Vol. 398 No. 1
134 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who paid full social welfare contributions for a number of years; and if the person concerned is entitled to a pension or a reduced pension.
The person concerned will reach qualifying age for retirement pension in 1994 or for old age pension in 1995. Based on insurance /PRSI contributions definitively recorded on his behalf, he is expected to satisfy the qualifying conditions for receipt of either of these contributory pensions even if he gets no further contributions reckonable for those pensions.
In order to qualify for an old age contributory pension it is necessary to have a minimum average of at least 20 contributions recorded from 1953 or from date of entry into insurable employment, whichever is the later, up to the last contribution year before reaching pension age. Entitlement to retirement pension is subject to an average of not less than 24 contributions.
In this case the records of my Department show that a total of 1,011 reckonable contributions have been recorded up to 5 April 1989 — the most recent year for which records are available. This represents a yearly average of 24 contributions for the period 1953 to 1995 — the year he reaches pension age. This average would result in a pension at the current weekly rate of £54.90 for a single person or £92.90 for a married pensioner whose spouse is under 66 years of age. The 1,011 contributions recorded exclude certain contributions since 1984-85.
The contribution record of the person concerned is at present under investigation for 1984-85 and subsequent years. The results of these investigations may result in prospective entitlement to a higher rate of pension. When investigations are completed he will be notified of the outcome without delay.
I must stress that the information contained in this reply is not a formal decision on pension entitlement. It is not possible to give a formal decision so far in advance of pension age. The reply provides an indication of entitlement based on existing social welfare legislation.
135 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed, following review, from 28 March 1990 on the grounds that she was not available for and not genuinely seeking work.
She appealed against this decision on 24 April, 1990, and arrangements are being made to have her appeal heard at the earliest opportunity.
136 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the unemployment assistance appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will accede to the request for a non-farm oral appeal hearing in this case.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance. On 7 March 1990 he appealed the means assessed against him. Arising from contentions he has made in connection with his appeal it was decided that further inquiries were necessary before his case could be submitted to an appeals officer. The social welfare officer will call on him on Thursday this week in connection with the matters which require clarification.
His appeal will then be submitted without delay to an appeals officer. The appeals officer will decide, in accordance with regulations which permit him to do so, whether his appeal is such that it can properly be dealt with summarily or whether there should be an oral hearing. No distinction is made between farm and non-farm cases in deciding whether there should be an oral hearing.
