asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan has not received a pension since 1 April 1985.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
640.
A pension book for the period commencing 5 April 1985 was not issued for the person concerned due to an administrative error. The matter has been rectified and a book has been issued to him at his home address. The error in this case is regretted.
641.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork for the past month.
Due to a filing error the claim papers of the person concerned were temporarily misplaced which resulted in the payments of unemployment assistance being interrupted. The error was later rectified and all arrears of unemployment assistance due to her were paid last week. Further weekly payments at £12.30 being the appropriate rate £29.95 less £17.65 means are being made as they become due. The inconvenience due to the person concerned is regretted.
642.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has not be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork since 22 March 1985, as he has forwarded a doctor's certificate each week.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 May 1984. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit payable has been issued up to 19 April 1985, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
643.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will issue on an unemployment assistance appeal lodged by a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
An appeals officer assessed the means of the person concerned at £54.80 weekly and he was notified of the decision in his case on 18 April 1985. He is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £4.60 weekly being the appropriate rate £59.40 less means £54.80 and all arrears due have been paid. Weekly payments continue to be made as they become due.
644.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until extensive inquiries made by the social welfare officer were completed. He was recently assessed with nil means and accordingly he is entitled to unemployment assistance at £29.95 weekly the maximum rate payable to him. All arrears due to him will be paid this week and weekly payments of £29.95 will continue to be made as they become due.
645.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be paid arrears of unemployment assistance to the date of his first application.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is subject to the condition that an applicant is available for work and to fulfil this condition an applicant must be capable of, available for and genuinely seeking work.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 22 January 1981 and again on 28 October 1983. Both claims were disallowed on the grounds that he was not available for work. He appealed against the disallowance on his claim of 28 October 1983 but the appeals officer also decided that he was not available for employment.
He satisfied the conditions for receipt of unemployment assistance on his claim on 18 October 1984 and payment was made from 22 October 1984. Payment is continuing to be made at £6.95 weekly, being the appropriate rate applicable to a single man £29.95 less £23 means.
646.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish particulars of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He appealed and the case was returned to the social welfare officer to afford the applicant a further opportunity to disclose his means. The inquiries were recently completed and an appeals officer decided that his means derived from land exceeded the statutory limit and he is being notified accordingly.
647.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a decision has been reached on an appeal for a non-contributory old age pension on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension on the grounds that his means, consisting of half the weekly value of capital and a holding, exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension.
648.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a decision has been reached on the appeal for an increased old age pension on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is entitled to old age pension at the increased weekly rate of £40.50 from 6 July 1984, which includes £3.20 living alone allowance. The assessment of his means, consisting of the weekly value of capital, the disposal of a large part of which has not been accepted for old age pension purposes, entitles him to pension at this rate. The appropriate pension book and the arrears due have been issued.
649.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a living alone allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It has been decided that the person concerned is entitled to a living alone allowance from 28 September 1984. The appropriate pension book payable from 8 February 1985 issued on 20 March 1985 and a payable order covering arrears of living alone allowance due for the period 28 September 1984 to 7 February 1985 issued separately.
650.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to the appeal against the decision to cancel unemployment assistance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned appealed against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim and arising from contentions raised in the appeal the case was returned for further inquiries. When the inquiries were completed the case was submitted to an appeals officer. The appeals officer assessed his means at £105 a week derived from profit from his holding and from the weekly value of capital. He is therefore entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £6.40 being the appropriate rate payable £111.40 less means £105. He was notified of the appeals officer's decision and all arrears of unemployment assistance due have been paid. Further weekly payments are being made as they become due.
651.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It has been decided that the person concerned is entitled to old age pension at the weekly rate of £32.50 from 12 October 1984 which includes £3.20 living alone allowance. The assessment of his means, consisting of the weekly value of a holding and capital entitles him to pension at this rate. The appropriate pension books and arrears due have been issued.
652.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a free telephone rental allowance will be paid 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.
653.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as he has been signing on for over 21 weeks.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could not be determined until inquiries regarding his means were completed. The inquiries were recently completed and a deciding officer assessed his means at £50.46 a week derived from an army pension. His means accordingly exceeded the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable to him and his claim was disallowed. He has been accordingly notified.
