Vol. 433 No. 1
132 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who is unemployed has been found on appeal to be earning £135 per week; and if he has any plans to rectify this.
The person concerned applied for Unemployment Assistance on 19 January 1993. His means were assessed at £135 per week (£7,000 per annum), based on means derived from his self-employment as a painter and decorator.
He appealed this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office on 29 March 1993 and the appeal was submitted for consideration by an Appeals Officer. The Appeals Officer disallowed the appeal on the grounds that, having regard to the person's previous earnings, the assessment represented a reasonable expectation of his likely earnings over the following twelve months. The Appeals Officer's decision is final and may only be altered in the light of new facts or evidence.
If there have been any changes in the person's circumstances, it is open to him to reapply for Unemployment Assistance. It is also open to him to apply to his local Community Welfare Officer for help under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. I am aware of the difficulty to which the Deputy has referred and I have directed my Department to ensure that the method of assessment of means used for self-employed people should have the flexibility to respond to variations in the circumstances of claimants.
133 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who is unemployed has been found on appeal to be earning £85.58 per week; and if he has any plans to rectify this.
The means of the person concerned were reviewed from 22 March 1993 and were reduced from £85.58 to £61 per week (£3,190 per annum) with effect from that date. The means are derived from his self-employment as a steel erector.
He appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 17 May 1993. His case is currently under consideration by an Appeals Officer and it is expected that a decision will be made in the near future.
I am aware of the difficulty to which the Deputy has referred and I have directed my Department to ensure that the method of assessment of means used for self-employed people should have the flexibility to respond to variations in the circumstances of claimants.
134 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who is unemployed has been found on appeal to be earning £154 per week; and if he has any plans to rectify this.
The person concerned applied for Unemployment Assistance on 5 April 1993. His means were assessed at £154 per week (£8,000 per annum) based on income from self-employment.
He appealed this decision on 5 April 1993 to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office and the appeal was submitted for consideration by an Appeals Officer. The Appeals Officer disallowed the appeal on the grounds that, having regard to the person's previous earnings, the assessment represented a reasonable expectation of his likely earnings over the following 12 months. The Appeals Officer's decision is final and may only be altered in the light of new facts or evidence.
135 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who has been unemployed since Christmas 1992 was found, on appeal, to be earning £200 per week from 11 March 1993; and if he has any plans to rectify this.
The person concerned applied for Unemployment Assistance and his means were assessed at £200 per week (£10,400 per annum) based on means derived from self-employment.
He appealed this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office and the appeal was submitted for consideration by an Appeals Officer. The Appeals Officer disallowed the appeal on the grounds that, having regard to the person's previous earnings, the assessment represented a reasonable expectation of his likely earnings over the following 12 months. The Appeals Officer's decision is final and may only be altered in the light of new facts or evidence.
The means of the person concerned are being re-examined by the investigating officer. In the meantime it is open to him to apply to his local Community Welfare Officer for assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.
I am aware of the difficulty to which the Deputy has referred and I have directed my Department to ensure that the method of assessment of means used for self-employed people should have the flexibility to respond to variations in the circumstances of claimants.
136 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who is unemployed has been found on appeal to be earning £155 per week; and if he has any plans to rectify this.
The person concerned applied for Unemployment Assistance on 6 January 1993. His means were assessed at £154 per week (£8,000 per annum) based on means derived from self-employment.
He appealed this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office on 22 March 1993 and the appeal was submitted for consideration by an Appeals Officer. The Appeals Officer disallowed the appeal on the grounds that, having regard to the person's previous earnings, the assessment represented a reasonable expectation of his likely earnings over the following 12 months. The Appeals Officer's decision is final and may only be altered in the light of new facts or evidence.
It is open to the person concerned to apply to his local Community Welfare Officer for assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme. If there are changes in his circumstances, it is also open to him to re-apply for Unemployment Assistance. I am aware of the difficulty to which the Deputy has referred and I have directed my Department to ensure that the method of assessment of means used for self-employed people should have the flexibility to respond to variations in the circumstances of claimants.
