asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason, in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim, the income from farming of the person's mother is being assessed against him for unemployment assistance.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefit.
123.
The person concerned exhausted his entitlement to unemployment benefit and claimed unemployment assistance on 18 May 1989. Following investigation, a deciding officer decided that due to the extent of his involvement in the running of the family holding, it was appropriate to assess him with weekly means of £73.07 being half the net yearly value of the holding.
As this assessment exceeds the maximum weekly rate payable in his case, he is not entitled to payment of unemployment assistance from that date.
He appealed against this decision on 20 October 1989 and his case was referred to a social welfare officer for further inquiries in connection with his appeal. These inquiries will shortly be completed and his case will then be referred to an appeals officer for consideration. When a decision is given, he will be informed of the outcome without delay.
124.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an appeal for a prescribed relative allowance has been refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of this allowance is that the prescribed relative should not be a married person who is wholly or mainly maintained by his/her spouse.
On 4 July 1989, following investigation of the case, it was decided by a deciding officer that the person concerned was not entitled to prescribed relative allowance. The application was refused as the prescribed relative in this case, namely, the pensioners daughter, is a married person who is mainly maintained by her spouse. This decision was upheld by an appeals officer on 8 September 1989.
125.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding a claim for widower's benefit for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and when payment will be made.
There is no record in the Department of receipt of an application for widower's pension from the person concerned.
An application form has been issued to him for completion and on receipt of his reply an early decision will be given in his case.
126.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who did not qualify for disability benefit.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 15 July 1989 after which date payment was disallowed following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed the disallowance of benefit and was examined by a different medical referee on 31 August 1989 who also considered him capable of work.
He completed an appeals application in mid-October and his case was referred to an appeals officer, who decided to hold an oral hearing of his claim to allow him to present his case personally. No date has been fixed yet for this appeal hearing but it will be held as soon as possible and the appellant will be advised of the time and place of the hearing as soon as arrangements are complete.
127.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free fuel allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned applied for old age non-contributory pension and free fuel allowance in November 1989. The case has been referred to the local social welfare officer for investigation. On completion of the necessary investigations a decision as to eligibility for old age non-contributory pension and free fuel allowance will be made and the person concerned notified of the outcome.
128.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free fuel allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the fact that she received it last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The national fuel scheme applies to persons in receipt of long-term social welfare or health board payments who live alone or only with persons who come within certain categories.
A condition for the receipt of this allowance is that the applicant or members of their household do not have income greater than £5 a week, in addition to their invalidity pension.
As the person concerned is in receipt of a disablement pension of £27.50 per week in addition to her invalidity pension, she is not, therefore, eligible for a fuel allowance under the national fuel scheme.
129.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is in receipt of £45 per week sick benefit for the past 12 months is entitled to a free fuel allowance.
The national fuel scheme applies to persons in receipt of long-term social welfare or health board payments. The person concerned is in receipt of disability benefit since 28 March 1988. This is not a qualifying payment for the purposes of the national fuel scheme and he is not, therefore, entitled to a fuel allowance under that scheme.
If the person concerned is likely to remain incapacitated for a further 12 months, it is open to him to apply for invalidity pension which is a qualifying payment under the national fuel scheme.
Alternatively, if he has exceptional heating needs due to ill health or infirmity, it is open to him to apply to his local health board for assistance towards such heating needs under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
130.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total amount of contributions and credits registered by his Department in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
According to the records of the Department the person concerned commenced insurable employment in 1943 and contributions were paid in respect of intermittent employment to 1985.
Insurance under the National Health Insurance Acts ceased on 16 April 1951 i.e. 18 months after the date of the last contribution. He entered insurance under the Social Welfare Acts on resumption of insurable employment on 24 September 1951. Contributions from that date only are reckonable for short term benefits. However, contributions from the first date of entry are reckonable for the contribution condition for pensions which stipulates that 156 contributions must have been paid.
The person concerned has not applied for an old age contributory pension. An application form for this pension has been issued to him for completion, on receipt of which his entitlement will be formally investigated.
Details of contributions paid and credited on his behalf are given on the following table.
|
Year |
Contributions Paid |
Contributions Credited |
|
1943-44 |
21 |
— |
|
1944-45 |
6 |
— |
|
1945-46 |
— |
— |
|
1946-47 |
3 |
— |
|
1947-48 |
2 |
— |
|
1948-49 |
4 |
— |
|
1949-50 |
4 |
— |
|
1950-51 |
— |
— |
|
1951-52 |
1 |
12 |
|
1953 |
4 |
37 |
|
1954 |
4 |
33 |
|
1955 |
3 |
26 |
|
1956 |
6 |
46 |
|
1957 |
1 |
27 |
|
1958 |
2 |
— |
|
1959 |
— |
— |
|
1960 |
— |
— |
|
1961 |
— |
— |
|
1962 |
2 |
— |
|
1963 |
3 |
— |
|
1964 |
5 |
— |
|
1965 |
2 |
— |
|
1966 |
1 |
— |
|
1967 |
13 |
38 |
|
1968 |
4 |
49 |
|
1969 |
3 |
48 |
|
1970 |
8 |
44 |
|
1971 |
— |
52 |
|
1972 |
— |
52 |
|
1973 |
1 |
52 |
|
1974 |
— |
— |
|
1975 |
5 |
47 |
|
1976 |
— |
52 |
|
1977 |
— |
52 |
|
1978-79 |
— |
66 |
|
1979-80 |
24 A1 |
26 |
|
1980-81 |
5 A1 |
47 |
|
1981-82 |
5 A1 |
46 |
|
1982-83 |
8 A1 |
44 |
|
1983-84 |
6 A1 |
46 |
|
1984-85 |
7 A1 |
44 |
|
1985-86 |
1 A1 |
51 |
|
1986-87 |
— |
52 |
|
1987-88 |
— |
52 |