asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will immediately arrange for disability benefit to be restored to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who is married with two children, which was discontinued, without notice, despite the fact that he had adequate social welfare deductions made from his wages by his former employer, now in liquidation, and the liquidator had confirmed this in writing; if she will ensure that this is now restored.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
107.
The person concerned claimed and was paid injury benefit from 17 October 1985 to 16 April 1986. He had then exhausted his 26 week entitlement to injury benefit and his claim was transferred to disability benefit. A disability benefit claim was authorised from 17 April 1986. However, due to an administrative error payment of benefit ceased from 19 April 1986. Therefore, there was a delay in issuing payment for the period from 19 April 1986 to 2 May 1986, the date of the latest medical certificate received. All benefit payable for this period has now been issued.
108.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will increase the rate of unemployment assistance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance in April 1984 and in connection with his claim his means were assessed at £12.80 weekly derived from the value of the benefit of board and lodgings on his parent's holding. He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £21 being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £33.80, less means of £12.80.
If the person concerned is of the opinion that his means have changed since the last investigation was carried out it is open to him to apply for a review. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local employment office. In the meantime weekly payments of £21 will continue to be made as they become due.
109.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will ensure that fuel vouchers will be restored to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 who has been deprived of fuel vouchers over the past winter and is depending greatly on assistance from St. Vincent de Paul Society; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
It is understood from the Eastern Health Board, which is responsible for the administration of the national fuel scheme in the Dublin area, that it was decided by the appeals officer that the person concerned is not entitled to a fuel allowance under the 1985-86 scheme on means grounds. It is understood that he received fuel allowances in previous seasons due to non-disclosure of means.
110.
Mr. Cowen
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Invalidity pension has been awarded from 26 September 1985. A pension book payable from 29 May 1986 will be issued to the designated post office of payment in the near future. Arrears in respect of the period from 26 September 1985 to 28 May 1986, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by payable order.
111.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an oral hearing in the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly in connection with his claim for unemployment assistance will be held.
In order to qualify for unemployment benefit a claimant engaged in a subsidiary employment must satisfy a special condition which requires the claimant to have at least 78 reckonable contributions paid in a three year period before the date of claim or, alternatively, the remuneration or profit from the subsidiary employment must not exceed £2 a day. The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 16 November 1985 and his claim was disallowed on the grounds that he was a landholder who did not satisfy this special condition.
He appealed against the disallowance of his claim and an oral hearing of his appeal has been arranged for 16 May 1986. Pending a decision on his unemployment benefit claim the person concerned claimed unemployment assistance and following investigation of his claim he was assessed with means of £51.90 weekly derived from the profit from his holding. He is, accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance of £27.60 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £79.50, less means of £51.90.
He recently appealed against the means assessed for unemployment assistance purposes but the papers were lost in transit to Dublin. Another form on which to appeal has now been issued to him. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of both appeals and of the decisions on his unemployment benefit and assistance claims as soon as possible.
112.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in regard to claim for unemployment benefit of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit from 25 March 1986. His entitlement to unemployment benefit could not be determined until inquiries were made to establish why he left his employment. These inquiries were recently completed and his claim was allowed at £125 weekly, the maximum appropriate flat rate unemployment benefit payable in his case. All arrears due on the claim, less an amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid pending the outcome of his claim, are being issued to him by post this week.
Further weekly payments of unemployment benefit will continue to be made subject to him satisfying the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned was requested to furnish a form P.45 and when this is received his entitlement to pay-related benefit will be determined.
113.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in regard to an unemployed assistance appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Following a review in November 1985 the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means derived from the profit from his holding and from the value of capital exceeded the statutory limit in his case.
He appealed against the disallowance and an appeals officer also decided that his means exceeded the statutory limit. The person concerned was informed of this decision on 22 April 1986. If he considers that his circumstances have changed since the last investigation of his means it is open to him to apply for a review of his case. A form for this purpose may be obtained from his local employment office.
114.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will expedite an early decision on the unemployment assistance appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
Following a review 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 recently appealed against the disallowance and arising from contentions raised in support of his appeal his case was referred to the social welfare officer for further investigation of his means.
When this investigation is completed his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination as soon as possible. The person concerned will be informed of the outcome of the appeal and of his entitlement to unemployment assistance.