asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the maximum rate of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
59.
Following investigation of his unemployment assistance claim, the means of the person concerned were assessed at £30 weekly, derived from benefit from his wife's earnings. He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance at £30.15 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £60.15 less means of £30.
He recently applied for a review of his means and his papers were returned to the social welfare officer for an up-to-date report. The inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and the rate of unemployment assistance payable to the person concerned will be reviewed in the light of the outcome. Further weekly payments of £30.15 will continue to be made as they become due.
60.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the maximum rate of unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, she was assessed, with effect from 9 April 1986, with means of £11.50 weekly, derived from the value of board and lodging on her uncle's holding.
She is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £22.30 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in her case of £33.80 less means of £11.50. If the person concerned is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against her, it is open to her to appeal and have her means determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained from her local office.
61.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is not in receipt of unemployment benefit.
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 was in receipt of unemployment benefit up to 8 May 1985 when he had drawn his maximum entitlement of 390 days benefit. He applied for unemployment assistance, and is at present in receipt of £18.45 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £33.80, less means of £15.35 assessed against him.
He furnished a form P 45 which showed that he had been employed on a part time basis from 15 August 1985 to 22 November 1985. Inquiries are, however, being made to establish whether his employment for the period concerned was insurable at the appropriate contribution rate which provides cover against unemployment. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be decided in the light of the outcome of the investigations. In the meantime, weekly payments of unemployment assistance at £18.45 will continue to be made as they become due.
62.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange for the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
Where a person has less than 156 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment, entitlement to disability benefit is limited to 52 weeks.
According to the records of the Department the person concerned has only 26 contributions paid on her behalf since entry into insurance. She has been paid disability benefit from 17 November 1982 for more than 152 weeks and in order to requalify for benefit it will be necessary for her to have at least a further 13 weeks of insurable employment for which the appropriate contributions are paid.
63.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange for the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
Where a person has less than 156 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment, entitlement to disability benefit is limited to 52 weeks.
According to the records of the Department the person concerned has only 65 contributions paid on her behalf since entry into insurance. She was paid disability benefit from 7 January 1985 and her entitlement became exhausted on 6 January 1986. However, because of an administrative error payment continued up to 21 April 1986 resulting in an overpayment of £500.95.
The person concerned claimed an increase in respect of her three children. This increase has now been granted and a cheque for the arrears, less the amount of the overpayment, has been issued. In order to requalify for disability benifit it will be necessary for her to have at least a further 13 weeks of insurable employment for which the appropriate contributions are paid.
64.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in deciding the unemployment assistance appeal made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned appealed against the means assessment of his unemployment assistance claim on 20 March 1986 and arising from contentions made by him in support of his appeal the case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries.
When the inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, the papers will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest possible date and the rate of unemployment assistance payable will be reviewed in the light of the outcome.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of unemployment assistance at £34.75 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £79.50 less means of £44.75, derived from self-employment. Further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
65.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange a transfer from disability benefit to an invalidity pension for a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
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.
66.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who was sick for nine weeks and sent in weekly certificates did not qualify for disability benefit.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 11 February 1986 to 31 March 1986, after which date she was certified fit to resume work. Her insurance contributions for 1984-85, the contribution year governing her claim, are not reckonable for social welfare benefits as they were paid at the class J rate. Accordingly, she was not entitled to payment of disability benefit for the period of her claim.
67.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 did not qualify for disability benefit during the year 1984-85; and if she will ensure that any payments due for the period concerned are paid.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 5 February 1982 and payment was issued to her until 31 March 1984. Payment was disallowed after that date following an examination by a medical referee who considered her to be capable of work.
Her case was then referred to an appeals officer who decided on 6 February 1985 that she was not entitled to disability benefit. The appeals officer's decision is final. Her claim to disability benefit was readmitted from 6 April 1985 and all benefit payable to 18 April 1986, the date of the latest medical certificate received, has been issued to her.
68.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit payments will now be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford as she has submitted complete details stating her availability for work.
The unemployment benefit claim of the person concerned was disallowed with effect from 29 January 1986 on the grounds that she was not available for work. She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her appeal on 4 April 1986. The appeals officer, however, also decided that she was not available for work and she was notified of the decision on 7 April 1986.
She continued to sign the unemployed register and inquiries are being made to establish whether she fulfils the condition of being available for work from 5 April 1986. When these inquiries, which will be completed as soon as possible, are completed, her entitlement to unemployment benefit from 5 April 1986 will be reviewed.
69.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason deferred benefits due to a person (details supplied) in County Meath who was unable to work due to an injury in June 1985 for six weeks have not been forwarded to him; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The claim for injury benefit from the person concerned has been allowed and injury benefit has been paid in respect of the period from 29 May 1985, the date of the accident, to 22 July 1985, the last day of incapacity. All benefit due has now been paid including pay-related benefit from 20 June, the 19th day of incapacity.
70.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit owed to a person (details supplied) in County Meath who has not received any money since 25 October and who had signed off for seven weeks during the summer when he had work will be paid.
Following reinvestigation, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed from 6 November 1985 on the grounds that his means, derived from benefit from his wife's earnings and from self-employment, exceeded the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance and the papers were referred to an appeals officer for determination of means. The appeals officer, however, required additional information which necessitated the return of the papers to the social welfare officer.
These inquiries were recently completed and arrangements are being made for the resubmission of the case to the appeals officer for determination, at the earliest possible date. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of the appeal and of the decision on his entitlement to unemployment assistance as quickly as possible.