Unemployment benefit and availability for work
The claimant’s benefit was disallowed because she was considered not readily available for work, including because she sought work only in her locality; her appeals officer had confirmed an earlier decision, and a further appeal was pending. Members challenged whether mothers were being unfairly excluded, while the Minister said availability rules applied equally and agreed to examine the matter.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 has been refused unemployment benefit-assistance on the grounds that she was not available for work; and if he will explain this decision.
Comment on this
The claim of the person concerned to unemployment benefit on 1 December 1982 was disallowed on the grounds that she was not available for employment as she had not made sufficient efforts to get work. She appealed against the disallowance and following an oral hearing the appeals officer on 3 February 1983 confirmed the decision given in her case.
She continued to sign the unemployed register but her claim was again disallowed on similar grounds as she had informed the local office that she was only interested in getting work in her own locality. She appealed on 26 April against the further decision disallowing her claim and arrangements are being made for an oral hearing of her case to the appeals officer and to furnish evidence on her own behalf.
Comment on this
Is the Minister aware that a number of women entitled to benefit on payment of their contributions are experiencing difficulty in getting their entitlements because they have a child? Does the indication that one is interested in a certain type of work mean that one is not available for work? Does the existance of a child automatically preclude a woman from benefit? In this case details of possible arrangements were given at various times. Is there an automatic negative presumed in case of a woman with a child unless she has been sacked?
Comment on this
There is no discrimination. A person must be readily available for work. To be available only for a certain type of work does not mean that a person is readily available for work. This woman will have an opportunity to put her case on appeal and she may be successful on that basis.
Comment on this
I support Deputy Flaherty. I agree that there seems to be a situation in the Department of Social Welfare where a woman with a child is automatically disqualified from benefit. I would like an assurance that the Minister will have the matter investigated as a matter of urgency.