654.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting a prisoner's wife's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
A letter requesting information concerning her entitlements as the wife of a prisoner was recently received from the person concerned. An application form for a prisoner's wife's allowance and an explanatory leaflet about the scheme were sent to her on 24 April 1985.
When the completed form is returned her case will be referred to a local officer of the Department for investigation of her means and circumstances and on receipt of his report a decision will be given on her claim without delay and she will be informed of the outcome. In the meantime she is receiving supplementary welfare allowance from the Southern Health Board.
655.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite approval of a free electricity allowance for persons (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
To be eligible for a free electricity allowance a person must either be living alone or be living with certain categories of persons only. The persons concerned were approved for a free electricity allowance in 1980. Their son who resided with them ceased to come within the categories of excepted persons on reaching the age limit of 18 years and their allowance was therefore withdrawn in February 1985.
Recent information suggests that the living alone condition may be again satisfied in this case. Further inquiries are therefore being made and when these are completed, their entitlement to the allowance will be determined and they will be notified of the outcome.
656.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the reduction in the non-contributory pension payable to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The last investigation of the old age pension entitlements of the person concerned revealed that there had been an increase in her means. Accordingly, it was decided on 25 October 1983 that she is entitled to old age pension at the reduced weekly rate of £9.60 from 26 August 1983 which includes £3 living alone allowance.
This rate increased to £12.40 from 30 March 1984, when the pensioner attained 80 years, and £15.50 from 6 July 1984. This is the rate appropriate to the latest assessment of her means, consisting of the weekly value of a holding and capital.
657.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned exhausted his entitlement to unemployment benefit on 13 February 1985 when he received benefit for 390 days. His entitlement to unemployment benefit after that date is subject to the condition that he has at least 13 weeks of insurable employment, after the date on which he drew unemployment benefit for 156 days, which are proper to a contribution class providing cover against unemployment.
Inquiries are being made at present to establish whether his employment since receiving 156 days of unemployment benefit is insurable at a class providing cover against unemployment and when these inquiries are completed his entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined in the light of the outcome. He declined to claim unemployment assistance pending a decision on his entitlement to unemployment benefit.
658.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not being paid disability benefit.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 8 February to 9 March 1985 and again from 8 April 1985. He was not entitled to payment of benefit initially, as according to the records of the Department he had less than the minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1983-84 the contribution year concerning his claim.
He was requested on 20 February 1985 to submit details of his employment during this period and his insurance record has just now come to hand. He has sufficient contributions paid and credited to qualify for payment at the maximum rate and the arrears payable will be issued to him when the position with regard to the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the Southern Health Board has been clarified.
659.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to retrospective payment in connection with her claim for unemployment assistance.
Following a revised decision of an appeals officer the person concerned has been assessed with means of £1.90 weekly with effect from 26 June 1984. She is therefore entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £26.10 being the appropriate rate £28 less £1.90 from 26 June 1984 increased to £28.05 being the appropriate rate £29.95 less means £1.90 from 4 July 1984. She has been written to advising her to call to her local office for payment of arrears adjustment from 26 June 1984 to 9 October 1984 when she ceased signing as unemployed.
660.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an application for disability benefit from a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 27 August 1984 following an examination by a medical referee who considered him to be capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and he was examined on 15 April 1985 by a different medical referee who also considered him to be capable of work. He was notified of the result of this examination on 23 April 1985 and supplied with an appeal form. When the completed form is received in the Department his case will be referred for determination by an appeals officer.
661.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision on an application for disability benefit will be made for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 3 December 1984 following examination by a medical referee who considered her to be capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance and she was examined on 30 January 1985 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 of the case as soon as possible. She will be notified of the time and place of the hearing as soon as the arrangements have been made.
662.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is receiving only £76.10 for himself and his wife who is under 66 years of age when he should have the full pension of £79.05.
The person concerned has been in receipt of an old age contributory pension since 18 May 1979 at the rate appropriate to his yearly average of 24 contributions. A yearly average of 48 contributions is required to qualify for the pension at the maximum rate. His yearly average was calculated on the basis of his total of 628 contributions in the period from 5 January 1953 to 31 December 1978. The person concerned was employed in Britain from 1964 to 1978 and he is also in receipt of a British retirement pension.
