asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded an invalidity pension.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
77.
Invalidity pension has been awarded from 14 August 1986. A pension book payable from 23 April 1987 will be issued to the designated post office of payment. Arrears in respect of the period from 14 August 1986 to 22 April 1987, less the amount of disability benefit paid during that period, will be paid by payable order.
78.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be considered for an invalidity pension and if so when.
A form on which to claim invalidity pension has been forwarded to the person concerned and on its return, duly completed, the claims will be dealt with without delay.
79.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare did not receive sick benefit and or allowance for two weeks in the past year; the total amount of sick benefit and or unemployment benefit paid in this case in the past year and the amount, if any, outstanding.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 20 February 1986. Payment of benefit was authorised from 24 February 1986, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum weekly rate payable to a married man with three dependent children.
Payment of disability benefit was disallowed from 1 November 1986 following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. Although he has stated that he wishes to appeal the decision to disallow payment he has not submitted medical evidence of incapacity for work subsequent to 1 November 1986.
A total of £3,398.75 disability benefit was paid for the period from 24 February 1986 to 31 October 1986, less £145.90 repaid to the Eastern Health Board, in respect of supplementary welfare allowance advanced.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 1 November 1986. Payment of assistance was made from that date, at the weekly rate of £87.60. Payment of assistance has been issued to date. There are no arrears of either benefit or assistance due to the person concerned.
80.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford has not received payment of disability benefit since 6 February 1987.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 7 February 1987. Payment of benefit was authorised from 11 February 1987, the fourth day of incapacity, at a weekly rate of £41.10, the maximum rate appropriate to a single man. Pay-related benefit was also authorised from 28 February 1987, the nineteenth day of incapacity, at the weekly rate of £10.45.
All benefit payable has been issued on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity for work to 14 March 1987, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
Question No. 81 withdrawn.
82.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the entitlement to unemployment benefit of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; the reason he received only a nominal sum, having signed for three weeks; if all arrears due to him will be paid urgently in view of his need; and if he will confirm that this person is entitled to unemployment benefit.
Under the provision of section 35 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981, a person who loses his employment by reason of a stoppage of work due to a trade dispute at his place of employment is disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit unless he comes within certain categories which are exempt from this general disqualification.
The claim to unemployment benefit of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer under section 35 of the Act for the period 12 January 1987 to 28 February 1987 on the grounds that he had lost his employment by reason of a stoppage of work due to a trade dispute. Following settlement of the trade dispute, his claim was allowed from 2 March 1987 at the rate of £41.10 weekly, being the appropriate rate for a married man with no qualified children and whose wife is in employment and earning over £50 weekly.
The person concerned was paid all unemployment benefit due for period 2 March 1987 to 10 March 1987 after which date he ceased to sign the unemployed register.
83.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that disability benefit is restored at the full rate to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 and if arrears due from June 1986 will be paid.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 October 1985 and payment was issued to 27 January 1986.
Payment was disallowed from 27 January 1986 following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
She appealed against the disallowance and was examined by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. Her case was then referred to an appeals officer who upheld the decision to disallow payment of disability benefit from 27 January 1986 to 17 June 1986 the date of the latest medical certificate before him at that time. The decision of the appeals officer is final and can only be altered in the light of new facts or fresh evidence.
The person concerned continued to claim disability benefit. However, payment of benefit was disallowed from 18 June 1986 by a deciding officer of the Department. The claimant appealed against this decision. She was examined by a medical referee on 19 September 1986, who considered her to be capable of work.
Her case was then referred to an appeals officer who decided that the appellant was not incapable of work within the meaning of the Social Welfare Acts, from 18 June 1986 to 11 October 1986 (the date of the latest medical certificate before him) and was not entitled to payment of disability benefit.
The claimant continued to submit medical certificates to the Department. Payment of disability benefit was again disallowed, from 13 October 1986. The person concerned appealed this decision. She was again examined by a medical referee on 23 January 1987 who considered her to be capable of work.
Her case has now been referred to an appeal officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing on 7 April 1987. Notification of the time and place to attend will be issued to the claimant by registered post.
84.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 9 August 1985 and payment was issued to 13 May 1986.
Payment was disallowed from 13 May following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
She appealed against the disallowance and was examined by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. Her case was then referred to an appeals officer on 12 March 1987 for determination. The appeals officer decided that the claimant was incapable of work from 13 May 1986 to 20 February 1987 the date of the latest medical certificate before him.
Payment of disability benefit for the period 13 May 1986 to 26 February 1987, the date of the latest medical certificate submitted to this Department, has been issued.
85.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 6 January 1987 and her claim was referred to the social welfare officer for investigation of means.
The investigation of means was delayed as the claimant did not initially disclose all the information necessary to process the claim. However, the relevant information has now been furnished and the social welfare officer has completed her report. The report is being submitted to a deciding officer for assessment of means. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be determined in the light of this assessment.
86.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in dealing with the unemployment assistance appeal from a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £77.90, derived from the profit from his holding.
He is, accordingly, in receipt of unemployment assistance of £11 weekly, being the appropriate maximum weekly rate payable in his case of £88.90 less means of £77.90.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and, arising from contentions raised by him in support of his appeal, it was necessary to refer his papers to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were recently completed and arrangements are being made to have his case submitted to an appeals officer for determination at the earliest available opportunity.
The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.
87.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of arrears of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and when a decision on this appeal will be made.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance from 14 April 1986. Following investigation of his means by a social welfare officer his claim was disallowed on the grounds that his means, derived from the profit from his holding, exceeded the maximum rate payable in his case. He appealed against the means assessment in July 1986 and in December 1986 an appeals officer assessed him with weekly means of £28.80 from 14 April 1986.
Before payment of unemployment assistance could be authorised inquiries had to be made to find out if he satisfied the condition of being available for and genuinely seeking work. These inquiries were recently completed and his claim was allowed at the weekly rate of £2.95 from 14 April 1986, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £31.75 less means of £28.80. His weekly entitlement was increased to £4.20 from 9 July 1986 in accordance with budget increases awarded from that date.
All arrears due will be paid to him this week and weekly payments of £4.20 will continue as they become due.
88.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding a disability benefit claim made by a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned claimed benefit from 15 September 1986 to 25 February 1987, date of latest medical certificate. His claim was received on 12 February 1987. Benefit has not yet been authorised as it appears that he may have been last employed in England, and his claim, therefore, may be proper to the Department of Health and Social Security. He was requested on 19 February 1987 and 16 March 1987, to state his place of last employment. His entitlement to benefit will be reviewed on receipt of this information.