asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Offaly is only getting £14.50 unemployment assistance per week and received no reply to his application made over three months ago for an increase.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
86.
Following reinvestigation of his unemployment assistance claim, the person concerned was assessed with means of £19.30 weekly, derived from the value of board and lodging in his parents home. He appealed against this decision and an appeals officer, on 7 November 1985, also assessed his means at £19.30 weekly. He has been informed of the outcome of his appeal, through his local office. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance at £14.50 weekly, being the appropriate rate in his case, £33.80, less means of £19.30.
87.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite a decision on a claim for old age pension from a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Recent representations from the Deputy have been accepted as an application for increase in the existing rate of old age pension of the person concerned. The case has been partially investigated. On completion of inquiries it will be referred to a deciding officer and the person concerned will be notified of the decision without delay.
88.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned exhausted his entitlement to unemployment benefit on 19 October 1985 and then applied for unemployment assistance. Before the entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance could be determined it was necessary to have his means investigated by a social welfare officer. The investigation should be completed shortly and the case will then be referred to a deciding officer who will assess the means of the person concerned. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will then be determined in the light of the amount of means assessed against him.
89.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
It has been decided that the person concerned is entitled to an old age pension at the maximum weekly rate of £66.10 from 26 July 1985 which includes an adult dependant allowance of £22.10. The appropriate pension payable from 4 October 1985 issued on 15 November 1985, and a payable order covering arrears of pension due for the period 26 July 1985 to 3 October 1985 is in the course of being issued.
90.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for and genuinely seeking full time employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 4 October 1985 but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She recently appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have the matter determined by an appeals officer, at the earliest available opportunity. Her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
91.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit up to 2 February 1985 when she exhausted her entitlement to 312 days benefit. She will not requalify for unemployment benefit until she has at least a further 13 weeks contributions paid at the appropriate class providing cover against unemployment. Counted for this purpose are any weeks of employment since the date on which she received 156 days of unemployment benefit.
The person concerned made a repeat claim to unemployment benefit on 4 February 1985. According to the Department's records, while she had 13 contributions paid, these were not at an appropriate class providing cover against unemployment and consequently her claim was disallowed.
Inquiries are, however, being made to establish whether her employment for the 13 weeks was at a class which provides cover against unemployment and her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be decided in the light of the outcome of the investigations. The delay in completing the inquiries is regretted.
92.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must be available for and genuinely seeking full time employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 6 September 1985 and her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment. She has been notified of this decision and of her right to appeal against it.
93.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Following the exhaustion of his entitlement to 390 days unemployment benefit on 28 September 1985 the person concerned applied for unemployment assistance.
His means were investigated by a social welfare officer and he was assessed with means of £11.70, derived from the benefit from his wife's earnings. He is accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £65.25 weekly being the appropriate rate in his case of £76.95 less means of £11.70.
All arrears of unemployment assistance due for the period to 26 November 1985 were paid to him on 28 November 1985 and further weekly payments will continue to be made to him as they become due.
94.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit is not payable to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the fact that she is genuinely seeking work and is unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for and genuinely seeking full time employment. When the person concerned claimed unemployment benefit, she indicated that she was seeking part time work only and consequently her claim was disallowed. It is open to her to appeal against the disallowance of her claim and a form for this purpose has been issued to her by her local office.
95.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason prescribed relative's allowance was discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
Following a review of the prescribed relative's allowance entitlement of the person concerned, it has been decided that she is no longer entitled to the allowance on the grounds that she does not fulfil the statutory conditions. A condition for receipt of the allowance requires that the pensioner must be receiving full time care and attention from a prescribed relative who is residing with her for that purpose. The prescribed relative who farms a holding is not deemed to be in a position to provide full time care and attention. In the circumstances it was decided that the allowance could not continue in payment in this case. The appeal of the person concerned against the revocation of this allowance is with the appeals officer for determination. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome without delay.
96.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the qualifications necessary for the receipt of (1) the national fuel scheme; and (2) the urban fuel scheme.