663.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason payment of disability benefit has been discontinued to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as he has been insurably employed all his life and went on disability benefit in March, 1984.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 2 April 1984 and payment was issued to 3 April 1985 based on his contribution record in the 1982-83 contribution year. He was not entitled to payment of benefit from 4 April 1985 as according to the records of the Department he had less than the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the 1983-84 contribution year which governed his claim from that date.
Following inquiries it was established that he has sufficient contributions paid in 1983-84 to qualify for payment of benefit at the maximum appropriate rate. All benefit payable to 20 April 1985 the date of the latest medical certificate received has been issued to him.
664.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not been paid maternity benefit in respect of her child who was born on 18 December 1984; and the reason she has been refused disability benefit on the grounds that she has not been submitting certs.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 25 December 1984 and submitted medical evidence of incapacity to the Department on 15 April 1985. The regulations provide that a person who, without good cause, fails to give notice of incapacity or to submit medical evidence within seven days of the commencement of incapacity is disqualified from receiving disability benefit in respect of any period more than seven days before the date on which such notice or medical evidence is received.
She was notified accordingly and she was requested to furnish an explanation for the delay, but no explanation has been received to date. There is no trace in the records of the Department of a claim for maternity benefit having been received from the person concerned.
665.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when 13 weeks unemployment benefit due to a person (details supplied) in County Laois will be paid.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 29 January 1985 and her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment.
She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 23 April 1985. The appeals officer allowed her appeal and her claim was authorised at £32.75 weekly from 29 January 1985. She is a postal claimant and arrangements have been made to issue an order for encashment at her local post office paying all arrears due this week.
666.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when signing on facilities will be provided for women in the Tallaght area, Dublin 24.
The initial claim for unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance for all persons resident in the Tallaght area must be made at Werburgh street employment exchange. However, the subsequent weekly signing on of both women and men is carried out at the new temporary employment exchange at Old Bawn Road, Tallaght and payment is made to those concerned at their local post office.
The provision of a full employment exchange service in Tallaght is linked to the development of the proposed town centre. The premises at Old Bawn Road is not large enough to allow for a complete service having regard to the number of unemployed persons in the area but the possibility of enabling new claims to be processed there, thus obviating the need for claimants to visit Werburgh street employment exchange at the initial claim stage, is being examined at present.
667.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason payment of unemployment benefit has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in Tallaght, Dublin 24.
The entitlement of a married woman to unemployment benefit is limited to 312 days in a period of interruption of employment. Any two periods of interruption of employment not separated by a period of more than 13 weeks shall be treated as one period of interruption of employment.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit for 215 days until 17 May 1983. She was in receipt of maternity allowance and disability benefit respectively between 18 May 1983 and 12 October 1984 when she again claimed unemployment benefit from 13 October 1984. She was paid the balance of unemployment benefit due to her in the period of interruption of employment and accordingly her entitlement to unemployment benefit exhausted on 22 January 1985 when she received benefit for 312 days.
She will not requalify for unemployment benefit until she resumes work and obtains at least 13 weeks of insurable employment.
668.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to unemployment benefit.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that an applicant is available for work and to be available for work she must be available for, capable of and genuinely seeking work.
To enable a deciding officer to decide whether she satisfies the condition of being available for work she has been written to about the termination of her previous employment and the efforts she is making to find employment. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined when she replies and all inquiries in the case have been completed.
669.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in having arrears of an unmarried mother's allowance paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
A payable order for arrears for the period from 17 January to 13 February 1985, less an amount for supplementary welfare allowance paid to her by the Southern Health Board, has now been sent to the person concerned. She had returned her original allowance book to have a change in her address noted but it could not be located in the Department and a replacement book payable from 14 February 1985 was sent to her on that date.
670.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford has received no money despite the fact she has been signing for unemployment benefit since February last.
The person concerned signed as unemployed on one day only on 28 January 1985 but did not pursue her claim. She signed again as unemployed from 1 March 1985 to 18 March 1985 and again from 16 April 1985 to 22 April 1985 after which it is understood that she resumed work. Her case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of her means and following the completion of inquiries she was assessed with means at £0.15 weekly derived from the value of capital. She is accordingly entitled to unemployment assistance at £29. 80 weekly being the appropriate rate £29.95 less £0.15 and she has been written to to call to her local office for payment of all unemployment assistance due to her.
