Vol. 442 No. 1
68 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the dates from which disability benefit has been restored for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10; the amount of arrears to be paid; when arrears will be paid; and the reason this person has not received a letter from his Department confirming that he has been reinstated on disability benefit but had first learned of it when he received his first cheque.
The person concerned had his disability benefit payment disallowed by a deciding officer in April 1993 following an examination by a medical referee of my Department. An independent appeals officer upheld this decision in November 1993.
He continued to submit medical evidence of incapacity and was referred for a further medical examination on 14 February 1994. He was found incapable of work and disability benefit was subsequently restored by the deciding officer with effect from that date. Payment of disability benefit was made from 10 March 1994. Because he had been paid unemployment benefit for the period 14 February to 9 March, there were no arrears due.
A letter normally issues to clients where disability benefit is restored after an interruption in payment. However, since the person in question was due to attend at his local office on the day following the decision to restore disability benefit to him, it was considered preferable for him to be advised personally of the decision at that stage. No discourtesy was intended but having regard to the Deputy's point that the client first learned of the decision when he received this cheque for disability benefit, I am having the notification procedure reviewed.
69 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare in respect of an application for unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10, which was recently granted on appeal backdated to 30 March 1993, whether the person concerned had applied from 1991 and had been signing on continuously from that date except for a period of eight and a half months when he had been told by Ballyfermot Labour Exchange that he need not sign on; the total amount of supplementary welfare paid to this person between 1991 and the date of the restoration of his unemployment assistance; the amount he would have received if unemployment assistance had been granted to him in 1991; the amount of arrears due to this person; and when arrears will be paid.
The person concerned was paid supplementary welfare allowance from 21 September 1991 to 12 February 1994. He applied for unemployment assistance in respect of the periods 10 September 1991 to 5 May 1992 and also from 30 March 1993 to the current time. His current claim will continue in payment for so long as he fulfils the statutory conditions.
The unemployment assistance claim in respect of the 10 September 1991 to 5 May 1992 period was disallowed. The decision to disallow was upheld by an independent appeals officer.
The claim which commenced on 30 March 1993 was disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned had not fully disclosed his means. An independent appeals officer subsequently reviewed the decision to disallow and decided that the person was entitled to unemployment assistance with effect from 21 April 1993. Weekly payments commenced on 9 February 1994. Arrears of unemployment assistance for the period 21 April 1993 to 8 February 1994 amounted to £1,618.40. The person concerned had received £1,649.48 by way of supplementary welfare allowance from 21 April 1993 to February 1994. The arrears of unemployment assistance were offset against the supplementary welfare allowance already paid for the relevant period. The case has again been reviewed and the claim made in 1993 will now be backdated to 30 March 1993. There may be a small amount of arrears due because of this adjustment.
