asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that when a widow makes her claim for a widow's pension and delay is caused in his Department she has to apply for home assistance, the amount of which is subsequently deducted from her pension and, if so, if this is done in accordance with his instructions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Widow's Pension Deduction.
If, pending the decision on her claim for a pension, a widow is granted home assistance in excess of the amount which would have been granted if she had been receiving payment of the pension, the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts authorise a refund to the public assistance authority out of the arrears of pension provided the amount of the excess is certified to my Department before the arrears are paid to the widow. In granting home assistance in such circumstances, a public assistance authority is precluded under the provisions of the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts from taking into consideration the first 10/-of the pension.
I consider this a great hardship on the widow. I have a case here where a pension was held up in the Minister's Department. The widow had to go to the local authority after she got the amount of the pension. The full amount due to her by the Department was £7 16s., and she received £1 6s. There was that deduction. I want to find out if it is the county manager is doing this or is it the Minister himself who is making these orders? This was a widow with a young family. She was waiting for the period from the 18th January, 1952, to the 28th February, 1952, for her pension to come from the Department. I think these are very low, mean tactics. The Minister's Department or even the county manager should not do it.
The figures do not seem to me to be correct, because the first 10/- should not be taken into account. For the 15 or 16 weeks, or whatever the period may be, it would appear to me that a very small amount could be deducted under this arrangement. I want to tell the Deputy that I have made no change in the arrangement since I came in.
All she got was £1 6s.