Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:193 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of applicants for a carer's allowance to date; and the number who have been granted same (a) at maximum rate and (b) at part rate.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
There have been 4,923 applicants for a carer's allowance to date.
The total number of persons in receipt of the allowance is 3,161. This figure includes those who transferred to carer's allowance having previously been in receipt of prescribed relative's allowance and those who retained their previous entitlement. Of these 1,402 people have been awared a payment at the maximum rate and 1,759 at a reduced rate.
Current claim trends indicate that almost 30 per cent of applicants who have not been awarded a carer's allowance are in receipt of another social welfare payment at a higher rate. Under the extension of the scheme coming into effect next July, persons in receipt of DPMA will be eligible for the carer's allowance.
Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:194 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in having an application for a widow's contributory pension processed and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
My Department are awaiting verification from the person concerned of her husband's date of death.
My Department have been in contact with the person concerned and it is understood that the relevant documentation is being submitted. As soon as this is received, the application for widow's contributory pension will be finalised.
Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:195 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a free electricity allowance was withdrawn from a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
One of the conditions for receipt of free electricity allowance is that the applicant must reside either entirely alone or only with person who come within certain excepted categories.
The free electricity allowance of the person concerned was terminated in June 1990 as his daughter, having reached 18 years of age, continued to reside in his household.
The person concerned reapplied for the allowance in September 1990. The free electricity allowance application was rejected as his daughter, who was receiving unemployment assistance, was still resident in the house.
If there is any relevant change in the household in the future the person concerned may reapply for the allowance.
Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:196 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in having a deserted wife's allowance payable order book made available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
A deserted wife's allowance at the maximum weekly rate of £53 and a free fuel allowance of £5 a week, have been awarded to the person concerned with effect from 10 January 1991.
A payment book was issued to her local post office on 19 March 1991 containing payable orders from 21 March 1991.
A cheque for £132 will be issued to the person concerned shortly. This amount is the arrears of deserted wife's allowance and free fuel allowance due for the period from 10 January 1991 to 20 March 1991, less unemployment assistance paid to her during this period.
Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:197 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a companion can travel with a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is the holder of a free travel pass.
From October 1990 the scope of the free travel scheme was extended to enable recipients of disabled person's maintenance allowance who are unable to travel alone to be accompanied by a companion free of charge.
As the person concerned is not in receipt of disabled person's maintenance allowance, it is not possible to grant him entitlement to this extended benefit of the scheme.
Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:198 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied in County Cork did not receive a free fuel allowance.
In order to qualify for free fuel allowance, a person must satisfy certain conditions. One of these requires that the pensioner resides either entirely alone or only with certain expected categories of people.
Following investigations by the social welfare officer, it was decided on 14 December 1990 that she did not qualify for this allowance as the living alone condition of the scheme had not been satisfied. Her son, who was gainfully employed at the time, was residing with her.
However, recent inquiries have revealed that her son was awarded unemployment assistance from 7 January 1991. This change of circumstances now qualifies her for a free fuel allowance with effect from 11 January 1991 — the Friday following the award of unemployment assistance to her son.
A payable order for £70, for the period 11 January 1991 to the end of this year's heating season on 12 April, will issue to the pensioner within 7 days.
Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:199 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of pension will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:200 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will re-examine an application for a free fuel allowance with a view to granting approval in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together.
A payable order for £212.70, being the arrears due to the person concerned for the period from 4 October 1990 to 13 February 1991, was issued to him on 11 March 1991. This order was cashed on 25 March 1991.
One of the conditions for receipt of free fuel allowance is that a claimant's means other than his social welfare pension cannot exceed £5 per week.
As the person concerned is in receipt of an occupational pension, in addition to his social welfare pension, in excess of this amount he is not entitled to the allowance.
John Ellis
Ceist:201 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim has been disqualified by an appeals officer from receipt of unemployment assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter in view of the fact that she has made information available as to her availability for work and that this has not been accepted by the social welfare officer, or the appeals officer.
The person concerned ceased employment in 1983. Since that date and up to and including 21 June 1990, she was in receipt of a social welfare payment at all times. The types of payment she received were unemployment benefit, unemployment assistance, maternity allowance and disability benefit. She was disqualified from receipt of disability benefit from 21 June 1991 as she was found capable of work by a medical referee from that date. She claimed unemployment assistance on 22 June 1990.
On the basis of the information supplied by her, the local office was not in a position to authorise her claim and referred it to headquarters for determination by a deciding officer as to whether she satisfied the statutory condition of being available for and genuinely seeking work. The deciding officer disallowed her claim on the basis that she was not genuinely seeking work. He considered that she had not made reasonable efforts to get work.
She appealed the disallowance and following an oral hearing of her case on 10 August 1990 an independent appeals officer confirmed the disallowance. The appeals officer took into account letters she had submitted from employers with whom she had been in contact. She was notified of the appeals officer's decision on 10 September and ceased signing.
She made a further claim for unemployment assistance on 1 November 1990. There was no evidence that she had made any efforts to obtain work since the appeals officer's decision and a deciding officer again disallowed her claim on the basis that she was not genuinely seeking work. She appealed this disallowance and was afforded a further oral hearing on 26 February 1991. The independent appeals officer subsequently expressed the view that her "efforts to obtain employment were not satisfactory or sufficient to satisfy the statutory condition" and disallowed her appeal on the basis that she was not genuinely seeking work.
She made her latest claim for unemployment assistance on 23 March 1991. Arising from details supplied by her with her application, inquiries are necessary in relation to her efforts to obtain employment, her availability for work having regard to her proposed child minding arrangements and her part-time employment as a home help with the North-Western Health Board. When these inquiries have been completed her entitlement to unemployment assistance will be determined.
Jim Mitchell
Ceist:202 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on whether there is an anomaly in that where a social welfare claimant dies his social welfare payment is continued for six weeks after death for any dependants of the claimant but if the dependant dies that no such continuing payment is made and that payment is discontinued immediately and not allowed in respect of the week in which the death takes place; his views on whether this policy should be changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Deputy will be glad to know that the Social Welfare Act, 1991, which has just been enacted, provides for the continuation of the full social welfare payment for six weeks after the of a spouse in respect of all short term payments. In addition, in all cases the payment of a child dependant allowance will continue for six weeks after the death of a child.
I made these improvements in recognition of the burden which parents and widowed persons have to endure following the sad loss of a spouse or child. They are intended to ease the adjustment in the early stages of bereavement.