(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a non-contributory old age pension is not being issued to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
612.
It has been decided that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the maximum weekly rate of £41.30 from 8 March 1985. The appropriate pension book payable from 3 May 1985 issued on 23 April 1985 and a payable order covering arrears of pension due for the period 8 March 1985 to 2 May 1985 less the amount of adult dependant allowance paid to her on her husband contributory pension issued on 29 April 1985.
613.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned ceased to sign as unemployed at his local office on 13 March 1984 and he has not been in touch since. At the date of his claim he was the holder of a qualification certificate with means assessed at £23 weekly and accordingly the weekly rate of unemployment assistance payable to him was reduced by that amount.
614.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason only irregular payments of disability benefit are being made to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit on an interim basis from 23 March 1985 to 15 April 1985 pending investigation resulting from an occupational accident on 19 March 1985. Payment which included pay-related benefit from 10 April was made at the maximum personal rate pending receipt of particulars of his dependants. Benefit was issued regularly with the exception of a slight delay in respect of week ended 8 April resulting from arrears of post accruing from the Easter holidays.
On completion of investigations injury benefit including increases in respect of his dependants was awarded on 26 April from the date of the accident. Injury benefit over and above disability benefit already paid to 15 April was issued on 26 April. Payments of injury benefit have been issued to the date of the latest medical certificate received.
615.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made with regard to an appeal from a person (details supplied) in County Limerick against the decision of the deciding officer not to grant payment of unemployment assistance.
Arising out of contentions made by the person concerned in support of his appeal against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim the case has been referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries are completed his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
616.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason £551.21 was deducted from payment of unemployment assistance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned concurrently worked and claimed unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance during periods in the years 1977 and 1978 and an overpayment of £551.21 was assessed against him and this sum was due to be repaid by him to the social insurance and social assistance funds. The amount overpaid to him was recovered by deduction from the arrears of unemployment assistance due to him in respect of his claim which commenced on 8 January 1985.
617.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned is a postal applicant to unemployment benefit. Inquiries are being made to establish why her last employment terminated and whether she fulfils the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work. She has been written to and asked to attend her local office to be interviewed but she has not replied to date. Arrangements are being made to write to her again and her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined in the light of her reply.
618.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit in respect of an incapacity resulting from an occupational accident on 18 October 1984. Pending the completion of investigations arising from the accident he was allowed disability benefit on an interim basis from 23 October, the fourth day of incapacity and pay-related benefit from 9 November, the nineteenth day of incapacity. Benefit was discontinued from 17 January 1985 after he was examined by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was not then incapable of work.
Following his appeal against the decision a further medical examination by a different medical referee was arranged for 26 April 1985. The claim will be reviewed in the light of the results of the examination. The claim to injury benefit will be decided as soon as investigations are completed.
619.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the circumstances under which a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 has been denied social welfare payments; and if he will arrange to have the matter corrected for the future.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the conditions that an applicant must be fully available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned was engaged in intermittent employment over a period of time and claimed unemployment benefit for the periods she was not working. Following inquiries to establish whether she fulfilled the conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit her claim of 3 January 1985 was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work other than the employment in which she was intermittently engaged.
She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her appeal on 21 March 1985. The appeals officer also decided that she was not available for full time employment and disallowed her unemployment benefit claim. She ceased to sign as unemployed after 21 March 1985.
620.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
One of the conditions for receipt of a deserted wife's payment is that a husband must have left his wife of his own violation. The claim of the person concerned was disallowed because it was held that she did not satisfy this condition. The claimant was notified to this effect on 23 July 1982. She indicated that she wished to appeal against the decision but failed to pursue her appeal at that time.
Following correspondence with her solicitors a late appeal from her was recently accepted. The appeals officer has decided to hold an oral hearing on the case and the claimant will be notified of the date and venue of the hearing as soon as it is arranged.
621.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an invalidity pension can now be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin having regard to the fact that the applicant has been incapable of work for some four years past and is permanently incapable of work because of a serious spinal injury.
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 has been in receipt of disability benefit since 13 August 1983 and payment is being made at regular weekly intervals. Arrangements are being made to have him examined by a medical referee. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.
622.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin having regard to the fact that her spouse has left the country and is the subject of a district court barring order for a considerable time past.
One of the conditions governing the schemes for deserted wives is that a claimant to be regarded as deserted by her husband must not have lived with him at any time in the three months immediately preceding the date of her claim.
A claim was received on 10 April 1985 from the person concerned but in view of the fact that the date of desertion was given as 3 April 1985 her claim could not be accepted. She was advised that it would be open to her to reapply when the three months had elapsed, presuming her husband has not returned to live with her in the meantime.
623.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for unemployment assistance can be determined for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin in view of his urgent financial need for assistance; if this can be expedited; if in addition, consideration can be given to the reinstatement of the person concerned on disability benefit having regard to the fact that on appeal of the decision he was found incapable for work and although his condition is unchanged a further decision only a few weeks later by the deciding officer proposed to reverse the decision of the appeals tribunal; and in the circumstances if he can be reinstated on disability benefit pursuant to the finding of the appeals tribunal that he was incapable of work.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 20 February 1985. His claim was disallowed on the grounds that he was not not genuinely trying to find work and accordingly he was not available for employment. He appealed against the disallowance and his case has been referred to an appeals officer for consideration. Arrangements are being made to have his case heard at the earliest opportunity.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 14 February 1985, following an examination by a medical referee who considered him to be capable of work. The claimant was advised of this decision and of his right to appeal on 20 February 1985. He subsequently submitted a final certificate to the effect that he was fit to resume work on 18 February 1985.
