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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Dec 1987

Vol. 376 No. 1

Written Answers - Social Welfare Benefits.

95.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who is in receipt of disability benefit for the past number of years has never received the Christmas bonus payment; if he will arrange payment of same this year; and if he will arrange for payment of the arrears due to him for previous years.

The person concerned is in receipt of disability benefit. The Christmas bonus payments are made to recipients of certain pensions and allowances only and are not applicable to claimants of disability benefit. The person concerned is therefore not entitled to an additional payment at Christmas.

96.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make arrangements for the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; the amount of benefit for which she qualifies; and if pay-related benefit will also be paid.

The person concerned has been paid disability benefit from 20 October 1987, the fourth day of incapacity, at the weekly rate of £47.15. This amount includes a half-rate child dependant allowance in respect of one child which amounts to £4.85 a week. She is not in receipt of pay-related benefit because her earnings in 1985-86, the contribution year which governs her claim, were less than £3,100, which is the minimum sum needed to qualify for payment of this benefit.

All benefit payable in respect of her claim has been issued on receipt of medical evidence to 16 November 1987, the date of the latest medical certificate received.

Questions Nos. 97 and 98 withdrawn.

99.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in respect of the period 11 April to 3 May, 1987.

Where a claimant fails to give notice of incapacity for work within seven days he is disqualified from receiving payment of disability benefit in respect of any period more than seven days before the date on which notice was given. The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 11 May 1987. However notice of his claim was not received in the Department until 23 July 1987 and, accordingly, he has been disqualified from receiving payment of disability benefit in respect of the period from 11 May 1987 to 3 June 1987, the day before he resumed work.

100.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the disability benefit appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be heard.

The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 7 November 1987 after which date payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.

He appealed against the disallowance and arrangements have been made to have him examined by a different medical referee as soon as possible. His entitlement to benefit will then be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report.

101.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when full unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.

Following investigation, the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned 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 disallowance and the appeals officer upheld the disallowance.The person concerned subsequently re-applied for unemployment assistance. His means were reinvestigated and again found to exceed the maximum. He has lodged a further appeal and, arising from contentions raised in support of his appeal, his papers were returned to the social welfare officer for further inquiries.

These inquiries are expected to be completed shortly and his case will then be submitted to an appeals officer for determination The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the appeals officer's decision.

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