asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will urgently investigate the possibility of providing financial assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare as provided for under the terms of the Landlord and Tenant Bill.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
610.
In response to representations from the Deputy on behalf of the person concerned, an application form for a rent allowance under the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act, 1982, together with an explanatory leaflet was forwarded to the person concerned on 25 September 1984. The application form has not yet been returned to the Department. On receipt of the application form duly completed the question as to whether the person is entitled to a rent allowance under the scheme will be considered.
611.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made with regard to the restoration of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 11 September 1984 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements have been made to have him examined by a different medical referee on 3 December 1984. His entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
612.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payment of the full amount of a non-contributory old age pension will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
It was decided on 12 April 1984 that the person concerned is entitled to old age pension at the weekly rate of £18.60 from 15 February 1984, increased to £21.30 from 6 July 1984. This is the rate of pension to which he is entitled having regard to the latest assessment of his means, consisting of the weekly value of a holding and capital. If his circumstances have changed since then it is open to him to apply for an increase in his existing rate of old age pension by notifying the Department to that effect.
613.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange a free electricity allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
A free electricity allowance has been applied to the account of the person concerned from the September/October 1984 billing period onwards. Notification of the approval of his application was issued to the person concerned on 5 September 1984.
614.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance and free travel will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
A free electricity allowance has been applied to the account of the person concerned from the September/October 1984 billing period onwards. Notification of the approval of his application was issued to the person concerned on 5 September 1984. A free travel pass was issued to him on 20 November 1984.
615.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has been refused to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when payments will be resumed; and how much will be given to her.
The person concerned furnished evidence certifying that she was not capable of work on 13 September 1984 and her unemployment benefit claim was disallowed in respect of that day. Payment of unemployment benefit was, however, resumed from 14 September 1984 and continued until 2 November 1984 after which her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she did not fulfil the condition of being available for work. She has appealed against the disallowance of her claim and arrangements are being made to have her appeal heard by an appeals officer at the earliest opportunity. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
616.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 July 1984 to 24 September 1984, after which date she was certified fit to resume work. Disability benefit was issued to her from 6 July 1984, the forth day of incapacity, at the maximum personal rate for a single woman. She was also granted an increase in respect of one child dependant for the duration of her claim. She is not entitled to pay-related benefit as the amount of disability benefit payable exceeds 75 per cent of her average reckonable weekly earnings in the 1982-83 tax year which governs her entitlement to pay-related benefit.
617.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the maximum amount of old age pension is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is in receipt of old age contributory pension at the maximum rate since 24 May 1974. His current weekly rate of pension amounts to £94.20. This includes an adult dependant's allowance of £36 in respect of his wife and a child dependant's allowance of £9.95 in respect of a qualified grandchild.
618.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of a deserted wife's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The claim of the person concerned to a deserted wife's payment is at present under investigation by a local officer of the Department. It is expected that inquiries will shortly be completed and when reports are received a decision will be given and the claimant notified. In the meantime she is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance from the Southern Health Board.
619.
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; and if it will be paid to him as soon as possible as he has lodged six certificates.
The person concerned is a postal applicant for unemployment assistance as he does not satisfy the contribution conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefit. His entitlement to unemployment assistance could not be determined until inquiries to establish that he satisfied the conditions of being available for work had been completed. These inquiries were recently completed and his claim was allowed at £65.40 weekly being the rate appropriate to him £75 less £9.60 means. Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week and further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
620.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason it has taken almost two months to return a pension book to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; if he is aware that this man has not drawn his contributory pension for the last eight months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed a contributory old age pension on 31 May 1984 and this was awarded to him with effect from 1 June 1984. A pension book containing orders payable from 1 June was issued to the designated post office on 18 July 1984 for collection by him and he was notified accordingly. A further book for the six months period which commenced on 5 October 1984 was issued in September 1984. The latter book was returned to the Department on 9 October 1984 requesting that his wife be appointed to act as agent to collect the pension on his behalf. This book was returned to him on 5 November and it is understood from the local post office that all of his pension payments have been paid to date.
621.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will issue in an unemployment assistance claim of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned has been claiming unemployment assistance continuously since 28 March 1979. His means were notionally assessed but following an investigation of his case by a social welfare officer his means were assessed at £57.95 weekly derived from the profit from his holding with effect from 10 August 1983. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer also assessed him with means at £57.95 weekly and he was notified accordingly on 12 December 1983. He is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £21.55 weekly being the appropriate rate £79.50 less £57.95 means.
622.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons benefits are being refused to a person (details supplied) in County Longford.
It has not been possible to trace a claim for benefit from the person concerned in the records of the Department. Further inquiries will be made if the Deputy will furnish details of the type of benefit claimed and the date on which the application was lodged.