asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the lapse of so much time between submission of medical certification and payment of social welfare benefits, he will arrange that forms of application for benefit be supplied to doctors for distribution to patients in order to accelerate payment of benefit.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
21.
The Deputy's suggestion would not accelerate payment of disability benefit. Payment of disability benefit is not made until receipt of the second medical certificate from the claimant which indicates that the interruption of employment through illness has lasted for at least a week.
In cases where the first medical certificate of incapacity is received at headquarters, unaccompanied by a completed claim form, a form is posted at once to the claimant who has ample time to complete and return it with the second medical certificate.