asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason arrears of British widow's benefit paid to his Department by the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle, have not been released to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
16.
Mr. Coughlan
The person concerned, whose late husband died on 10 March 1980, had been in receipt of a non-contributory widow's pension at the maximum rate since 11 March 1980 for herself and five children.
The British Department of Health and Social Security advised this Department on 21 August 1984 that they were investigating her possible entitlement to a United Kingdom pension which was subsequently awarded with effect from 1 March 1980. Arrears for the period 11 March 1980 to 24 December 1984 amounting to Stg£12,456.89 (IR£15,247.11) were received here on 19 April 1985 and she has been in receipt of British Widow's pension at a rate of Stg£48.99 a week since 25 December 1984.
Her Irish Widow's non-contributory pension which is subject to a means test was then reassessed to take account of the British award and a pension order book at the revised rate of IR£45.45 a week from 7 June 1985 (which will be increased to £51.80 a week from 12 July 1985) was issued to the designated post office on 10 June 1985 for collection by her.
An overpayment of IR£14,805.80 dating back to 11 March 1980 arose on her Irish pension as a result of the British award and this has been recovered from the arrears of United Kingdom pension. The balance of the arrears amounting to IR£441.31 have now been sent to her by payable order.
17.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a free electricity allowance and a television licence granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
There is no record in the Department of receipt of an application for a free electricity allowance from the person concerned. An application form was, therefore, issued to her on 25 June 1985.
If she considers that she satisfies the conditions for receipt of the allowance as outlined on the form, she should complete it and forward it in the first instance to the ESB for attention. On receipt of the completed application in the Department the matter will be considered further and she will be notified of the outcome. A person who qualifies for a free electricity allowance is also entitled to a free television licence which may be obtained on application at the local post office.
18.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 15 February 1985, 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 23 April 1985 by a different medical referee who also considered him to be capable of work.
His case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of the case as soon as possible. The person concerned will be notified of the date and place of the examination as soon as the arrangements have been made.
19.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick was refused a free electricity allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
An application for a free electricity allowance received from the brother of the person concerned has now been approved and the ESB have been instructed to apply the allowance to his electricity account from the June-July 1985 billing period onwards. His application had originally been disallowed in error on 10 June 1985.
20.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in making a decision on the appeal for a non-contributory old age pension on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he is aware of the hardship caused to his family by the delay.
It has been decided that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the weekly rate of £8.05 which includes an adult dependant allowance of £2.75. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means consisting of half the weekly value of capital and income from selfemployment. An application for an increase in pension from the person concerned has been partially investigated. The social welfare officer hopes to have her inquiries completed shortly, and the case will then be referred for decision. The delay in dealing with this case is due to the pressure of work at the social welfare station concerned.
21.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting a non-contributory old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who disposed of a small farm of land to a relative and did not receive the final payment for the property and does not expect to receive it now; and if he will now agree to grant him this pension.
The old age pension claim of the person concerned has been partially investigated by the social welfare officer. It is expected that his report will be completed shortly, and the claim will be referred for decision. The claimant will be notified of the outcome in due course. As the person concerned will not reach 66 years until 19 July 1985 pension is not payable until that date.
22.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of a non-contributory old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed an old age contributory pension on 12 November 1984. His insurance record shows that he would have an entitlement to an old age contributory pension, at a reduced rate, on reaching age 66. As stated in reply to the Deputy's previous question on 13 December 1984, the Department's records show that he entered insurance in January 1936 and quoted his date of birth at that time as November 1919. This would indicate that he would be entitled to the old age contributory pension from some date in November 1985.
However, he has quoted his date of birth on his claim form for the pension as 14 September 1918. He has not, however, produced any evidence to support this date and he has not responded to the Department's statement that, in the absence of a birth certificate, a baptismal certificate or other reliable written evidence which he might be able to obtain, for example a certified extract from old school records, would be acceptable. The local social welfare officer has been asked to call on him to discuss the matter further.
23.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal for unemployment assistance will be heard for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned appealed against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim and an appeals officer decided that by failing to furnish particulars of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. Accordingly he was not entitled to payment of unemployment assistance. He was notified of this decision on 11 May 1985.
He recently applied for a review of his means and the case has been referred to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation of his means. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the social welfare officer's inquiries. He is at present in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance.
24.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the basis on which a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 was offered only £38 per week in supplementary welfare to keep her family while her husband is being treated in hospital for alcoholism; if he is satisfied that a family can survive on this amount; and if he will immediately review the position of this family.
Entitlement to an allowance under the supplementary welfare allowances scheme is, under the legislation, a matter to be determined by the health board having regard to the circumstances of the case.
It is understood from the Eastern Health Board, who are responsible for the administration of the supplementary welfare allowances scheme in the Dublin area, that the person concerned is in receipt of a weekly supplementary welfare allowance of £38.10 since 17 June 1985 in respect of her child and herself. This is the statutory basic rate of supplementary welfare allowance for a person with a child dependant, who has no means. Under the regulations governing the scheme an allowance cannot be paid in respect of her husband while he is in hospital but such an allowance could be paid should he be discharged.
In addition to the basic weekly payment there is provision under the scheme whereby a health board can make a single payment to meet an exceptional need. It would be open to the person concerned to apply for such a payment if she considers that she has exceptional needs arising from her present situation.
25.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 who cannot work because of rheumatoid arthritis and whose husband is on long-term disability benefit is entitled to any benefits from his Department.
The husband of the person concerned is currently receiving disability benefit from my Department which includes the normal adult dependant allowance of £24.15 in respect of her. On the basis of the information available she would not be entitled to any insurance benefit in her own right as she would not satisfy the contribution conditions.
She may, depending on her circumstances, be entitled to supplementary welfare allowance or to assistance under the various schemes administered by the health board. Inquiries regarding possible entitlement in this regard should be made to the Community welfare officer, Health Centre, North Strand, Dublin 1.