Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
- Occupational injury benefit payment delay 2 speeches
The claimant received disability benefit while the workplace accident was investigated; after confirmation, injury benefit was allowed from the accident date and an adjusting cheque was issued.
Myra Barry, Fergus O'Brien
- Pay-related benefit payment delay 2 speeches
The claimant’s earnings information was unavailable when he applied, delaying assessment; the Department obtained it from Revenue and paid all benefit due on 14 March 1983.
Myra Barry, Fergus O'Brien
- Unemployment assistance means assessment in Meath 2 speeches
The claimant’s £22.65 weekly means from fishing were upheld on appeal, leaving him unemployment assistance of £27.85 per week.
John V. Farrelly, Fergus O'Brien
- Unemployment assistance rate in Mayo 2 speeches
The claimant receives £8.15 weekly after £17.30 in means from letting land was deducted; a recent review found no reason to change the assessment.
Pádraig Flynn, Fergus O'Brien
- Unemployment payments in January and February 2 speeches
Asked for weekly totals of unemployment benefit and assistance paid in January and February 1983, the Minister said available figures would be circulated in a table.
Brendan Daly, Fergus O'Brien
- Unemployment figures for east Cork 13 speeches
The Minister gave registration figures for east Cork in 1981–83 and, in follow-up exchanges, said the year-on-year increase was about 25 per cent and the total was 4,216, clarifying that this figure referred to east Cork. O’Keeffe urged the Government to provide urgent funding given the area’s severe unemployment and harbour-area closures; the Minister undertook to convey the concern, and the Chair deferred remaining questions.
Ned O'Keeffe, Fergus O'Brien, Thomas J. Fitzpatrick
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying social welfare benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Comment on this
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit on 3 November 1982, in respect of an incapacity resulting from an accident at work on 30 October 1982.
Pending the completion of investigation of the accident, he was awarded disability benefit as an interim measure from 4 November 1982, the fourth day of incapacity. Pay-related benefit was also awarded from 15 November, the thirteenth day of incapacity.
Following confirmation of the occupational accident, injury benefit was allowed from the date of the accident and an adjusting cheque was issued on 16 February 1983 for the additional benefit payable over and above the amounts already paid for the period from 30 October 1982 to 10 February 1983.
In error the claim was then closed with effect from 11 February 1983. Unfortunately, there was delay in re-opening the claim when further medical certification arrived. The claim was re-opened on 9 March 1983 and outstanding benefit was paid on 15 March 1983. The claimant has now been paid to 14 May 1983, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
18.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in paying pay-related benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Comment on this
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 18 December 1982, fourth day of incapacity, to 12 February 1983, after which date he was certified fit to resume work.
Entitlement to pay-related benefit depended on the reckonable earnings of the claimant in the 1980-81 income tax year. These were not available to the Department at the time the claim to disability benefit was made. Details were however obtained from the office of the Revenue Commissioners and all pay-related benefit due was paid to the claimant on 14 March 1983.
19.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the basis on which the sum of £22.65 was calculated as the rate of unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Meath as he should be receiving £51.60 per week; the arrears due to him; and when they will be paid.
Comment on this
The person concerned was assessed with means of £22.65 weekly derived from self-employment as a fisherman. He appealed against the amount of means assessed against him but an appeals officer upheld the assessment at £22.65 weekly.
He is accordingly in receipt of unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £27.85 being the maximum rate payable to him £50.50 less means £22.65.
20.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is not being paid unemployment assistance at the full rate.
Comment on this
The person concerned is receiving unemployment assistance at the weekly rate of £8.15, being the appropriate maximum rate in his case, of £25.45 less means £17.30, derived from the letting of his land. His means were recently reviewed and no change in them was found to be warranted.
21.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amounts paid in all unemployment benefit and assistance claims for each week in January and February 1983.
Comment on this
Unemployment payments may be made at local offices of my Department or in certain cases at post offices. The information available includes the actual expenditure at local offices and in respect of post offices the amounts listed by local offices for payment at post offices. The actual accounts for post office expenditure will not be available for some months. I propose to circulate the details available in the form of a tabular statement.
Following is the statement:—
22.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of people unemployed in east Cork at the present time, in 1981 and 1982; the number on unemployment assistance in those years; and the number on unemployment benefit.
Comment on this
Details of the number of persons registered as unemployed at the local offices serving east Cork in 1983, 1982 and 1981 are as follows:—
Comment on this
Is the Minister aware that east Cork is one of the blackest unemployment spots, and with the harbour area practically on the verge of closure, would the Minister inform his Government that money is urgently required in that area?