671.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit from 25 February 1985 to 30 March 1985 will be determined when inquiries which are being made at present to ascertain the reason why his previous employment was terminated, have been completed. His unemployment benefit claim was however allowed from 1 April 1985 at the maximum rate appropriate to him £37.25 weekly and all arrears due were paid last week. Further weekly payments will be made as they become due.
672.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay a contributory widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned does not appear to qualify for a contributory widows pension on either her husband's or her own social insurance record. Her late husband was a shopkeeper and had no insurable employment for social welfare purposes. According to the records of the Department, the widow herself had a yearly average of only 22 contributions over the period from her entry into insurance to 1980-81 (the contribution year before her husband's death in July 1981) and had no contributions in the five years prior to his death. This record is not sufficient to qualify her for pension. Further inquiries are however being made with one of her former employers regarding periods of employment for which no insurance contributions have been recorded. When these inquiries are completed a decision will be given in her case without delay. She has indicated that she does not wish to have her entitlement to a non-contributory pension examined in the meantime.
673.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit is payable to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
According to the Department's records the person concerned did not satisfy the contribution conditions during the contribution period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983 which governed his entitlement to payment of unemployment benefit from June 1984.
He was however paid unemployment assistance pending the completion of inquiries to ascertain the precise date of his entry into insurance for the purpose of ascertaining his entitlement to pre-entry credited contributions. Following the completion of these inquiries his contribution record was clarified and his unemployment benefit claim was allowed at £34.80 weekly with effect from 7 June 1984. Adjusting arrears less the amount of unemployment assistance advanced to him were paid on 13 September 1984 and weekly payments followed as they became due.
He is at present in receipt of a combined weekly payment of £34.10 representing flat rate unemployment benefit £32.50 and pay-related benefit at £1.60.
674.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as he has applied over 12 months ago.
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 the weekly value of income from a holding exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension. The person concerned was notified of this decision in August 1984.
675.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason payment of disability benefit was discontinued to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when a decision is likely to be made by the appeals officer in this case.
Where a person has less than 156 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment his entitlements to disability benefit is limited to 52 weeks.
According to the records of the Department the person concerned has only 68 contributions paid on his behalf since entry into insurance. He claimed disability benefit from 3 February 1984 and was paid to 4 February 1985 after which date his 52 week entitlement became exhausted.
In order to requalify for disability benefit it will be necessary for him to have at least a further 13 weeks of insurable employment for which the appropriate contributions are paid.
676.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare in view of the delay in replying to correspondence (details supplied) by An Bord Telecom and the fact that this is now a matter for his Department if he will now let Deputy Gay Mitchell know urgently what can be done for the person concerned.
The free telephone rental allowance was withdrawn from the person concerned on 1 July 1983 when she left the country and was restored on 5 June 1984 when she reapplied for the allowance.
It has now been established that the pensioner was absent from the country for only a short period and Telecom Éireann have therefore been requested to apply the allowance in respect of the period for which it was withdrawn. The arrears payable to the pensioner will appear as a credit on her next telephone account which will be issued within the next fortnight.
677.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit can be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution condition for entitlement to unemployment benefit during the contribution period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983 which governs his entitlement to benefit. However, he has been asked to furnish details of periods during which he was engaged in full-time educational studies for the purposes of establishing whether he is entitled to special pre-entry credited contributions. His contribution record will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of these inquiries and his entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined accordingly. In the meantime he is in receipt of unemployment assistance at £27.70 weekly, being the appropriate rate £29.95 less £2.25 means.
678.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is currently receiving disability benefit will be considered for an invalidity pension in view of the fact that he will be unable to work again.
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 17 December 1984. In order that a person may be considered permanently incapable of work, it is necessary for him to, inter alia, have been continuously incapable of work for a period of one year. Therefore, the earliest date on which the claimant can qualify for invalidity pension is 17 December 1985. The person concerned has been transferred to the monthly system of certification in connection with his disability benefit claim. He will be examined by a medical referee on 9 May 1985.
679.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is on invalidity benefit from the DHSS for 23 years can change to an Irish invalidity pension; and if there is a reciprocal arrangement in relation to insurance.
