asked the Minister for Social Welfare the additional unemployment benefit which is due to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow for the period 1983-84; and if she will make a statement on her claim.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
72.
A claimant who has drawn the maximum entitlement of unemployment benefit cannot requalify for benefit until she has a further 13 weeks of employment which is insurable at a contribution class which provides cover against unemployment. Weeks of insurable employment after 156 days of benefit have been drawn are counted for this purpose.
The person concerned, who is a married woman, claimed unemployment benefit from 13 February 1984. She was paid to 9 February 1985, at which time she had drawn her maximum entitlement of 312 days benefit. As she had no insurable employment since drawing 156 days benefit, she did requalify for payment of benefit from 11 February 1985.
In accordance with the equal treatment provisions implemented with effect from 15 May 1986 under the Social Welfare Act, 1986, the maximum duration of unemployment benefit payable to a married woman was increased from 312 to 390 days. Under transitional arrangements, a claimant who had drawn 312 days of benefit in the three-month period from 14 February 1986 to 14 May 1986, and continued to prove unemployment, is entitled to payment of benefit from 15 May 1986 to the date on which she would normally have completed 390 days on her claim. However, as the person concerned had drawn her 312 days entitlement prior to 14 February 1986, the transitional arrangements do not apply in her case. She continues to sign the unemployed register for credited contribution purposes.
73.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan is not receiving disability benefit.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed for the statutory period of six weeks from 12 May 1986, as he failed to attend for examination by a medical referee of the Department on 21 April 1986. His explanation for failure to attend for examination has been accepted and payment of benefit was restored on 15 May 1986. All disability benefit payable to 21 June 1986, has now been issued to him.
74.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan has not received unemployment assistance.
Following a review the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means exceeded the statutory limit. He appealed against the disallowance and, arising from contentions made by him in support of his appeal, his papers were returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries.
These inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and his case will then be submitted to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.
75.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Galway who has been out of work for a number of years due to disability is entitled to disability benefit or an invalidity pension as a result of his disability.
According to the available records the person concerned has never claimed disability benefit. He would not be entitled to payment of disability benefit were he to submit a claim as he has less than the required minimum of 26 paid or credited contributions in the 1984-85 contribution year which governs claims since 6 January 1986. He has six credited contributions recorded in the 1984-85 year.
He would need to have been incapable of work for period of 12 months before he could be considered for an invalidity pension as well as satisfying the contribution conditions for that pension. These conditions are: (a) not less than 156 contributions must have been paid on the claimants behalf and (b) not less than 48 contributions must have been paid or credited in the contribution year before the claimant became permanently incapable of work.
76.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 27 February 1986 and his papers were referred to a social welfare officer for investigation of means.
The completion of the inquiries was delayed in this case as the person concerned was hospitalised for an extended period and could not be contacted by the social welfare officer. However, his inquiries have now been completed and the case is being submitted to a deciding officer for assessment of means as quickly as possible.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance from 27 February 1986, with the exception of the period during which he was hospitalised from 19 March 1986 to 7 May 1986, will be determined in the light of the means assessment.