The appropriate pension book payable from 5 October 1984 has been issued and a payable order covering the arrears of pension from 3 August 1984 to 28 September 1984 will issue separately.
401.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork even though he has been signing for seven weeks.
The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit.
He claimed unemployment assistance but following the completion of inquiries his claim was disallowed on the grounds that he was not available for work as he was not genuinely seeking employment and he was notified accordingly.
He has not signed as unemployed since 25 July 1984.