John Ellis
Ceist:170 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department will now pay a contributory pension to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The person concerned was refused a retirement pension in July 1990 as his yearly average of 17 contributions from 1955 to 1990 was too low to satisfy the minimum contribution conditions of the scheme. His low average is attributable to the fact that there is no record of contributions on his behalf for the year 1957 and from 1959 to 1975.
Following extensive investigations by my Department in June 1991 and again in February 1992, it was determined that the person concerned was not in insurable employment during those years. Under current legislation, he has insufficient contributions over his working life to qualify for either a retirement or old age contributory pension.
The person concerned might be entitled to an old age non-contributory pension. An application form for this pension was sent to him in November 1991. If he wishes, he should complete and return this application to my Department. His entitlement will be examined then and he will be notified of the outcome as quickly as possible.
Seán Barrett
Ceist:171 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Dublin is now unable to claim unemployment assistance; and if he will have arrangements made for the immediate restoration of this benefit.
The unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned was disallowed by a deciding officer with effect from 11 December 1991 on the grounds that the applicant failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit for payment of unemployment assistance.
He appealed against this decision and following further inquiries by a social welfare officer his case has now been referred to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. The matter has been considered by an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of the appeal. This will be arranged as soon as possible and the person concerned will be notified of the arrangements.
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:172 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford he will outline the reason arrears of orphan's allowance less the payments already included in the claimant's unemployment assistance cannot be paid immediately, in view of the fact that his Department's computer records already include the relevant information on payments made; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a delay of several weeks in paying these arrears will cause hardship to the family in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of unemployment assistance of £79 per week. This includes a personal rate of £55 and £24 dependent child allowance in respect of her youngest brother and sister.
In early February 1992, she applied for an orphan's non-contributory pension. Following investigation by a social welfare officer it was decided on 4 March 1992 that the person concerned was entitled to an orphan's non-contributory pension of £62.40 per week with effect from 20 December 1991 — the Friday following the death of her father.
A payable order book for £62.40 per week payable from 27 March 1992 issued to her local post office on 10 March 1992 for collection. Arrears of pension, less the dependent child allowance paid with her unemployment assistance since December 1991, amount to £537.60. A payable order for this amount will issue to the person concerned within ten days.
My Department made every effort to ensure that there was no undue delay in processing and awarding this pension application and in arranging for arrears of pension to be issued to her as soon as possible. Developments in the Department's computerisation of its countrywide local office network this year will greatly assist the flow of information between various administrative areas. This will also help reduce any delays in calculating arrears in cases such as this.