Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 29 Oct 1992

Vol. 424 No. 6

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

110 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a supplementary welfare allowance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork by the Southern Health Board as he is paying a mortgage of £40 per week out of a combination of invalidity pension and disability benefit of £163 for himself, his wife and four children; if he will ensure that there is a review of this decision immediately; and the reason a response has not been given to a letter sent by registered post on 22 September asking for a review.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

Under the provisions of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme a weekly supplement can be paid towards rent and mortgage interest payments. Such supplements may be paid where the rent or mortgage interest exceeds £5 per week. The supplement is calculated so that, after payment of rent or mortgage interest, the recipient has an income equal to the rate of Supplementary Welfare Allowance appropriate to his family size, less £5.

It is understood from the Southern Health Board, which is responsible for the administration of the scheme in the Cork area, that the person concerned was refused a mortgage supplement as his income, after payment of mortgage interest, exceeds the appropriate level. This decision was upheld on appeal.

The registered letter referred to by the Deputy was sent by the person in question to the Department of Health. The letter was referred to my Department and a reply issued on Friday 23 October 1992. Neither my Department nor the Department of Health has any function to review decisions of the Health Boards in relation to Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

Jim Mitchell

Ceist:

111 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the long term unemployment benefit payable to a husband, wife and four children with no other income for each of the years from January, 1987 to January, 1992.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

Unemployment Benefit is payable on a short term basis only. I assume, therefore, that the Deputy is referring to the rates of long term Unemployment Assistance since January 1987. This information is as set out in the table below.

Rate of Long Term Unemployment Assistance Payable to a Married Couple with Four Dependant Children, January 1987 to 1992.

Year	Personal Rate	Adult Dependent Increase	Increase for Child Dependants	Total
	£	£	£	£
1987 (Urban)	36.70	26.45	34.00	97.15
(Rural)	35.50	25.80	34.00	95.30
1988 (Urban)	37.80	27.20	35.00	100.00
(Rural)	36.60	26.60	35.00	98.20
1989 (Urban)	42.00	28.00	37.20	107.20
(Rural)	40.70	27.40	37.20	105.30
1990*	47.00	29.00	41.00	117.00
1991	52.00	31.00	44.00	127.00
1992	55.00	33.00	48.00	136.00

* The Rural rate of Unemployment Assistance was abolished from 19 July 1989 under Section 11 of the Social Welfare Act, 1989.

Jim Mitchell

Ceist:

112 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the annual amount of the Christmas bonus given in the years from December 1986 to December 1991 inclusive in respect of a husband, wife and four children on long term unemployment assistance.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

The information sought by the Deputy is as follows:

	Weekly rate	Bonus	Total
	£	£	£
1986	97.15 (Urban)	63.15 (65%)	160.30
	95.30 (Non-Urban)	61.95 (65%)	157.25
1987	100.00 (Urban)	65.00 (65%)	165.00
	98.20 (Non-Urban)	63.80 (65%)	162.00
1988	107.20 (Urban)	69.70 (65%)	176.90
	105.30 (Non-Urban)	68.40 (65%)	173.70
1989	117.00	81.90 (70%)	198.90
1990	127.00	88.90 (70%)	215.90
1991	136.00	95.20 (70%)	231.20

The lower non-urban rate was discontinued from July 1989.

Michael Finucane

Ceist:

113 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in payment of unemployment benefit, or unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

The person concerned claimed Unemployment Benefit from 3 September 1992. To qualify for Unemployment Benefit a person must have 39 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment and 39 contributions paid or credited in the governing tax year which was 1990-91 in this case. The person concerned entered insurable employment in June 1991 and did not have sufficient contributions in the year 1990-91 to qualify for Unemployment Benefit. Accordingly there was a delay in authorising her claim while her entitlement to credited contributions for this period was being examined. Her entitlement to credits has now been established and she qualifies for Unemployment Benefit from 3 September 1992.

Arrears of £335.70 were issued to her on 23 October 1992. Payment at a rate of £53.00 per week will be made to her while she continues to qualify for Unemployment Benefit.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

114 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 171 of 22 October 1992, he will give details of the means assessed against the person concerned.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

The person in question is in receipt of Deserted Wife's Benefit from the Department of Social Welfare. I understand from the Eastern Health Board that an application by the person concerned for payment of a Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance was refused because she failed to declare to the board income from street trading in which she is engaged.

The health board is currently considering a request for a review of the decision.