asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a contributory old age pension is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, as she feels that she should be entitled to the pension on the grounds that her husband was in employment all his life.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
77.
One of the qualifying conditions for the receipt of a contributory old age pension requires the claimant to have a yearly average of at least 20 reckonable contributions from the beginning of the 1953-54 contribution year or from her year of entry into insurance, whichever is the later, to the end of the last complete contribution year before she reaches pension age. The yearly average is based on a person's own insurance record. A spouse's record cannot be taken into account for this purpose. The person concerned has no record of insurance since the beginning of the 1953-54 contribution year, and therefore, she does not qualify for a contributory old age pension. Her husband is in receipt of a contributory old age pension at the rate of £51.40 per week. She is in receipt of a noncontributory old age pension at a rate which is greater than the increase in respect of an adult dependant to which he would otherwise be entitled.
78.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of an invalidity pension to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick, who submitted all relevant information over three months ago; when this will be paid; and if she will make a statement on the subject.
Invalidity pension has been awarded from 10 October 1985. A pension book payable from 24 July 1986 will be issued to the designated post office of payment. Arrears in respect of the period from 10 October 1985 to 23 July 1986, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by payable order.
79.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if there will be a decrease in July in the amount of money which a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath on a long term invalidity pension will receive; the amounts received now and the amount received in July for husband, wife and one dependent daughter.
The person concerned is in receipt of invalidity pension at £85.15 per week, that is, the rate appropriate to a married man with one qualified child. Under the provisions of the last budget this rate of pension will be increased to £88.15 per week with effect from 17 July 1986.
80.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when she will grant an appeal for full unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Following a review of his unemployment assistance claim in February 1986 the means of the person concerned were assessed at £7.75 weekly, derived from a pension which he is receiving. He appealed against the means assessment but an appeals officer also assessed his means at £7.75 weekly and he was notified accordingly. He is, therefore, entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £76.90, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £84.65, less means of £7.75.
The person concerned recently applied for a further review of his means and his papers have been resubmitted to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. The rate of unemployment assistance payable to him will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of these inquiries. In the meantime, further weekly payments of £76.90 will continue to be made as they become due.
81.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment assistance has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if she will re-examine this case as soon as possible with a view to having assistance restored to the full amount.
When the person concerned had drawn his maximum unemployment benefit entitlement of 390 days on 7 May 1986 he claimed unemployment assistance. His means were assessed at nil.
He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the appropriate maximum weekly rate payable in his case of £34.95. However, as the unemployment benefit week ends on a Wednesday as against Tuesday in the case of unemployment assistance this meant that the person concerned was entitled to five days assistance during the first week after transfer from unemployment benefit. He was, accordingly, paid £29.15 in respect of the period 8 May 1986 to 13 May 1986. Payments at the weekly rate of £34.95 are continuing in respect of unemployment since 13 May 1986.
82.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will not receive unemployment assistance.
When the person concerned had drawn her full entitlement of 390 days unemployment benefit on 13 February 1986 she claimed unemployment assistance. Entitlement to unemployment assistance is dependent on a claimant being the holder of a qualification certificate a claimant must satisfy certain conditions including an assessment of means.
The social welfare officer interviewed the person concerned but is awaiting documentary evidence regarding a redundancy payment received by her. When this information is provided her means will be assessed and her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined as quickly as possible.
83.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will clarify the position of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1, who has a query under section 111 of the Social Welfare Act; and if she will check the records to see how many times she signed on for credits during the year April 1983 to 1984.
The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit for 8 years up to February 1982, when her claim was disallowed after she was found capable of work by a medical referee. She then claimed and was paid unemployment benefit up to February 1983 when she had drawn her maximum entitlement of 312 days benefit.
She continued to sign the unemployed register intermittently for credited contributions. In the contribution period from 6 April 1983 to 5 April 1984 she signed the unemployed register for the following periods: 6 April 1983 to 2 May 1983; 9 May 1983 to 13 June 1983 and again on 8 August 1983 for one day only. She was awarded a total of eight credited contributions for these periods. She did not sign the unemployed register after 8 August 1983.
During the period from 2 August 1983 to 20 January 1984 she was employed as a part time cleaner. Following inquiries it was decided that this employment which was for less than 18 hours weekly, was insurable at Class J contribution rate which does not provide cover against unemployment. As the person concerned was not unemployed during the period 2 August 1983 to 20 January 1984 she was not entitled to credited contributions for that period.
Question No. 84 withdrawn.
85.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be re-granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is now destitute; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Following a review the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed in March 1986 on the grounds that his means, derived from profit from his holding, exceeded the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance and arising from contentions made in support of his appeal his case was referred to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. When these inquiries are completed his case will be submitted to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest possible opportunity. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of his appeal and of his entitlement to unemployment assistance as soon as possible.
86.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision on an appeal for disability benefit will be made for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 19 May 1986 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements are being made to have him examined by a different medical referee at an early date.
His entitlement to further payment of disability benefit will be reviewed in the light of the medical referees report following this examination.
87.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was refused to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 March 1986. She was not entitled to benefit as according to the records of the Department she had less than the minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in 1984-85, the contribution year governing her claim.
88.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan was refused social assistance.
Following investigation the claim of the person concerned for single woman's allowance was disallowed on the grounds that her means exceeded the statutory limit. Her means are derived from a British retirement pension, from the letting value of land and from capital. She recently appealed against the means assessment and her case is being referred to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest possible opportunity. The person concerned will be informed of the outcome of her appeal and of the decision of her entitlement to single woman's allowance as quickly as possible.
89.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan is receiving only 70p per week unemployment assistance.
Following a review of his unemployment assistance claim in November 1985, the means of the person concerned were assessed at £78.80 weekly derived from profit from his holding and benefit from his wife's earnings.
He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of 70p being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £79.50, less means of £78.80. He last signed the unemployed register on 5 November 1985. It is open to him to reapply for unemployment assistance if he wishes to do so. Also, if he considers that his circumstances have changed since the last investigation of means, it is open to him to apply for a review of his case. A form for this purpose may be obtained at his local employment office.
90.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an unemployment assistance appeal has not been concluded for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
Following a review, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed in November 1985 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. In this regard, he failed to supply full particulars of all stock held by him.
He appealed against the disallowance and he was given a further opportunity to fully disclose his means. His papers were returned to the social welfare officer and his inquiries, which were protracted because of difficulties in establishing the true position of the claimant's circumstances, were recently completed. His case was submitted to an appeals officer for determination of means at the earliest possible date. The person concerned will be informed of the outcome of his appeal and of his entitlement to unemployment assistance as soon as possible.