624.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit payments are made on a very irregular basis to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary, as he is in chronic ill health and has had no payment now since 8 March 1985; and the reason he has not been put on an invalidity pension as he sustained a severe coronary thrombosis on 12 May, 1982 and since then has intractable angina and will never be fit for work.
The person concerned was paid a total of 52 weeks disability from 25 February 1984 to 22 February 1985. Payment was temporarily suspended from that date as inquiries into his insurance record were necessary to establish if he was entitled to payment of futher benefit. These inquiries have been completed and all disability benefit payable to 22 April 1985, the date of the latest medical certificate received, less a refund to the health board in respect of supplementary welfare allowance already advanced, has been issued.
Invalidity pension is payable in place of disability benefit to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work. To determine his entitlement to invalidity pension arrangements are being made to have the person concerned examined by a medical referee on 9 May 1985. His entitlement to the pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of that examination.
625.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is receiving only £6.65 in unemployment assistance as it is his sole income.
The person concerned is assessed with means at £25.15 weekly. Accordingly he is entitled to unemployment assistance at £7.65 weekly being the appropriate rate £32.80 weekly lesss £25.15. He was however overpaid the sum of £62.20 and this amount is being recovered by weekly deductions of £1 from current weekly payments of unemployment assistance and thereby the weekly rate is reduced to £6.65 weekly.
He applied for a review of the assessment of his means and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation. When the inquiries are completed the assessment of his means will be reviewed and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be determined in the light of the outcome of the review.
626.
asked the Minister for Social Welefare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 5 March 1985. All benefit payable from 8 March 1985, fourth day of incapacity, has been issued up to 22 April 1985, the date of the latest medical certificate received. There was a delay, caused by an administrative error, in issuing payment from 25 March 1985 to 8 April 1985 and arrears for this period were issued on 19 April 1985.
627.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 5 March 1985 to 23 March 1985, after which date she was certified fit to resume work and all benefit payable has been issued on her claim. Unfortunately because of an administrative error a delay arose in issuing payment from 20 March 1985.
628.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons for the delay in processing an invalidity pension application on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; when this benefit will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals and payment has been made to date. A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to him. On its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay. There is no trace of the receipt of a previous application from the person concerned.
629.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the application for unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance cannot be determined until investigations by the social welfare officer to enable his means to be assessed have been completed. The social welfare officer has made a number of void calls to his home address but he has not made himself available for interview. He will be given another opportunity to co-operate in the investigation of his case. His means will be assessed in the light of the outcome of the inquiries and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
630.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the application for a disability pension for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned is being paid disability benefit at regular weekly intervals and payment has been made to date. A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to him. On its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay. There is no trace of the receipt of a previous application from the person concerned.
631.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a prisoner's wife's allowance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork whose husband has been in prison in Cork since February 1985.
The claim of the person concerned to a prisoner's wife's allowance is at present under investigation. There has been some difficulty however in having the claimant interviewed because she is not normally available during the day at the address given by her.
An alternative address has been supplied and it is expected that an officer will call on her within the next few days. When the officer's inquiries are completed and a report is received a decision will be given and the claimant will be notified. In the meantime she is receiving supplementary welfare allowance from the Southern Health Board.
632.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in making a non-contributory old age pension available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork
It has been decided that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension as he does not fulfil the statutory condition as to means. The assessment of his means consisting of half the weekly value of income from a business exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension. The delay in dealing with this case was due to the fact that some inquiries made by the social welfare officer in February were only replied to recently.
633.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork whose daughter did not reach the age of 16 until 24 February, was not paid a children's allowance for the January period; and if he will have the matter corrected.
Children's allowance in respect of one child was withheld for the months of January and February 1985 to recover an overpayment of £36.25 in this case. A payable order for £1.25 in respect of the balance of allowance due for these months was issued to the claimant who was advised in detail of the overpayment and how it was being recovered, on 31 January 1985.
634.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in issuing a contributory old age pension book to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as she has now been waiting for four weeks.
The pension book containing orders for the period commencing 5 April 1985 for the person concerned was issued to the wrong post office in error. It has since been sent to her home address and arrangements have been made with her local post office to pay all pension due from 5 April 1985.
635.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay arrears of unemployment benefit and maternity benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Availability for work is a condition for the receipt of unemployment benefit and to fulfil this condition a person must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 2 February 1985 and her claim was disallowed on the ground that she was not available for employment. She appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have her case determined by an appeals officer at the earliest opportunity. She has submitted a claim for maternity benefit. However, as the RSI number quoted appeared to be incorrect the claim was returned for confirmation of the correct RSI number. When her reply is received her claim will be dealt with immediately.
636.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying a death grant to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12.
There is no record of a claim having being received in this case. A claim form has now issued to the person concerned and when it is returned it will receive immediate consideration.
637.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 has not received up-to-date payments of disability benefit including pay-related benefit as she simply cannot make ends meet.
All disability benefit and pay-related benefit payable to 4 May 1985 has been issued to the person concerned. There was a delay because of an administrative error in issuing payment from 18 March 1985 to 20 April 1985.