asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment assistance and arrears of same have been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
36.
Following reinvestigation, 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 and an appeals officer, on 2 June 1987, also disallowed his claim. The person concerned has been informed of the appeals officer's decision.
On 24 June 1987 he asked for his claim to be reviewed and his papers are currently in postal transit to a social welfare officer for reinvestigation of means. The inquiries will be completed as soon as possible and his case will then be submitted to a deciding officer for assessment of his means. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of that assessment.
37.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the payment of unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was paid unemployment benefit at the appropriate weekly rate applicable in his case of £109.45 for the period during which he signed the unemployment register from 7 August 1986 to 8 May 1987. In addition he received pay-related benefit at the weekly rate of £6.64. He has not registered as unemployed since that time.
40.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 had his unemployment assistance discontinued; and if his appeal will be heard urgently.
Entitlement to unemployment benefit is subject to the condition that a claimant must be available for and genuinely seeking work. The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment benefit since May 1986. Following a review of his case, his claim was disallowed from 4 June 1987 on the grounds that he was not genuinely seeking work, by virtue of the fact that he had not made any effort to obtain employment.
A form to enable him to appeal has been issued to him. When he returns this form, duly completed, arrangements will be made to have his case determined by an appeals officer at the earliest available opportunity. His entitlement to unemployment benefit will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.