The conditions for payment of fuel allowances by health boards under the national fuel scheme are prescribed by regulations. Under these regulations a person in receipt of long term social welfare or analogous payment may be eligible for fuel allowance provided that he is considered by the board to be unable to provide for his heating needs and is living alone or only with certain excepted persons.
Persons who are not in the categories specifically provided for in the regulations but who received a fuel allowance under the arrangements which existed prior to the regulations, may, if their circumstances have not changed, continue to be entitled to an allowance.
Under the terms of the urban fuel scheme, administered in 17 cities and towns mainly along the eastern and southern seaboards by local authorities, persons in receipt of non-contributory old age and blind pensions, widow's pensions (contributory and non-contributory) and unemployment assistance recipients with dependants have automatic entitlement to fuel vouchers. The scheme is confined to eligible persons resident within the functional areas of the local authorities concerned or to eligible persons rehoused by the local authorities outside those areas.
97.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is dependent on an applicant being the holder of a qualification certificate, and to obtain a qualification certificate an applicant must satisfy certain conditions, including an assessment of means.
The person concerned failed to co-operate with the social welfare officer investigating his means. He has been advised by his local office that unless he co-operates no further action can be taken on his claim. His case has again been referred to the social welfare officer to afford him a further opportunity to co-operate. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the social welfare officer's report.
98.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange an appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in relation to his claim for unemployment assistance.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from the profit from his holding exceeded the statutory limit. He recently appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to refer his case to an appeals officer for determination, at the earliest available opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
99.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will have his unemployment assistance reinstated in view of the fact that he has no other means and his parents are on a low income.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, his claim was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of his means, he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.
He has appealed against this decision and as a result of his appeal, he will be given a further opportunity to co-operate with the social welfare officer in the investigation of his means. When these inquiries are completed his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the social welfare officer's report.
100.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if holders of medical cards are exempt from levy deductions from their wages, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Employees who are holders of current medical serices cards are exempt from payment of both the 1 per cent youth employment levy and the 1 per cent income levy. They are also exempt from payment of the 1 per cent health contribution. In such cases, liability for the 3 per cent in question is transferred to the employer and is included in his share of the PRSI contribution.
101.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason his Department refused an application for unemployment assistance from a person (details supplied) in County Laois when sufficient evidence was submitted indicating that she was available for work.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for and genuinely seeking full time employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 21 August 1985 to 11 November 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 appeal on 6 November 1985 but the appeals officer also decided that she was not available for employment.
She again claimed unemployment benefit on 19 November 1985 and inquiries are being made at present to establish whether she now satisfies the required conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit. When these inquiries are completed her entitlement to unemployment benefit from 19 November 1985 will be determined.
102.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if all arrears of unemployment assistance have been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will confirm that she is in receipt of the correct amount of such assistance.
The person concerned was assessed with means of £9.55 weekly derived from the value of board and lodging in her mother's home and the benefit from an intestacy share in a holding. She is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £22.20 weekly, being the appropriate rate in her case of £31.75 less means of £9.55. All arrears due were paid to her on 21 November 1985 and weekly payments of £22.20 will continue to be made as they become due.
103.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the amount of a non-contributory old age pension being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick and the reason the maximum rate is not being paid.
It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension at a higher rate than £36.60, which includes an over eighty allowance of £3.20, and a living alone allowance of £3.40. The appeals officer has decided that the assessment of her means, comprising half the weekly value of capital and profit from a holding (the transfer of which is not acceptable for old age pension purposes) only entitles her to a pension at this rate. An overpayment on her late husband's pension resulted from non-disclosure of means and she is liable to repay this as the legal personal representative. The amount overpaid is being recovered by withholding £4 per week from the pensioner's entitlement and a pension of £32.60 per week is accordingly being paid to her.
