asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will investigate the reasons why a man (name supplied) was left without any form of State or local assistance for a period of at least a fortnight in the month of April; and if he will state what steps he will take to ensure that similar distress will not be caused to persons in the future by unfortunate and avoidable delays.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Non-Payment of Social Assistance.
21.
Mr. Barrett
The person named by the Deputy has been in receipt of regular weekly payments of disability benefit since October, 1964. He was paid £5.3.6 on 2nd April, 1965, £5.3.6 on 8th April and £4.6.3 on 15th April. After a doubt had arisen as to whether the claimant continued to fulfil the statutory conditions for the receipt of disability benefit the payment due on 21st April was incorrectly stopped by an inexperienced officer, contrary to standing instructions. When the error was observed a cheque for £10.7.0 covering benefit due to 28th April issued on 30th April, 1965.
I can assure the Deputy that the avoidance of delay in the payment of social welfare benefit payments is at all times a matter of primary concern to all officers of my Department, and every effort is made, consonant with the necessity to protect the Social Insurance Fund in the interests of insured persons generally, to make such payments promptly.