Unemployment benefit after workplace accident
Fahey sought a review of a Galway claimant’s unemployment benefit, saying he had been underpaid. The Minister explained that his entitlement depended on meeting contribution conditions for disability benefit; the Chair noted that Question 14 was for written reply.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will reconsider his decision in regard to the payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway as he claims that he has been paid less than half the benefit due to him.
Comment on this
The person concerned was paid occupational injury benefit in respect of the period from 2 December 1981 to 10 February 1982 in connection with an incapacity resulting from an accident at work on 2 December 1981. Benefit was paid at the rate of £64.65 a week which included increases in respect of his wife and two qualified children.
To qualify for pay-related benefit with injury benefit, the claimant is required to have an underlying title to disability benefit. A minimum of 26 contribution weeks registered in the governing contribution year 1979-80 was required for entitlement to disability benefit. He had, however, a total of only 15 contribution weeks in the year, with the result that he did not qualify for disability benefit. In consequence he did not qualify for pay-related benefit. There is no trace in my Department of any recent claim to unemployment benefit from the person concerned.
