asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that considerable delay occurs between the submission of applications and the making of payments in respect of sickness benefit, and if he will take steps to remedy the position.
Questions— Oral Answers. - Sickness Benefit Payments.
On the average there are 41,500 persons entitled to receive disability benefit each week. In dealing with such large numbers delay may occur in individual cases but such delays are exceptional. I have given special attention to this branch of my Department's work, and I can say that cases in which delay occurs are now very infrequent. When any case of delay is reported to me or the Department the matter is fully investigated and steps are taken to prevent a recurrence.
For the Deputy's information it should be stated that complaints of delay are sometimes made because it is not understood that, in the case of new claims, benefit is not normally payable in respect of the first three days of illness and that no payment is due until a second certificate is received. It should not be forgotten also that in many cases adequate particulars are not given by the insured person when making the claim and inquiries, which otherwise would not be necessary, have to be undertaken before a decision can be given.
I appreciate the difficulty the Department might meet, but is it not a bit fantastic that a patient in hospital, who may not be able to fill in an application form but who is certified as being entitled to benefit by the almoner of the hospital, has to wait three weeks for his payments?
I do not think many such cases occur. Of course, I do not blame the applicant entirely because mistakes are sometimes made in the Department. It is inevitable that there will be mistakes made in a Department which deals with 41,500 applications. The Deputy has admitted that mistakes are made by the applicants themselves. The only thing I can do is try and correct these delays as far as I can and the evidence I have, as well as my own experience, indicates that delays are not as frequent as they were.
I am more concerned about the payment of allowances to the dependents of patients where wives and families are kept waiting for three or four weeks because the patient did not fill in the application form, although the hospital almoner has certified that he is sick and entitled to benefit.
Technical errors of that kind are no reason for delays. I can assure the Deputy that no delay will be caused because of mistakes that have no bearing on the actual amount of the payments.