asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the Saorstát Section of the Prudential Approved Society has withheld disablement benefit from Mrs. Margaret White, Limerick Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, who is a qualified member of the said Prudential Society, although she furnished proper medical evidence of her inability to perform remunerative work for the period from May 15th to June 9th, 1924, and whether he will take steps with a view to having the benefit paid by the said Prudential Society.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PAYMENT OF INSURANCE BENEFIT.
Mrs. Margaret White, Newbridge, received sickness and disablement benefit from the Prudential Health Insurance Society for 73 weeks, ending in December, 1923. She made a fresh claim for disablement benefit and furnished medical certificates in respect of the period from the 15th May, 1924, to the 9th June, 1924, but the Society, after considering the report of their local agent and consulting the doctor who had examined her, decided at that time that she was capable of some work, and therefore had not satisfied the provision of the National Health Insurance Acts, which requires that an insured person must be incapable of work to be entitled to sickness or disablement benefit. Benefit was accordingly refused, and the insured person was notified of the Society's decision and of her right to have her case submitted to arbitration if she was dissatisfied. Though she has not up to the present made any application to the Society for arbitration, it is understood that they have on reconsideration decided to pay the benefit claim for the full period now in question.