asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in relation to an appeal for increased unemployment assistance on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
148.
Following investigation of his unemployment assistance claim in August 1985, the means of the person concerned were assessed at £31.70 weekly derived from the profit from his holding. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £45.25 weekly, being the maximum appropriate rate payable in his case of £76.95 less means of £31.70.
According to the Department's records, the person concerned did not appeal against the means assessment, but the appropriate form, which will enable him to have his means reviewed, was issued to him on 27 January 1986. When the completed form is received at his local office, his case will be referred to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will then be reviewed in the light of the outcome.
149.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is not in receipt of the maximum rate of pension as the house which was taken into account for his means assessment has been vandalised.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of old age pension at the reduced weekly rate of £32. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to the assessment of his means consisting of the weekly value of capital (which includes the capital value of a house not personally used). In the light of the information furnished by the Deputy, further inquiries into the pensioner's circumstances are now being made. When these are completed, the pensioner's entitlement will be reviewed and he will be notified of the outcome.
150.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is not yet in receipt of her widow's contributory pension, even though she applied on 21 October 1985.
The person concerned, whose claim was received on 17 December 1985, has been awarded a widow's contributory pension at the weekly rate of £56.15 from 25 October 1985, the Friday following her husband's death. This is the rate appropriate to a widow under 66 years with one qualified child where the yearly average number of insurance contributions on which title to pension is based is 24 or more but does not exceed 29. The pension was awarded by virtue of her own insurance record and is based on a yearly average of 26 contributions. For pension at the maximum rate an average of not less than 48 is required.
A pension book with orders payable from 6 December 1985 has been sent to the designated post office for collection by her and she has been notified accordingly. Arrears of pension for the period 25 October 1985 to 5 December 1985 will be sent direct to her shortly by means of a payable order.
It was necessary before a pension could be awarded in this case to establish the widow's insurance record. In this connection it is possible that she may have had further employment which is not recorded on her insurance record and she was requested on 21 January 1986 to supply details converning gaps in the record. A reply is awaited. On receipt of the reply her possible entitlement to a higher rate of pension will be considered.
151.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is currently in receipt of a reduced rate of unemployment assistance.
Following a review of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £62.35 weekly derived from the profit from his holding and from the value of capital. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at £14.60 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £76.95 less means of £62.35. He appealed on 2 February 1986 against the amount of means assessed against him and arising from contentions made by him in support of his appeal the case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries.
When these inquiries are completed his case will be referred to an appeals officer for determination. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to the person concerned will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.
152.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has not qualified for unemployment assistance.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means of £34.60 weekly derived from the value of board and lodgings on his brother's holding exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the means assessment but an appeals officer on 11 November 1985 also decided that his means amounted to £34.60 per week. He applied for a further review of his means and the papers have been referred to the social welfare officer for reinvestigation. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of the outcome of the inquiries.
153.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the unemployment assistance claim made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim for unemployment assistance which refers to the person named in the details supplied. Further inquiries in the matter will be made if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the person concerned to be identified.
154.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim for unemployment assistance which refers to the person named in the details supplied. Further inquiries in the matter will be made if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the person concerned to be identified.
155.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on an appeal against a reduction in unemployment assistance made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It has not been possible to trace receipt of a claim for unemployment assistance which refers to the person named in the details supplied. Further inquiries in the matter will be made if the Deputy will furnish additional information to enable the person concerned to be identified.
156.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the unemployment benefit application made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit up to 18 December 1985, when she exhausted here entitlement to 312 days benefit.
However, she may requalify for a further period of unemployment benefit from the date of her 65th birthday, on 28 February 1986. The position regarding requalification for unemployment benefit or, alternatively, of her possible entitlement to a retirement pension will be explained to the person concerned on her next visit to her local office.
157.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the unemployment assistance application made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned has been in continuous receipt of unemployment assistance and is at present in receipt of £13.55 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £100.05 less means of £86.50. His means are derived from the profit from his holding and from the value of capital.
If he considers that his means have changed since the last investigation it is open to him to apply for a review of his means. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local employment office. Further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
158.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will restore unemployment assistance payments immediately to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that by failing to furnish particulars of his means he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance and expressed a willingness to co-operate in the inquiries regarding his means.
The papers have been returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. When the inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, the case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination and the entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome.
159.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick concerning the decision to allow him a reduced rate of payment of unemployment assistance will be heard; and if an oral hearing will take place.
The person concerned appealed on 6 February 1986 against the means assessment on his unemployment assistance claim and arrangements are being made to refer his case to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £80.05 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £105.60 less means of £25.55.
Further payments of £80.05 will continue to be made as they become due. The rate of unemployment assistance payable will be reviewed in the light of the decision of the appeals officer.
160.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny is not receiving unemployment benefit when her colleagues in the same working position are in receipt of benefit.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for employment. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 28 October 1985 but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment.
She was notified of this decision on 29 January 1986. It is open to her to appeal against the disallowance of her claim and a form for this purpose was issued to her on 29 January 1986.
161.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who has been employed part time in St. Canice's Hospital, Kilkenny, for the last two years, has a guarantee of continued part time employment until the end of 1986; and has applied for a full time position cannot receive unemployment benefit when all her colleagues in the same circumstances are in receipt of benefit.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must have at least 26 contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year, and must, also, satisfy the statutory condition of being available for employment.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 23 October 1984, but had insufficient contributions, paid or credited, in the governing contribution period 6 April 1982 to 5 April 1983, to qualify for payment of unemployment benefit. She continued to sign, but did not satisfy the contribution conditions for receipt of benefit during 1985.
A new benefit year commenced on 6 January 1986, and she now satisfies the contribution condition for payment of unemployment benefit. Inquiries are being made at present to establish whether she fulfils the condition of being available for full time employment and her entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined in the light of the outcome of these inquiries.