Michael Ring
Ceist:259 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for his oral hearing. [13529/97]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Appeals.
Michael Ring
Ceist:263 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on a disablement claim appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that the matter has been ongoing for several months. [13643/97]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 259 and 263 together.
The person concerned was in receipt of disablement benefit on a provisional assessment of 50 per cent loss of faculty. Following a review examination by a medical assessor of the Department, a decision was made to reduce the disablement assessment to 30 per cent with effect from 13 December 1996.
The person concerned appealed this decision and his case has been listed for oral hearing by an appeals officer in Claremorris during week commencing 4 August 1997. The person concerned will be notified of the date and venue at which to attend.
Michael Creed
Ceist:260 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been refused benefit under the back to work scheme; if this decision has been appealed; and if so, the decision, if any, which has been reached on this appeal. [13606/97]
The objective of the back to work allowance scheme is to provide a financial incentive to long-term unemployed people who would not otherwise do so to return to the active labour force. It was not intended to support people who are able to find employment without such a financial incentive. It is, therefore, a requirement of the scheme that an applicant must apply for the allowance prior to taking up employment.
The person concerned took up employment on 24 February 1997 but did not apply for the allowance until 19 May 1997. Her application was refused on the grounds that it was late and that she was in a position to return to work without recourse to the financial incentive which the scheme provides. She submitted a letter of appeal but on review it was decided that there were no grounds for changing the original decision.