asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6 has not received any unemployment assistance or benefit for the past few weeks.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
95.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit up to 11 February 1986, when he had drawn his maximum entitlement of 390 days benefit. To requalify for unemployment benefit he requires at least a further 13 weeks contributions paid at the appropriate class providing cover against unemployment. Weeks of employment since the date on which he received 156 days of unemployment benefit may count for this purpose. The person concerned did not satisfy this condition and claimed unemployment assistance on 12 February 1986.
His unemployment assistance claim 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. Although he was advised of the consequences of not disclosing full details of his capital he still failed to disclose same.
On 29 April 1986 he applied to have his means reviewed and the case has again been referred to the social welfare officer. The inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and his means will then be assessed to determine his entitlement to unemployment assistance.
96.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrangements will be made to hear the unemployment assistance appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Following investigation of his unemployment assistance claim the means of the person concerned were assessed at £76.50 weekly derived from profit from his holding and income from self-employment. He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £10.25 being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £86.75 less means of £76.50
He appealed against the means assessment and arising from contentions raised by him in support of his appeal the case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries.
Following completion of the inquiries a deciding officer revised a previous decision and assessed his means with effect from 13 January 1986 at £59.20 weekly derived from profit from his holding and income from self-employment. Notification of the decision has issued to his local employment office. The revised weekly rate of unemployment assistance is £27.55, that is £86.75 less means of £59.20. Arrangements are being made to pay arrears due to him this week. Weekly payments of £27.55 will continue to be made as they become due.
97.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the inordinate delay in the payment of unemployment benefit in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when payment of all benefit and arrears outstanding will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned, who is a school cleaner, claimed unemployment benefit during the school holidays of Christmas 1985 and Easter 1986. A doubt arose as to whether her employment during the relevant contribution year 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984, which governed her claims, was insurable at a contribution class which provides cover against unemployment.
Following completion of the inquiries, it was established that her employment was insurable at a contribution class which provides cover against unemployment and, accordingly, her claim to unemployment benefit was allowed at £34.70 weekly, the maximum appropriate rate applicable in her case. All arrears of unemployment benefit due on the two claims, amounting to £121.47 were paid on 2 May 1986. She ceased to sign the unemployed register on 5 April 1986.
98.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary in view of his circumstances; if payment will be resumed, or if his case will be reviewed.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from profit from his holding exceeded the statutory limit.
He appealed against this disallowance and arising from contentions raised by him in support of his appeal the case was returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries and then submitted to an appeals officer for determination of means. The appeals officer also decided that his means exceeded the statutory limit and he was notified accordingly.
He recently made an application to have his means reviewed but to date he has not returned the completed form to the local office. A duplicate form has not been issued to him. When the completed form is returned the papers will be referred to a social welfare officer for a review of his means. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will then be determined in the light of the outcome of this review.
99.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the appeal for a supplementary welfare allowance of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 has been refused.
It is understood from the Eastern Health Board, which is responsible for the operation of the supplementary welfare allowances scheme in the Dublin area, that the appeal of the person concerned was refused on the grounds that her circumstances do not merit payment of a rent supplement under the scheme. The person concerned was paid a supplement for a period of six months up to September 1985 and advised that she should seek accommodation which would be less expensive and more suitable to her circumstances. This supplement ceased when it was established that the person concerned had made no effort to obtain alternative accommodation.
100.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he is entitled to a contributory old age pension.
There is no record of receipt of a claim for contributory old age pension from the person concerned. The Department's records show that he qualifies for this pension at the rate appropriate to a yearly average of 38 contributions. A pension claim form has been sent to him and the matter will be attended to when the completed claim form is returned to the Department.
101.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made with regard to an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick in respect of a decision in relation to unemployment benefit.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the conditions that a claimant must be unemployed, capable of work, available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 18 February 1986 but her claim was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for work.
She appealed against the disallowance and attended an oral hearing of her case on 29 April 1986. The appeals officer also decided that she was not available for work. She was notified of the decision on 1 May 1986.
102.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a person must have at least 26 contributions paid or credited in the contribution year governing the claim.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 3 February 1986. However as she was employed in the United Kingdom during the governing contribution year 6 April 1984 to 5 April 1985 her entitlement to unemployment benefit could not be established until inquiries to ascertain details of her contribution record in that country had been completed. These inquiries will be completed as soon as possible.
In the meantime the person concerned claimed unemployment assistance but efforts by a social welfare officer to contact her at the address given, for the purpose of determining her means, have failed. A letter has now been issued to her requesting that she make herself available for interview. Her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined when her means are assessed.
If the means of the person concerned are insufficient to meet her needs it is open to her to apply to the local community welfare officer for supplementary welfare allowance while her claim to unemployment assistance is being processed.