asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has now finalised the up-to-date position concerning the unemployment assistance claim of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and, if so, if he will make a statement on the long delay in processing the application.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
587.
There is no change in the position of the disallowance of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned which was stated in the written reply to the Deputy's parliamentary question dated 5 February 1985.
However, the inquiries being made by a social welfare officer to establish his contribution record for the purposes of entitlement to unemployment benefit were recently completed. The applicant does not satisfy the contribution for unemployment benefit on the grounds that he has less than 26 weeks of insurable employment with contributions paid at the appropriate class since the date on which he entered insurance. He has been notified of the decision in his case and of his right to appeal but to-date he has not done so.
588.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if it is possible for her to sign on locally as she is at present in receipt of no income from any source.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 9 May 1985 and her case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of her means. When these inquiries are completed her means will be assessed and her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
Her place of residence is less than six miles from the employment exchange at which she made her claim and she is accordingly required to sign as unemployed at that office for the purpose of proving unemployment. It would be open to her to claim supplementary welfare allowance pending the determination of her entitlement to unemployment assistance. Application should be made to the local community welfare officer at her health board centre.
589.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will restore social welfare assistance to a person (details supplied) in Dublin as it was halved having regard to the fact that adjustment was made on the basis of having a small savings account.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £13.90 weekly derived from the benefit of board and lodging in his parents' home and from the value of capital. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him but an appeals officer also determined his means at £13.90 weekly. Unemployment assistance was accordingly paid to him at £16.05 weekly being the appropriate rate £29.95 less £13.90 means.
It was however recently established on the basis of credited contributions awarded to him while resident in Great Britain that he satisfied the contribution condition for entitlement to unemployment benefit from the commencement of his claim. Arrangements have been made to pay adjusting arrears of unemployment benefit less the amount of unemployment assistance which he received to him this week and further payments of unemployment benefit at £30.90 weekly will be made as these become due.
590.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford did not receive his living alone allowance from 4 January 1985 to 29 March 1985.
A living alone allowance book payable for the period 4 January 1985 to 29 March 1985 issued to the post office, requested by the person concerned in February 1985. The pensioner was notified of this but failed to collect the allowance book which was eventually returned to this Department. The pensioner was written to about the matter but no reply was received to date. In the light of the Deputy's representations a payable order covering the period concerned has been issued to the person concerned. He is at present in receipt of the maximum rate pension of £44.50 which includes a living alone allowance of £3.20.
591.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will receive a duplicate cheque for £40 of pension arrears.
A duplicate payable order in respect of arrears of invalidity pension will issue on 24 May 1985.
592.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in transferring a children's allowance claim book from the name of a deceased person in to her husband (details supplied) in County Cork who has now made the claim; and if he will explain the failure of his Department to both communicate with this person and give an explanation.
An application form was issued to the person concerned on 23 April 1985 to enable him to claim children's allowance. The completed form has not been returned to the Department to date. A second form has now been issued to him. On receipt of the completed application in the Department an early decision will be given in the case and he will be notified of the outcome.