asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position regarding the free telephone rental allowance application of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
128.
To qualify for a free telephone rental allowance a person in receipt of a qualifying payment must be living 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. Both the person concerned and his son with whom he resides are in receipt of qualifying payments. Either of them could therefore qualify for the allowance provided the other is permanently incapacitated as above. The medical evidence furnished in support of the application is insufficient to enable a decision to be given in the case. The applicant has therefore been requested to submit more comprehensive medical evidence in respect of himself or his son. On receipt of the appropriate medical certificate in the Department a decision will be given and he will be notified of the outcome.
129.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position regarding the unemployment benefit application of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment benefit could not be determined until inquiries had been made to establish that he fulfilled the condition of being available for work. These inquiries were recently completed and his claim was allowed at the maximum flat rate unemployment benefit of £39.50 weekly and pay-related benefit at £35.06 weekly. All arrears due were paid recently and further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
130.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position regarding the application of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford for a free television licence.
There is no record in the Department or in An Post of receipt of an application for a free television licence from the person concerned. Full information on the scheme has been sent to him and if he feels that the qualifying conditions are satisfied in his case he should apply for a free licence at his local post office.
131.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position regarding the free telephone rental allowance application of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
To qualify for a free telephone rental allowance a person in receipt of a qualifying payment must be living 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. The person concerned is in receipt of a qualifying payment and resides with his wife and their 12 year old daughter. The applicant was requested on 25 November 1985 to furnish comprehensive medical evidence in respect of his wife. On receipt of the appropriate medical certificate in the Department, an early decision will be given in the case and he will be notified of the outcome.
132.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position regarding the unemployment assistance application of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance cannot be determined until the investigation into his means, at present being carried out by a social welfare officer, has been completed. The social welfare officer made a number of calls to the home address of the person concerned before he made himself available for interview. The social welfare officer now awaits the submission, by the applicant, of documentary evidence in connection with certain items of farm income and expenditure. When these are supplied the social welfare officer will complete his report and the entitlement of the applicant to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the amount of means assessed against him.
133.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position regarding the non-contributory old age pension application of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
It has been decided by an appeals officer that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age pension on the grounds that he does not fulfil the statutory condition as to means. The assessment of his means, consisting of half the weekly value of a holding, exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension.
134.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position regarding the transfer from disability benefit to invalidity pension of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to the person concerned and on its return, duly completed, the claim will be dealt with without delay.
135.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the up-to-date position regarding the unemployment assistance application of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
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 applied for unemployment assistance and the case was referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of his means. He failed, however, to supply particulars of his home circumstances.
A deciding officer recently decided to afford him a further opportunity to supply the necessary information. When the inquiries are completed his means will be assessed and his entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined accordingly.
136.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appeal for disability benefit made by a person (details supplied) in County Louth will be heard.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 8 July 1985 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance on 4 October 1985 and arrangements are being made to have her examined by a different medical referee on 13 December 1985. Her entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following this examination.
137.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a contributory or non-contributory old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
There is no trace of the receipt of a contributory pension claim from the person concerned. A non-contributory old age pension claim was received and is at present under investigation by the social welfare officer. On completion of inquiries, the case will be referred to a deciding officer for decision. The claimant will be notified of the outcome without delay.
138.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange immediately to return children's allowance books to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will pay all outstanding arrears.
According to the Department's records, the claimant in this case received payment in respect of her two qualified children up to and including September 1985. She claims that she received payment for one child only for September 1985 and returned her book for inspection. Her claim in this regard is being investigated and she will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible. An allowance book covering payment for both children from October 1985 has been issued to the claimant's home address.