Vol. 392 No. 4
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a decision has been made for daughters or sons of elderly people who give up their employment to look after their parents, to receive any benefit or allowance, thus saving the State the cost of keeping them in care; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
104.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will approve a payment equivalent to that of disability benefit to a family member who has to cease work in order to care for another member of the family who is seriously ill.
It is proposed to take Questions No. 101 and 104 together.
At present a prescribed relative allowance may be paid as an increase in pension to an incapacitated pensioner who is being looked after by a prescribed relative. The amount of the allowance is £28 per week. To qualify for the allowance the pensioner must require full-time care and attention and except for the prescribed relative be living alone, or only with children under age 18 or handicapped people.
Payment of an increased level of allowance to persons looking after elderly or sick relatives, and extending the scope of the allowance would involve a significant change in present arrangements. I am well aware of the value of the work of people looking after elderly or incapacitated persons. As a first step in improving the present arrangements I will be making provision in the near future by regulations to enable, under prescribed conditons, the existing allowance to be paid directly to the carer rather than to the pensioner. Future improvements in the scheme will be brought forward as resources permit.
102.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have a re-investigation carried out into the application by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for an increase in an old age non-contributory pension and who, in fact, had her pension further reduced although she had finished working since June, 1989 and maintenance received from her husband was also discontinued.
The person concerned was in receipt of an old age non-contributory pension at the rate of £29.10 plus £3.70 living alone allowance from 17 June 1988 based on a means assessment of £23.63 a week.
She applied for an increase in her rate of old age non-contributory pension on 21 June 1989 and following re-investigation it was decided that she is entitled to a reduced rate pension of £22 plus £3.90 living alone allowance from 22 September 1989. The reduced rate of pension is based on increased means of £33.03 per week, which include maintenance payments from her spouse.
In view of the Deputy's statement that maintenance payments have ceased, the case has been referred to the social welfare officer for re-investigation. When investigations are completed a decision will be made and the pensioner will be notified of the outcome.
103.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who has applied for a disablement pension, a disability benefit and a free fuel allowance.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 16 December 1988 and is currently being paid at £74.00 weekly, the maximum rate payable to a married man with no dependent children.
He was in receipt of disablement benefit from 16 December 1988 to 15 September 1989 and following a medical examination to reassess his condition, he was awarded disablement pension from 22 September 1989 and is currently being paid at weekly rate of £20.63.
Recipients of disability benefit or disablement pension do not qualify for a free fuel allowance under the national fuel scheme.
105.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary has received the correct rate of disability benefit for the period 18 to 29 September, 1989.
The correct amount of benefit has now been issued to the person concerned. Originally he had been certified as fit to resume work from 25 September 1989 but subsequently submitted a further medical certificate which indicated that his illness had continued up to 30 September 1989. Payment was made in respect of the period 26 to 30 September inclusive on the basis of this further certificate. Inquiries were necessary to establish whether he had in fact resumed work on 25 September 1989. These inquiries confirmed that he did not work on that day and a cheque for £8.40 in respect of that day was issued to him on 27 October 1989.
106.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding an appeal lodged by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary as a result of the decision to discontinue payment of disability benefit to him.
The person concerned appealed against the decision to disallow payment of disability benefit from 5 September, 1989 following examination by a medical referee who found him to be capable of work. In connection with his appeal he was examined by a different medical referee on 23 October, 1989 and was found to be incapable of work.
Accordingly, payment of benefit has been restored from 26 October, 1989. Any arrears due for the period from 5 September, 1989 to 25 October, 1989 will be issued to the person concerned as soon as details of unemployment benefit payments advanced to him pending the outcome of his appeal have been established.
107.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present rate of disability benefit payable to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he has received his correct entitlements to date.
The person concerned claimed disabiity benefit from 7 August 1989. Payment issued from 10 August 1989, the fourth day of incapacity.
It has now been established that the claimant was in receipt of unemployment assistance prior to his disability benefit claim and is, therefore, entitled to payment from the first day of incapacity. An adjustment cheque to cover this period has now been issued.
The person concerned is in receipt of £95.80 per week which is the maximum rate payable to a married man with two dependent children.
108.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made in relation to an appeal against refusal of injury benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was paid injury benefit in respect of the period from 19 May 1989 to 18 September 1989.
He was examined by a medical referee on 11 September who expressed the opinion that he was not incapable of work. As a result it was decided to discontinue payment of benefit from 19 September 1989.
He has appealed against the decision and arrangements have been made for a further medical referee examination to be carried out by a different referee. The case will then be reviewed and referred, as necessary, to the appeals officer for determination.
