asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason payment of unemployment assistance was disallowed to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
81.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned he was assessed with means of £66.85 weekly, derived from the value of an occupational pension and from the value of capital, and, accordingly, his claim was disallowed on the grounds that his means exceeded the maximum rate payable in his case.
If the person concerned is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him, he may appeal and have his case determined by an appeal officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained from his local office.
82.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny is not in receipt of unemployment assistance as her claim was submitted on 10 March 1987.
The person concerned claimed unemployment assistance on 10 March 1987 and her papers were referred to the social welfare officer for investigation of means.
These inquiries proved to be protracted due to difficulties encountered in establishing the net income from her parents' holding. This information was necessary to enable the value of her board and lodgings on the holding to be determined.
The person concerned has recently been assessed with weekly means of £23.10 derived from the value of board and lodgings on her parents' holding and from her mother's earnings.
She is, accordingly, entitled to unemployment assistance of £9.90 weekly being the appropriate maximum rate payable in her case of £33 less means of £23.10. All arrears due to her will be paid this week.
If the person concerned is dissatisfied with the means assessed against her it is open to her to appeal and have her case decided by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose may be obtained from her local office.
83.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if in a case (details supplied) in Dublin 10 he will press for an early decision from the medical referee on the person's appeal against the decision to cut him off his long duration disability benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 29 March after which date payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who considered him to be capable of work.
He appealed against this decision and was examined by another medical referee on 2 June 1987 who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He was informed of the result of this examination and was supplied with a form on which to set out the grounds for appeal if he wished to have his case referred to an appeals officer for determination. His case will be reviewed on receipt of this form.
84.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view, of the facts of a case (details supplied) in Dublin 8 he will arrange to have unemployment assistance paid to the person concerned reviewed and increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following investigation of his unemployment assistance claim, made in August 1986 the person concerned was assessed with means of £11.15 weekly, derived from the value of capital. Although requested by the social welfare officer who investigated the claim to provide specific details of movement of money in his building society account he failed to do so, and the redundancy payment of £6,000 obtained by him in 1985 was accordingly assessed in full.
He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him and an appeals officer on 6 April 1987 also assessed him with means of £11.15 weekly. In the context of his appeal he had again been asked by the social welfare officer, in March, to provide the information sought in relation to the building society account, but he declined to do this.
He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance of £31 weekly and his wife is in receipt of a separate payment of £29.70 weekly, the combined total being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £71.85 less means of £11.15.
85.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an invalidity pension will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned is in receipt of disability benefit and there is no record in the Department of his having applied for invalidity pension. Title to that pension depends on the person being certified as permanently incapable of work.
Arrangements are being made to have the person concerned examined by a medical referee of the Department on 25 June 1987. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of this examination.