asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason sick benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
100.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 23 March 1988.
There was a delay in issuing payment as medical certificates were received at irregular intervals from the claimant. Details of supplementary welfare allowance advanced to her by the North Eastern Health Board had to be confirmed and this caused further delay. The position has now been clarified and all benefit payable to 28 April 1988, the date of the latest medical certificate received, less the amount of supplementary welfare allowance advanced by the health board, has issued.
101.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the facts of the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 he will arrange to have a decision disallowing disability benefit reviewed as a matter of urgency.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 16 November 1981 and payment was issued to 17 October 1987.
Payment was disallowed from 19 October 1987 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 who upheld the decision to disallow payment of disability benefit from 19 October 1987 to 13 January 1988 the date of the latest medical certificate before him. 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 submit medical evidence from 13 January to 23 March 1988 when she was certified fit to resume work by her own doctor. Her claim for this period has been disallowed by a deciding officer. She was notified of the disallowance and the right of appeal.
102.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he recently met a deputation of Mná Tí from County Donegal regarding the question of income from children who stay in Gaeltacht colleges during the summer months; and if he gave them an assurance that it will not be assessed against them in relation to unemployment assistance, old age pension and widow's pension, as stated in a recent report (details supplied).
At a recent meeting with a deputation of Mna Tí the position relating to the assessment of means under the Social Welfare Acts was outlined, including the assessment of income received from children attending summer colleges in the Gaeltacht.
The legislative basis for the assessment of means is set out in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981, as amended where appropriate by subsequent social welfare enactments. It was confirmed to the deputation that there is no new policy as regards the assessment of income for social welfare purposes from households in the Gaeltacht who keep students. In the normal way the profit from such undertakings would be very small and any means assessed would be negligible. Very few cases arise where means are assessed under this heading.
I would, of course, be fully prepared to review any cases brought to my attention.