The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit from this Department for the period 15 January 1965 to 31 March 1973. This benefit was paid in accordance with the 1960 Reciprocal Arrangement between the United Kingdom and Ireland. This arrangement provided that in the case of persons who moved between the United Kingdom and Ireland benefit was paid by the country of residence using the insurance record in the other country, if necessary.
The EC Regulations on Social Security came into force on 1 April 1973 and from this date the Reciprocal Arrangement no longer applied to persons covered by the EC Regulations. These Regulations provide that responsibility for a claim to benefit rests with the country under whose legislation the claimant was last insurably employed. Therefore, the claim of the person concerned was transferred to the UK authorities as from 1 April 1973 and payment of invalidity benefit has been made from the Department of Health and Social Security since that date. It is not possible in view of the provisions of the EC Regulations in the matter, to pay Irish invalidity pension instead of British invalidity benefit to the person concerned.
680.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is on disability benefit is receiving the correct rate of payment.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit from 4 March 1985 in respect of an incapacity resulting from an occupational accident on 3 March 1985. Pending the completion of investigations arising from the accident he was allowed disability benefit on an interim basis from 7 March, the fourth day of incapacity and pay-related benefit from 26 March the 19th day of incapacity. The disability benefit including increases in respect of his wife and four dependent children amounted to £96.55 a week. Pay-related benefit was paid at the rate of £3.47 which brought the combined payments to the limit payable of 75 per cent of his reckonable earnings in the relevant tax year 1983-84.
On completion of investigations, injury benefit was allowed from 4 March first day of incapacity. Injury benefit is limited to the claimant's weekly earnings at the time of the accident. The rate of injury benefit payable was therefore, limited to £108.25 a week. This however exceeded the limit of 75 per cent of his reckonable weekly earnings for pay-related benefit purposes in the relevant tax year and accordingly pay-related benefit was not payable. An adjusting payment in respect of injury benefit over and above the disability and pay-related benefit already paid has been issued.
681.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made in respect of an application for a non-contributory old age pension from a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Recent representations have been accepted as a repeat claim to old age pension on behalf of the person concerned. The case has been referred to the social welfare officer for investigation. When the inquiries have been completed a decision will be given without delay and the claimant will be notified of the outcome.
682.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive an increase in her pension as the social welfare officer investigated her case some time ago.
Following a review of the old age pension entitlements of the person concerned it was discovered that she had means from capital which had not been previously disclosed. She was overpaid £2,069.95 as a result.
The latest assessment of her means, consisting of half the weekly value of income from a shop and capital, entitles her to a pension at the weekly rate of £39.90. The amount overpaid is being recovered by withholding £4 per week from her pension entitlement and a pension of £35.30 is accordingly, being paid to her. If the pensioner feels that her circumstances have deteriorated since her last assessment it is open to her to notify the Department to that effect and her case will be re-investigated.
683.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance at the maximum rate will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and in the light of contentions made by him in support of his appeal his case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were recently completed and his case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer. In the meantime payment of unemployment assistance at £8.95 weekly being the appropriate rate £72.25 less £63.30 means, continues to be made to him.
684.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the claim of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow for disability benefit will be paid.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 16 February 1985 to 8 April 1985 after which date he was certified fit to resume work. All benefit payable in respect of his claim was issued to him on receipt of medical evidence of his incapacity for work.
685.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an extra child allowance will be paid on a blind pension to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
It has been decided that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the increased weekly rate of £103.60 from 8 March 1985 which includes an adult dependant allowance of £20.75 and a child dependant allowance of £41.55 in respect of his five children. The person concerned has been requested to return his dependent child allowance book for adjustment and when it is returned a book at the increased rate will be issued and any arrears which may be due will be issued separately.
686.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was disallowed to a student (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is subject to the conditions that an applicant must be fully available for employment. The person concerned who is a student engaged in full time studies claimed unemployment assistance from 1 April 1985 to 9 April 1985. Following the completion of inquiries a deciding officer disallowed her claim on the grounds that she did not satisfy the condition of being available for work during the period she was on vacation and she was informed accordingly.
687.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a children's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed children's allowances on 19 February 1985 in respect of two children born on 27 December 1984. Children's allowance was awarded in respect of the children from January 1985 and the appropriate allowance book was issued on 4 March 1985. The claimant has confirmed receipt of the allowance book.
688.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on a claim for unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to disclose his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.
