Vol. 396 No. 9
110 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the special difficulties which have arisen for small farmers, he will consider extending the free fuel scheme of £5 a week to farmers on unemployment assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am extending the national fuel scheme to smallholders receiving long-term unemployment assistance under the same conditions as apply to other recipients of long-term unemployment assistance with effect from the start of the next heating season in October next. The necessary provision has been made in the budget.
111 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the new evidence coming to light, such as the Teagasc report in Offaly, on the serious deterioration which has taken place in the income of small farmers in the past few years, he will issue instructions to have this taken into consideration in the assessment of farmers for unemployment assistance; and if he will make the necessary regulations to have existing figures for farm income calculated for farmers drawing unemployment assistance reduced by 20 per cent to take account of the deteriorating income position on the farm.
The increases in the rates of unemployment assistance and the extension of the means limits, as announced in the budget, will benefit many farming families this year.
The social welfare legislation provides that the yearly value of any advantage accruing to a claimant from the use of property — other than property personally used and enjoyed by the claimant, such as a dwelling — is assessable as means. In the case of farmers the value of the yearly advantage represents the income from the farm less any expenses actually and necessarily incurred in earning that income. The normal basis of the calculation is the net income from the farm over the 12 months preceding the date of the investigation.
The typical calculation is based on the claimant's income and outgoings in the previous year. However, in making the assessment, due allowance is made for any unusual features in that year so that the level of means assessed reflects the situation in an average or normal year. In this way, the system caters for cases where, for whatever reason, farm income is significantly reduced in a particular year. Accordingly, there is no necessity to issue any new instructions to social welfare officers now in the matter. Similarly, it is not necessary to introduce amending legislation to provide for a reduction in the assessment of means in farming cases.
Any smallholder in receipt of unemployment assistance who considers that he may be entitled to a higher rate of payment as a result of a significant temporary reduction in his means may apply, in the normal manner, to have the means assessment reviewed to take account of his changed circumstances. Such a case would generally be reviewed again at some later date so that the ongoing means assessment would reflect the normal situation. Smallholders who now consider that they might be entitled to unemployment assistance as a result of the fall in their incomes should also apply to the local offices of the Department.
112 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the disallowance of payment and credits to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from March 1988 to March 1989, based on her contribution record in the 1986-87 contribution year.
She was not entitled to payment of benefit from April 1989 as she had less than the required minimum of 39 contributions in the 1987-88 contribution year, which governed her claim from that date. Credited contributions were awarded to 12 May 1989 when she was found capable of work by a medical referee. She was notified of this decision but no appeal was received.
The person concerned continued to submit certificates and was further examined by a different medical referee on 7 February 1990. She was again considered capable of work. No appeal has been received to date. In the circumstances she is not entitled to credits from 12 May 1989.
113 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford for the period from 26 January 1990 to 22 February 1990; and when payment will issue.
Payment of disability benefit has been made to the person concerned from 14 April 1989 to 1 March 1990, the date of the latest medical evidence received. The records of my Department show that a total of five cheques at £95.80 each issued between 26 January 1990 and 23 February 1990. My Department were not aware that there was any problem relating to the non-receipt of weekly cheques from 26 January 1990 to 22 February 1990. However, the claimant is being contacted and the matter will be investigated.
114 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the disability benefit claim of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will ensure that all payments are brought up to date.
Payment of disability benefit is made to the person concerned on receipt of weekly medical evidence of his incapacity for work. He is currently in receipt of £84.90 per week, which is the rate appropriate to a person with one adult dependant and one child dependant. All payments have made up to the 2 March 1990 which is the date of the latest medical evidence received.
115 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive the result of his application for unemployment benefit.
An applicant for unemployment benefit who is a landholder and does not satisfy the contribution condition of having 78 paid contributions in the preceding three year period, is not entitled to unemployment benefit if the daily profit from his holding exceeds £4.00.
The person concerned is a landholder who does not have the required 78 paid contributions in the previous three year period and whose profit from his holding exceeds £4.00 daily. Accordingly his application for unemployment benefit of 24 March 1989 was disallowed.
He claimed unemployment assistance from 24 March 1989 and his claim was authorised for payment at the weekly rate of £51.20 on the basis of an existing qualification certificate with means of £57.70 per week assessed against him.
Following investigation, a deciding officer disallowed his claim from 9 August 1989 on the grounds he had failed to disclose full details of his means. Accordingly he is not entitled to payment of unemployment assistance from that date.
116 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a decision has been made regarding the application for a free fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person concerned has been awarded free fuel allowance. A payable order book effective from 29 December 1989 issued to her post office on 5 March 1990.
During the processing of the free fuel application it came to light that payment of the allowance was incorrectly stopped in December 1988 on notification of a change of address. In the circumstances the award of free fuel allowance has been back dated to 16 December 1988. Arrears of £140 — covering the period 16 December 1988 to 22 December 1989 — will issue within ten days.
117 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 15 November 1989. As a question arose about the validity of the pay-related social insurance contributions in respect of her employment with her father during the previous three years, her case was referred for investigation.
This investigation is being completed and her entitlement to unemployment benefit will then be determined. The person concerned was advised to apply for unemployment assistance in the interim but has declined to do so.
118 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 is entitled to free travel while accompanying her aged father who suffers from Alzheimer's disease and who cannot travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The free travel scheme applies to all residents of the State aged 66 years or over. The scheme also applies to registered blind persons over 18 years and to certain categories of disabled persons under 66 years who are in receipt of a qualifying payment, including those in receipt of an invalidity pension from this Department and disabled person's maintenance allowance from a health board. The scheme also applies to spouses under age 66 for journeys on which they accompany the qualified pensioner.
As the person concerned does not come within the aforementioned categories, she does not qualify for free travel. The father is believed to have an occupational pension and does not appear to be receiving any pension from my Department.
As I have already announced the free travel scheme will be expanded to allow a companion to travel free along with certain recipients of disabled persons' maintenance allowance. It is proposed to introduce this extension to the free travel scheme before the end of this year. Further extensions of the scheme along these lines to include companions travelling with other categories of beneficiaries would again rise to significant additional cost and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
