asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will restore payment of an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Galway who has returned from the USA since 10 March 1985.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
616.
On her return from the USA the old age pension of the person concerned was restored at the maximum weekly rate of £41.30. However, during the course of a routine investigation of her old age pension entitlements the social welfare officer sought information regarding livestock. Despite several requests, this information has not yet been provided. Payment of her pension was accordingly suspended pending receipt of this information and review of her entitlements. If the person concerned is now prepared to furnish this information she should notify the Department to that effect and her case will be re-examined.
617.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned who is a postal applicant has been issued with an application form to enable him to claim unemployment benefit. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined when the completed application form is received.
He did however request an application form for unemployment assistance. He is not eligible for unemployment assistance at present as he was convicted for an offence under the Social Welfare Acts and is accordingly disqualified for the receipt of unemployment assistance for six months from 3 April 1985. He was notified accordingly.
618.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway who has been signing for the last 13 weeks.
The person concerned who is a postal applicant has been issued with an application form to enable him to claim unemployment benefit. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined when the completed application form is received.
He did however request an application form for unemployment assistance. He is not eligible for unemployment assistance at present as he was convicted for an offence under the Social Welfare Acts and is accordingly disqualified for the receipt of unemployment assistance for six months from 3 April 1985. He was notified accordingly.
619.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon has not been paid disability benefit for the past month.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 8 February 1982. There was an interruption in payment of benefit from 22 April 1985 as medical evidence of his incapacity was not received in the Department. While he submitted the necessary medical evidence on 8 May 1985 payment was not issued however, pending the confirmation of details of supplementary welfare allowance advanced to him by the Western Health Board. The position has now been clarified and the arrears payable, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the health board, were issued to him on 20 May 1985.
620.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not yet been approved for free electricity.
An application for a free electricity allowance received from the person concerned was approved on 14 November 1984 and the ESB has confirmed that the allowance was applied to her electricity account from the October-November 1984 billing period onwards. Notification of the approval of her application was issued to her on 19 November 1984.
621.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of unemployment benefit due to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will be paid.
Following the completion of inquiries to ascertain the date on which employment was resumed the arrears of unemployment benefit due in respect of three days of unemployment were paid to the person concerned on 16 May 1985.
622.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was refused unemployment benefit even though she supplied ample evidence that she was available for work and had made several attempts to obtain work; and if he will now have her case re-examined.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 3 October 1983 but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 30 November 1983, and an appeals officer also decided that she was not available for employment.
She again claimed unemployment benefit on 2 March 1984 and this claim was also disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She appealed against this latter disallowance and following a further oral hearing which she attended on 14 March 1984 an appeals officer also decided that she was not available for employment. She ceased to prove unemployment on 17 April 1984.
If she considers that she now fulfils the condition for unemployment benefit it is open to her to claim by signing as unemployed at her local office after which her entitlement to benefit would be determined by a statutorily appointed deciding officer.