asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a living alone allowance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when this will be paid; and the amount that will be paid.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
432.
The person concerned, who is 83 years of age, has been in receipt of a widow's contributory pension since 1973 and a living alone allowance since 1977. The post office has been contacted and the postmistress confirmed that the widow is drawing both her widow's pension and her living alone allowance and that there has been no interruption in these payment.
If the amounts she is receiving is not adequate to meet her needs it is open to her to apply to the community welfare officer at the local health centre for assistance, under the supplementary welfare allowances scheme.
424.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give the statutory condition under which a person (details supplied) in County Cork was refused an old age pension.
It is a statutory condition for the receipt of old age pension that the means of a person do not exceed the limit for entitlement to pension. In order to enable a claim for pension to be decided, full information must be obtained in relation to the claimant's means and regulations provide that a persons who makes a claim for pension must furnish any information which may be required for the purpose of deciding the claim.
In the case of the person concerned information was sought regarding the sale of a house, and the purchase of another one. This information was not supplied and in the circumstances her application for pension had to be refused. If she is prepared to provide this information she should contact the Department and arrangements will be made to have her application re-investigated.
425.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit payments will be made to person (details supplied) in County Wexford and the pay related benefit entitlement of this person.
The person concerned did not satisfy the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit during the relevant contribution period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983 and accordingly his claim from 4 October 1984 to 5 January 1985 was disallowed. He was however, paid unemployment assistance during this period.
A new benefit year commenced on 7 January 1985 and following the completion of inquiries it was established that he satisfied the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £35.90 from that date. All arrears due were paid to him last week. He is also entitled to pay-related benefit at £0.85 weekly and adjusting arrears of pay-related benefit will be paid this week.
Combined payment of £36.75 representing flat-rate unemployment benefit £35.90 and pay-related benefit £0.85 will continue to be made to him as weekly payments become due.
426.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded increased payments of unemployment assistance in view of the fact that he cannot manage on his present income and has no other income other than unemployment assistance.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £25 weekly being the appropriate rate £75 less means £50. His means are derived from self-employment as a builder. He has not appealed against the decision. Arrangements have been made to supply him with an application form for this purpose at his local office. When he returns the completed form his case will be referred to an appeals officer and his rate of unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
427.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is being paid the correct amount of unemployment assistance.
The person concerned is an applicant for unemployment benefit and she is at present engaged in systematic short time employment on two days of each working week. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit is accordingly restricted to three days each week and she is entitled to £19.05 weekly representing three-fifths of the weekly rate appropriate in her case. She was however, incorrectly rated at £18.54 and the adjusting arrears due will be included with the next payment of unemployment benefit due to her. Further payments will be made as they become due.
428.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if payment of a contributory widow's pension has yet been made to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny and the reason for the delay.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's contributory pension at the weekly rate of £43.45 with effect from Friday 25 January 1985. This is the maximum rate of contributory pension payable to a widow, under 66 years of age, who has no qualified children.
A pension book with orders payable from 25 January 1985 was issued to the designated post office on 16 January for collection by her and she was notified accordingly.
The woman's late husband has been in receipt of retirement pension at the rate of £79.05 per week, which included an increase in respect of his wife, and payment of this pension was made to her for six weeks after his death, in place of widow's pension.
He was also insurably employed in the United Kingdom and the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, has been requested to examine her possible title to a British widow's pension. That Department will be in contact with her in this regard.
429.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of invalidity pensioners in this country who are in receipt of French pensions; and when they will be allowed free travel facilities to which all Irish invalidity pensioners are entitled.
It is not know how many people in the State are in receipt of French invalidity pensions.
The coverage of the free travel scheme has been extended on a number of occasions and is now available to all residents of the State who are aged 66 or over and to persons under that age who are receiving an invalidity or blind pension, disabled person's maintenance allowance or a British or Northern Ireland invalidity pension for more than 12 months. Further extensions of the scheme to cover other categories of persons will be considered as resources permit.
430.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans he has for encouraging people on unemployment assistance to take short term or part time employment without jeopardising their allowances or entitlements particularly when the short term employment is over (details supplied).
Persons in receipt of unemployment assistance who take up short term employment would, when the employment has ended, qualify for unemployment assistance immediately and their entitlements would not in the normal course be affected by their having taken up the employment. If the Deputy is aware of a particular case where difficulties have attain in this regard arrangements will be made to have the matter investigated if she furnishes the Department with the relevant details.
While a person is in employment however he is not entitled to receiving unemployment benefit or assistance as it is a statutory condition for receipt of these payments that a person must be unemployed. The question as to whether a person is unemployed within the meaning of the Act on a particular day must be determined by a deciding officer having regard to the particular circumstances of the case. An unemployed person who takes up part time employment must "sign off" the live register for the days in question. He may of course continue to sign for the remaining days of unemployment. This arrangement is not considered to be a major deterrent to people taking up part time employment.
431.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has been deemed eligible for a family income supplement for which he made an application five weeks ago.
The Person concerned has been awarded family income supplement at the weekly rate of £5 from 6 September 1984. The appropriate order book was issued to the designated post office on 1 February 1985 and the claimant was notified accordingly.
432.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance can be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from August 1984. He was advised at that time of his right of appeal against the disallowance but he failed to do so. The time allowed for appeal has since expired. If he is now prepared to co-operate in the investigation of his means he should apply for a review of his claim at his local office, where he will be issued with a form for this purpose.
433.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to an unemployment assistance appeal made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £76.90 effective from 29 August 1984. He was advised of his right of appeal against this decision and he was furnished with an appeal application form to enable him to do so. He has not to date returned this form to his local office but when he does, his case will be referred to an appeals office for determination and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
434.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting an oral hearing to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who is waiting for over five months.
Due to the number of persons applying for appeals under various social welfare services, the period of oral appeals will inevitably be somewhat longer than in the case of those determined summarily. In the case of the person concerned an oral hearing has been arranged to take place on 15 February 1985 after which his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
435.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance and his claim was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. These inquiries which were extensive are now complete and arrangements are being made to have his case referred to a deciding officer for assessment of his means. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the amount of means assessed against him.
436.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in relation to the disability benefit claim of a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 24 February 1983 and is currently being paid at the weekly rate of £88.35 the maximum rate appropriate to a married man with three dependent children. Payment is issued at regular weekly intervals on receipt of monthly medical evidence and all benefit payable has been issued to date.
437.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding an appeal against withdrawal of unemployment assistance on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Longford.
An appeals office assessed the means of the person concerned as nil. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £79.50, the appropriate rate, effective from 4 July 1984. He was however in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his unemployment assistance appeal and the amount which he received was recouped to his local health board from arrears of unemployment assistance due to him. The balance of arrears due to him was paid on 31 January 1985 and weekly payments of £79.50 will continue to be made as they become due.
438.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite the decision regarding an invalidity pension for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 19 January 1983 and payment is being made at regular weekly intervals. Invalidity pension is payable in place of disability benefit to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work.
The person concerned was examined in November last by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was not permanently incapable of work and asked to have him referred for a further examination after nine months. The question of entitlement to invalidity pension will be considered after that examination.
439.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will approve prescribed relatives allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The claim of the person concerned for prescribed relatives allowance is at present under investigation by the social welfare officer. When the inquiries have been completed the claim will be referred to a deciding officer for decision and the pensioner will be notified of the outcome in due course.