104.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when pay-related benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 15 October 1985 and his claim was allowed at the weekly rate of £93.70, being the appropriate flat rate of unemployment benefit in his case. He is also entitled to pay-related benefit of £19.50 weekly from 5 November 1985 and all arrears due from that date were paid during week ending 19 November 1985. Further combined weekly payments of £113.20 will continue to be made as they become due.
105.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a dependant allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick under the unemployment assistance scheme.
The person concerned is an unemployment assistance recipient. He indicated on 31 July 1985 that he did not wish to claim for his wife as a dependant because she was in receipt of disabled person's maintenance allowance. Accordingly, he was paid at the single, weekly rate unemployment assistance, of £33.80 per week from that date.
He recently stated that he wished to claim an increase for his wife. Arrangements are being made for completion by him of the required application form and the appropriate payment will be made as soon as possible. He is also being advised of his wife's position regarding her disabled person's maintenance allowance claim in the light of an increase of unemployment assistance in respect of her being paid to him.
106.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for and genuinely seeking full time employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 29 October 1985. Inquiries are being made to establish whether he fulfils the condition of being available for work. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined in the light of the outcome of these inquiries. Pending a decision on his claim, he has been advised to apply for supplementary welfare allowance if his means are insufficient to meet his needs.
107.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the maximum amount of the £100 death grant was set; the total amount of death grant paid out for the year 1984, or the last year for which figures are available; the percentage of the social welfare contribution which goes towards the death grant; the cost of bringing the present maximum grant of £100 up to £500; the amount this would cost in increased social welfare contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The maximum amount payable in respect of the death grant was increased to £100 in 1982. The total amount paid in 1984 was £805,222 in respect of some 8,593 grants. Expenditure in the current year will be of the order of £900,000.
The percentage rate of PRSI contribution liability in respect of the death grant is 0.01 per cent. The additional cost of increasing the grant to £500 is estimated at £3,600,000. This would add another 0.04 per cent to the PRSI contribution rate.
108.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a decision has been made to pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
A person who has exhausted entitlement to unemployment benefit cannot requalify for benefit until he has a further 13 weeks of employment which is insurable at a contribution class which provides cover against unemployment. Any weeks of insurable employment after 156 days of benefit have been drawn are counted for this purpose. The person concerned exhausted his entitlement to 390 days unemployment benefit on 16 November 1982. According to the Department's records he has had no insurable employment after the 156th day of his benefit claim and has been in continuous receipt of unemployment assistance since 17 November 1982.
109.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded a non-contributory old age pension and if so, when payment will be made and the rate payable.
A claim to old age pension from the person concerned was received on 28 November 1985 and has been referred to the social welfare officer for investigation. On completion of inquiries it will be referred to a deciding officer and the person concerned will be notified of the decision without delay.
110.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of unemployment assistance due since January 1985 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 and if he will make a statement on the matter.
All the arrears of unemployment assistance due to the person concerned were posted to him on 20 November 1985. The delay in issuing the arrears was due to an oversight at the local office, and is regretted. The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the appropriate maximum weekly rate of £32.75.
111.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of unemployment assistance due since May 1985 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following the completion of inquiries into his means, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was put into payment on 8 October 1985. Before any arrears due, could be paid, it was necessary to ascertain from the health board the amount of supplementary welfare allowance which had been paid to the person concerned, pending a decision on his claim. The information was received recently and the arrears due less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance already paid, will be paid this week. The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at the appropriate maximum weekly rate of £32.75.
112.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway, despite the fact that he has signed for a long period of time and has been investigated by the social welfare officer many months ago; if he will now direct his Department to make an immediate decision; the payments that will be made; the date on which all payments including arrears will be made and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance up to 22 October 1985 based on a qualification certificate awarded to him in April 1985. He appealed against the means assessment and the case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. It then came to light that the applicant had failed to disclose full details of his means, at the previous interview. The appeals officer decided that the means of the person concerned exceeded the statutory limit with effect from 10 April 1985 and also decided that the unemployment assistance payable since 10 April 1985 was recoverable from him. Notification of the appeals officer's decision was issued to the person concerned.
