asked the Minister for Social Welfare the correct amount of disability benefit payable to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare who are both incapable of work; and if she will state how this couple are affected, if at all, by equality legislation.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
216.
The husband is receiving invalidity pension at the rate of £67.10 a week, that is, £47.10 and a special temporary payment of £20. This special payment is being made as his wife is receiving disability benefit at the rate of £41.10 a week and under the equality provisions for men and women in social welfare matters he is not entitled to be paid for her as an adult dependant.
The rate of disability benefit in payment to the wife was increased by £5 a week in May of this year under phase I of the implementation of the equal treatment provisions. Therefore, the couple are suffering an overall loss of £5.60 a week. However, the wife would be entitled to claim invalidity pension now and if her claim were successful she would qualify for a weekly pension of £47.10. A claim form has been issued to her and her claim will be reviewed immediately it is returned.
A husband in receipt of invalidity pension could not be paid an increase for his wife as an adult dependant if she were also in receipt of a similar pension in her own right. However, there was an entitlement to claim an increase in invalidity pension where the wife of the pensioner was on disability benefit. This of course has now changed as explained above.
217.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the payment of disability benefit has been discontinued to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 1 December 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 referee's report following this examination.
218.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the payment of disability benefit has been discontinued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 1 January 1986 and is currently being paid at the weekly rate of £45.80, that is, £41.10 personal rate and an increase of £4.70 for one child dependant.
The records of the Department show that payment has been issued at regular. weekly intervals on receipt of medical evidence and all benefit payable has been issued to 9 December 1986, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
219.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will pay a family income supplement to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been awarded a family income supplement of £14 a week with effect from 6 November, 1986. The appropriate order book is being sent to the designated post office and the claimant is being notified accordingly.
220.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total cost of maintaining the supplementary welfare system in 1985 and in the current year; the number of staff employed and the cost of staffing the system; and if she will outline what the approximate cost of raising social welfare payments in line with the recommendations of the Commission on Social Welfare would be.
The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:
|
Cost |
||
|
1985* |
1986* |
|
|
£m |
£m |
|
|
Supplementary Welfare |
28.6 |
29.3 |
|
National Fuel Scheme |
14.1 |
16.9 |
|
Administration |
4.6 |
5.5 |
|
Total |
47.3 |
51.7 |
*Estimates.
The number of staff employed in the administration of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is carried out by the health boards is approximately 600.
The cost of raising social welfare payments in line with the main recommendations of the Commission on Social Welfare would be about £430 million in present terms.
221.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not receiving payment for his child who is still at school.
The invalidity pension in payment to the person concerned contained an allowance for two qualified children, a daughter, born 6 December 1968 and a son, born 12 June 1978, up to 10 December 1986. A qualified child is a child who is under the age of 18 years and who is normally residing with the pensioner.
His daughter attained that age on 6 December 1986 and she was no longer a qualified child for invalidity pension purposes. Since 11 December 1986 his pension contains an increase for one qualified child and a pension book at £10.45 rate covering this increase was issued to the designated post office of payment on 5 December 1986. The present rate of invalidity pension is £88.15, that is, £47.10 personal rate, an allowance of £30.60 in respect of his wife as adult dependant and an increase of £10.45 for one qualified child.
222.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of an invalidity pension due to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be paid; and the amount which will be paid.
A payable order for £283.90 to cover arrears of invalidity pension due was issued to the person concerned on 12 December 1986.
223.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a family income supplement has been refused to persons (details supplied) in County Tipperary: when this will be restored, and the amount which will be paid.
The latest claim for family income supplement by the persons concerned was disallowed on the ground that their weekly income exceeded the limit of £180 for a family with five children. It is open to the claimants to appeal against the decision if they are dissatisfied with it.
224.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary, who has been receiving disability benefit for a number of years and suffers from chronic obstructive airway disease is not on an invalidity pension; and when he will receive same.
A form on which to claim invalidity pension was sent to the person concerned on 10 July 1986, but there is no record of its receipt back in the Department. A further form has been issued and on its return, duly completed the claim will be dealt with without delay.