He recently appealed and arising from contentions raised in his appeal the case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries are not yet completed but when they are his case will be submitted to an appeals officer and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
689.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim to unemployment assistance which refers to the person named in the details supplied. Further inquiries in the matter will be made if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the person concerned to be identified.
690.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who had been paying the full rate of PRSI while in employment.
During the course of her unemployment benefit claim the person concerned furnished details of her employment which were at variance with the contributions paid on her behalf during the relevant governing contribution period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983. Payment of unemployment benefit was suspended and her case was referred to a social welfare officer for inquiries to establish the contribution record applicable to her case. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of these investigations.
691.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he will allow a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 to transfer from disability benefit to an invalidity pension.
The person concerned is receiving disability benefit at the rate appropriate to a married man who has three qualified children. In his invalidity pension claim he claimed for only two children and he was requested to notify the Department whether he wished to claim for the third child. No reply has been received from him to date.
Invalidity pension is being awarded from 24 January 1985, that is, the Thursday following the date of the receipt of completed claim form. A pension book at the rate appropriate to a married man who has two qualified children, payable from 22 May 1985 will be issued to the designated post office of payment in the near future. Arrears in respect of the period from 24 January 1985 to 21 May 1985, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be withheld pending a reply from the person concerned to the inquiry regarding his third child.
692.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a deserted wife's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 whose application was submitted some two months ago and who is urgently in need of the allowance.
It has not been possible to trace a claim for a deserted wife's payment from the person concerned. The Department has been in touch with the community welfare officer who has confirmed that he posted the claim form.
There is no record, however, of its receipt in the Department.
A new claim form has been issued to the person concerned and when it is returned duly completed her case will be referred to a local officer of the Department for urgent investigation. When inquiries are completed and the officer's report is received a decision will be given without delay and she will be notified of the outcome.
693.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan has not received full disability benefit.
All arrears of disability benefit payable were issued to the person concerned on 30 April 1985. Because of an administrative error there was a delay in making payment from 1 February 1985 to 9 February 1985.
694.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive disability benefit.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 1 February 1985. According to the records of the Department he had no contributions paid or credited in 1983-84, the contribution year governing his claim, and it was necessary to make inquiries regarding his employment position in that year before his entitlement to benefit could be determined.
Following completion of inquiries it was established that the claimant had a total of 52 weeks of insurable employment in 1983-84 and was therefore entitled to payment of benefit. All disability benefit payable to 24 April 1985, the date of the latest medical certificate received, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced, has been issued to him.
695.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon is not receiving the maximum amount of unemployment assistance.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that her means derived from the maintenance portion of a student grant and from the value of contributions from her parents, exceeded the rate payable to her. She appealed against the amount of means assessed against her and an appeals officer on 23 January 1985 assessed her with means of £15 weekly effective from 12 July 1984. All arrears due to her were paid in January this year.
However, following a further examination of her claim her means were reassessed at £7.65 weekly effective from 14 December 1984. She was accordingly entitled to £23.25 weekly the appropriate rate £30.90 less means £7.65. Her means were derived from the value of contributions from her parents. All arrears due to her were paid on 25 April 1985 and weekly payments of £23.25 will continue to be made as they become due.
696.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if entitlement for a free electricity allowance payment will be reconsidered for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of the fact that he adheres to the requirements of the scheme.
To be eligible for a free electricity allowance a person must either be living alone or be living with certain categories of persons only. The free electricity allowance which applied to the account of the person concerned was terminated because his daughter who was residing with him ceased to be a person who came within the excepted categories for satisfying the "living alone" condition of the scheme when she reached 18 years.
Recent information suggests that the living alone condition may be again satisfied in this case. Further inquiries are therefore being made and when these are completed his entitlement to the allowance will be determined and he will be notified of the outcome.
697.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay a widow's pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned whose husband died on 26 August 1983 claimed a widow's non-contributory pension for herself and two children on 7 March 1985 and the local social welfare officer was asked to investigate her financial circumstances. He is at present waiting for a reply from the claimant's solicitor, and when a report on the case is received a decision will be given without delay and the claimant will be notified.
698.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of a contributory old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who applied for this pension in January 1985.
The person concerned reached age 66 years on 16 April 1985 and claimed a contributory old age pension on 18 January 1985. He has been awarded the pension at the rate appropriate to his yearly average of 43 contributions with effect from 19 April 1985 i.e. the Friday following his 66th birthday.
