Paul Bradford
Ceist:126 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was not paid disability benefit for the period from August to December, 1989.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Where a person has no contributions paid or credited for two consecutive years they do not qualify for payment of disability benefit or the award of credited contributions unless a further 26 contributions at the appropriate rate have been paid.
According to the records of the Department, the person concerned had no contributions paid or credited in the period 1978 to 1982. It was subsequently established that she had contributions paid in England during 1978 and 1979, but these were not sufficient to bridge the gap. Contributions paid in Ireland during 1982 to 1985 were at class J1, which does not constitute insurable employment for disability benefit purposes.
She was advised in November 1989 that she did not qualify for payment of disability benefit or the award of credited contributions.
If her means are insufficient to meet her needs she may be entitled to supplementary welfare allowance and in this regard she should contact her local community welfare officer.
John Bruton
Ceist:127 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will consider the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath who, in the process of transferring from unemployment benefit to unemployment assistance, has lost a full week's payment.
The person concerned exhausted his entitlement to unemployment benefit on 13 December 1989. He claimed unemployment assistance on 14 December and payment was authorised from that date on the basis of an existing qualification certificate with means of £16.70 per week assessed against him. This assessment leaves him entitled to payment at the weekly rate of £30.30.
He received his first payment of unemployment assistance on Thursday 21 December without any delay. He also received the following week's payment in advance in accordance with the special Christmas arrangements.
He has applied for a review of his means and his case has been forwarded to a social welfare officer for investigation in connection with the review. On completion of these inquiries, his case will be referred to a deciding officer for decision and he will be informed of the outcome without delay.