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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Feb 1925

Vol. 10 No. 1

CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MAGANEY (CO. KILDARE) DISABLEMENT BENEFIT CLAIM.

asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that Mrs. Julia Malone, Castleroe, Maganey, Co. Kildare, who is insured with the Irish Amalgamated Insurance Society, was drawing 7/6 per week disablement benefit up to May 18th, 1924, when payment was suspended, although she still claims to be entitled to benefit; further whether, as this woman is suffering severely from neuritis and unable to do any work and is in very straitened circumstances and will probably have to apply for home help, he will take the matter up with the society with a view to having the benefit restored so that she will not become a charge on the funds of the County Board of Health.

Mrs. Julia Malone received sickness and disablement benefits from the Irish Amalgamated Health Insurance Society continuously for four and a half years up to the 17th May, 1924, when she was examined by the Society's Medical Referee, who reported that she was not incapable of work. Payment was therefore discontinued. Some time after she had been notified of the Society's decision to discontinue payment, she applied to them to have her case submitted to arbitration. Her application was refused, as the application had not been made within the time-limit allowed by the Disputes Rule of the Society. In October last a complaint was received by the Insurance Commissioners from a solicitor acting on her behalf. In reply, it was explained that as a result of her failure to comply with the rules of the Society she had forfeited her right to have her claim submitted to arbitration. At the same time, it was pointed out that if she claimed to be incapable of work for any period subsequent to the date on which she was examined by the Society's Medical Referee, she should forward to the Society medical certificates covering that period so that the claim could be dealt with. No medical certificates covering any subsequent period have, however, reached the Head Office of the Society, but inquiries are being made from her as to whether she is in possession of, or is in a position to obtain, evidence of further incapacity in which case she will be instructed as to the steps she should take to make her claim for further benefit.

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