225.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Limerick has had payment of disability benefit discontinued and that he was not notified until 22 November 1986 to appear for a medical inspection by an officer of her Department on 15 November 1986; if she is aware that this person has received no money from that time; her views on the fairness of this treatment of this person; if she will undertake to have payments restored with appropriate retrospective application; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed injury benefit on 21 July 1986 in respect of an incapacity from an accident at work on 16 July 1986. Pending investigations he was allowed disability benefit on an interim basis from 21 July 1986 the fourth day of incapacity. He was requested to report to the medical referee for examination on 10 October 1986 and a notification to that effect was posted to him on 2 October. He failed to attend for examination and in accordance with the regulations he was disqualified from receiving benefit from 15 October. Following receipt of his explanation to the effect that the notification to attend for examination had been delivered late benefit was restored from 15 October, the date from which he was disqualified.
226.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance has been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; if so, the amount; when this was granted; and the arrangements which have been made with a view to payment of the unemployment assistance presently disrupted due to the dispute in the Limerick Exchange area.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, he was assessed with means of £44.20, derived from the value of his holding, effective from 17 July 1986.
He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £30.20 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £74.40 less means of £44.20. All arrears due to the person concerned were paid last week and weekly payments of £30.20 will continue to be made as they become due.
The recent disruption of new unemployment assistance claims in the Limerick employment exchange resulted from an industrial dispute in which staff refused to handle items of post. The staff have now resumed dealing with the post and the processing of unemployment assistance claims has returned to normal.
227.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will expedite approval of unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Following investigation, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the beneficial occupation of his father's holding, exceeded the maximum rate payable in his case.
If the person concerned is dissatisfied with the decision, it is open to him to appeal against it and have his case determined by an appeals officer.
A form for this purpose may be obtained from his local office.
228.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if full rate of disability benefit is being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 November 1984 and is currently being paid at the maximum personal rate of £41.10 per week.
The records of the Department show that payment has been issued at regular weekly intervals on receipt of medical evidence and all benefit payable has been issued to 28 November 1986, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
229.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the unemployment benefit claim of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and when his claim will be allowed.
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 which governs the claim.
The person concerned was employed as a marine radio officer with a UK company from 1975 to October 1986 and paid British social insurance contributions. He claimed unemployment benefit on 3 November 1986.
The DHSS in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne have been requested to furnish details of his UK contribution record during the contribution year 6 April 1984 to 5 April 1985 which governs his claim. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be determined as soon as these particulars have been received.
The person concerned has also claimed unemployment assistance. This claim is currently being investigated by the social welfare officer. The inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and his case will then be submitted to a deciding officer for assessment of means.
His entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of this assessment.
230.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an appeal was not granted to a person (details supplied) in County Louth, the appeal having been lodged by the applicant in June 1986 and within the 21 day period from the date of notification of 29 May 1986, as issued by her Department; and if further proceedings in this area should be withdrawn pending the outcome of the appeal.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that he concurrently worked and claimed benefit. He was informed of his right to appeal but there is no record of any appeal having been received in the Department. If a copy of the original letter of appeal is now submitted it will receive immediate attention.
Legal proceedings were instituted against him and the case was listed for hearing in the District Court on 12 December 1986. His solicitor indicated to the court that an appeal was in progress within the Department and the case was adjourned until 6 February 1987 pending the outcome.
231.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork did not receive benefit for the week ending 5 December 1986.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 28 October 1985 and is currently being paid at the weekly rate of £71.05, the maximum rate appropriate to a married man, with two dependent children, whose wife is in receipt of disability benefit.
All benefit payable has been issued up to 9 December 1986, the date of the latest medical certificate received. Payment is issued at regular weekly intervals on receipt of medical evidence.
A list of the four most recent cheques issued has been sent to the person concerned so that he can indicate which, if any, has not been received by him. Consideration will be given to the issuing of a replacement cheque on receipt of his reply.
232.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when all arrears of unemployment assistance due to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry since last June will be paid to him; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Following investigation, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed on the grounds that, by failing to furnish details of his means, he failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.
He appealed against the disallowance on 24 September 1986 and, arising from contentions raised by him in support of his appeal, his papers were referred to the social welfare officer for further inquiries.
These inquiries were completed recently and his case has been submitted to an appeals officer for determination as soon as possible.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.