A contributory old age pension book containing orders payable from 19 April 1985 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by him and he has been notified accordingly.
699.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not been paid unemployment benefits up to date despite the fact that he has been paying A1 contributions; if he will now direct that all unemployment benefits due to this person will be paid immediately; the total amount of arrears to be paid; the weekly payments that will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A person who exhausts entitlement to unemployment benefit may requalify once he has a further 13 weeks of insurable employment with contributions paid at the appropriate contribution class after he has drawn 156 days of benefit.
The person concerned exhausted his title to unemployment benefit on 13 November 1984 when he received 390 days benefit. He engaged in intermittent employment after the date on which he received unemployment benefit for 156 days but following an investigation of the insurability of that employment it was decided that he was not employed in employment which was insurable at a contribution class which provided cover against unemployment. He was advised of the decision in his case and of his right to appeal against the decision of the deciding officer. He was paid unemployment assistance from 14 November 1984 to 19 January, 1985 after which he ceased to sign as unemployed.
700.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason payment of social welfare benefit which he had been receiving for over five years was discontinued to a person (details supplied) in County Meath, and that he has been asked to sign on for unemployment assistance.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 September 1977. Benefit issued up to 12 June 1984, after which date benefit was disallowed for a period of six weeks as he failed to attend for examination by a medical referee on 13 June 1984.
The claimant was notified accordingly on 26 June 1984. There is no trace of medical certificates having been received in the Department subsequent to 26 June 1984.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 12 March 1985. Inquiries are being made to establish if he fulfils the conditions of being capable of and available for employment. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined in the light of the outcome of these inquiries.
701.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit and arrears due since the first week of January 1985, will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The award of credited contributions to the person concerned was disallowed from 21 November 1984, following an examination by a medical referee who considered her to be capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance and she was examined on 3 April 1985 by a different medical referee who also considered her to be capable of work.
The claimant was notified of the result of this examination and supplied with an appeal form on 10 April 1985. She has been advised to return the form setting out the grounds for her appeal if she wishes her case to be referred to an appeals officer for determination.
702.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will be called before a medical referee to determine his eligibility for an invalidity pension.
Arrangements are being made to have the person concerned examined on 9 May 1985 by a medical referee. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of that examination.
703.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is entitled to rent relief under his Department's scheme in private rented accommodation; and, if so, how the person concerned can pursue the matter.
There is no record in the Department of an application for a rent allowance from the person concerned. An application form and explanatory leaflet were issued to her on 26 April. On receipt of the completed application form and the required documents in the Department, a decision will be given in the case and the applicant will be notified of the outcome.
704.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in regard to an application for a transfer from disability benefit to an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and when this person will be paid an invalidity pension.
The person concerned has been awarded an invalidity pension from 11 April 1985, the Thursday following the date of exhaustion of his entitlement to pay-related benefit. A pension book payable from 30 May 1985 will be issued shortly to the designated post office of payment, and arrears in respect of the period from 11 April 1985 to 29 May 1985 less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period will be paid by payable order.
705.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason payment of disability benefit has been discontinued to a person (details supplied) in County Cork and supplementary welfare allowance has been refused on the grounds that he should be registering with the employment exchange for unemployment benefit while his appeal against the cessation of his disability benefit is being processed as this person is still in receipt of medical certificates to say that he is incapable of work therefore he cannot sign for unemployment benefit.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 11 March 1985 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have him examined by a different medical referee at an early date. His entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
He claimed unemployment benefit from 11 March 1985 and payment was authorised by the employment exchange. He refused to accept payment on the grounds that it might prejudice his disability benefit claim. Supplementary welfare allowance was advanced to him for the period 11 March to 23 March 1985 while the position in relation to his unemployment benefit claim was being clarified; however, it cannot continue to be advanced to him while he is entitled to payment of unemployment benefit. His claiming unemployment benefit pending further medical examination will not prejudice his claim to disability benefit should he be found to be incapable of work.
706.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £29.95 weekly the appropriate maximum rate payable to her. She was in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of her unemployment assistance claim and the amount which she received was recouped to her local health board from arrears of unemployment assistance due to her which she received on 5 March 1985. Weekly payments of £29.95 continue to be made as they become due.