asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an invalidity pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork as he had a medical examination on 1 May 1987.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
57.
Invalidity pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work.
According to the records of the Department the person concerned was not examined by a medical referee of the Department on 1 May 1987. The examination in fact, is scheduled for this week. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination and if his application is successful the pension will be awarded from the date of his application.
58.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons currently in receipt of unemployment benefit at Newcastle West employment exchange, County Limerick; and the current weekly cost to the Exchequer of same; the number of persons currently in receipt of unemployment assistance at Newcastle West employment exchange; and the current weekly cost to the Exchequer of same.
The information requested by the Deputy is given below. It refers to the week of 24 April 1987 which is the latest date for which statistics are available.
Newcastle West Employment Exchange, 24 April 1987
|
Scheme |
Unemployment Benefit/ Pay-related Benefit |
Unemployment Assistance |
|
Number of Recipients |
825 |
1,250 |
|
Weekly Value of Payments |
£54,100 |
£75,700 |
The cost of unemployment benefit/pay-related benefit is met from the social insurance fund which is financed by contributions from employers, employees and a subsidy from the Exchequer which it is estimated will amount to 31 per cent of expenditure by the fund in 1987. Expenditure on unemployment assistance is funded entirely by the Exchequer.
The number of recipients above includes those whose claims are authorised at the exchange for payment at local post offices.
59.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 10 March 1987 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He appealed against the disallowance and was examined by a different medical referee who found him to be incapable of work from that date.
Accordingly payment of benefit was restored from 10 March 1987 and all benefit payable has been issued.
60.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following investigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he has been assessed with weekly means of £57.70, derived from the profit from self-employment.
He is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance of £16.70 a week, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £74.40 less means of £57.70.
Payment will begin this week. Arrears, if any, due to the person concerned will be paid as soon as the health board supplies details of the amount of supplementary welfare allowance paid to him while his claim was being investigated.
61.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare in relation to the application of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for unemployment assistance, the date on which he applied; the date on which his claim was investigated; the date on which his claim was sent to the EB13 section of his Department; when a decision will be taken on this application; and if he will make a statement regarding the delay in deciding this case.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 11 April 1986. The social welfare officer completed the investigation on 23 July 1986 and the claim was received in EB13 section on 19 August 1986. A deciding officer in that section decided the case on 25 August 1986, disallowing the claim on the grounds that the means, derived from the profit from his holding, exceeded the maximum rate payable in his case.
An appeal against the disallowance was received from him on 21 October 1986 and, arising from contentions raised by him in support of his appeal, his papers were returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. The social welfare officer completed his report on 27 February 1987, having visited the claimant and been furnished by him with additional documentation in relation to income and expenditure. The case was then sent to an appeals officer for consideration. Depending on the nature of a case an appeals officer may decide to determine the matter summarily or by way of oral hearing. It is understood that the appeals officer has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case and that this will take place at an early date. The person concerned will be advised as soon as a date and venue have been set.
The lengthy time taken in processing the appeal in the case arose in the first instance from the need for protracted inquiries by the Social Welfare officer before the papers could be referred to the appeals officer and, more recently from the fact that it has not been possible for the appeals officer to arrange an oral hearing of the case because of the large volume of appeals on hand at present.