113.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow is not receiving the maximum rate of unemployment benefit.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 29 April 1985 and his claim was authorised at the weekly flat rate unemployment benefit of £104.75, being the maximum rate payable to a married man with five child dependants. This amount increased to £111.10 weekly from 4 July 1985. He exhausted 156 days of benefit on 30 October 1985 and as he did not fulfil the contribution condition of having 280 paid contributions in a seven year period for continuous payment of unemployment benefit at the maximum rate, his weekly rate of unemployment benefit was reduced from £111.10 to £95.60 from 31 October 1985. In addition, the sum of £5 weekly is being deducted towards recovery of an overpayment of £624.24 assessed against him in respect of an irregular unemployment benefit claim during 1980. The total amount recovered, to week ending 26 November 1985, is £486.24 and the balance outstanding at that date is £138.
114.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will expedite unemployment benefit for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 16 September 1985. Following the completion of inquiries, his unemployment benefit claim has now been authorised at the weekly rate of £93.70, being the appropriate rate applicable to a married man with three child dependants. He is a postal claimant to unemployment benefit and arrangements have been made to issue a voucher to him this week, for encashment at his local post office, paying all arrears of flat rate unemployment benefit due. Weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
115.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision can be expected on the appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan against the refusal of unemployment assistance.
The person concerned recently appealed against the disallowance of his unemployment assistance claim and the case has been referred to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
116.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan who has been signing on for same since last May.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance on 19 November 1985 and arrangements are being made to refer his case to an appeals officer for determination. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
117.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that a young person (details supplied) who is attending a community-based programme will not be disqualified from receipt of unemployment assistance in view of the fact her parents were cut off dependant's allowance for her and the course is of great benefit of improving her employment opportunities.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is dependent on an applicant being the holder of a qualification certificate and to obtain a qualification certificate an applicant must fulfil certain conditions, including an assessment of means. The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 21 November 1985 and her case has been referred to a social welfare officer for investigation and when these inquiries are completed her means will be assessed. Her entitlement to unemployment assistance will then be determined in the light of the means assessed against her, subject to the additional condition that she is available for and genuinely seeking full time employment.
118.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 14 September 1985 after which date payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance of benefit and was examined by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. Her case has been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of her claim as soon as possible. Her claim will then be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
119.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is subject to the condition that an applicant must be available for work. The claim to unemployment assistance of the person concerned was disallowed for a period of six weeks from 21 October 1985 on the grounds that he had refused, without good cause, a reasonable opportunity of training, provided by AnCO. He was advised of his right to appeal against the disallowance and issued with a form for this purpose on 8 November 1985 but he has not appealed to date.
120.
Mr. Coughlan
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when payment of unemployment assistance will be reinstated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
Following a review, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 4 September 1985 on the grounds that by failing to furnish details of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against this decision and the appeals officer referred the case to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries are completed the case will be returned to the appeals officer for determination. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
121.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan is not receiving small farmer's unemployment assistance.
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 9 August 1985 and the case was referred to the social welfare officer for investigation of his means. The inquiries, which were extensive, were recently completed and his means were assessed at £41.95 weekly, derived from the profit from his holding. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £22.20 weekly, being the appropriate rate in his case of £64.15 less means of £41.95. A voucher for £314.50 in respect of arrears due from 9 August 1985, was posted to him on 27 November 1985. Weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
122.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason persons (details supplied) in County Monaghan have been refused a non-contributory old age pension.
It has been decided that the husband of the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension on the grounds that his means were not fully disclosed. If he now wishes to co-operate with the social welfare officer he should notify this Department to that effect and his entitlement to pension will be further investigated. There is no trace of receipt of a claim from the wife of the person concerned.
123.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive an old age pension.
A claim to old age pension from the person concerned has been partially investigated. The social welfare officer is awaiting details regarding an intestacy share in a holding. When the required information is received the case will be referred to a deciding officer. The person concerned will be notified of the decision without delay.