Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 24 Jan 1995

Vol. 447 No. 11

Written Answers. - Unemployment Assistance.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

223 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the decision to deduct £20 from the unemployment assistance of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 in view of the fact that her husband is participating in a community enterprise development programme. [3834/94]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance on 1 September 1994. Her husband was also a claimant and each of them was entitled to receive unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £68.60 — that is, half the amount of the maximum rate of long term unemployment assistance payable to a person with an adult dependant and three dependent children.

When her husband commenced employment under a community employment programme on 12 September 1994 the claimant's individual entitlement was reviewed by a deciding officer. The value of the benefit she derived from her husband's income became assessable under the Rules for the Calculation of Means contained in the Third Schedule to the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993. The deciding officer estimated the benefit derived from her husband's income at £60 per week. Where an increase for an adult dependant is not payable the means assessment is halved and accordingly the maximum rate of unemployment assistance in her case, which is £78.70 (personal rate of £58.90 and half rate for her three dependent children amounting to £19.80), was reduced leaving her entitled to £48.70 per week.

The decision of the deciding officer was conveyed in writing to the claimant. It is open to her to appeal this decision.

On review it was found that the person concerned was not paid the longterm personal rate of unemployment assistance to which she was entitled. As a consequence, she was underpaid £45.75 and these arrears have now been paid. It is understood the person concerned commenced employment under the community employment programme in December last.

The decision in this case was made in accordance with the terms of the 1993 Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act. The Minister has no function in determining her entitlements.