asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person (name supplied) who reached 70 years of age on 14th March, 1965 was paid old age pension only from 19th March, 1965.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Old Age Pension.
23.
Regulations made under the Social Welfare Act, 1952, prescribe that, where the day as from which payment of pension would commence is a day of the week other than a Friday, payment of the pension shall commence only as from the next Friday.
Does the Minister not appreciate that since this man was ill over a number of years and in receipt of disability benefit from his Department, and was paid that benefit until the 13th of the month, he lost a full week before he received any payment from the Department? Will the Minister say how his Department consider that a man is supposed to exist during a week when he receives no payment from anybody?
There was no mention of disability benefit in the question. I was asked why the man did not receive payment of his old age pension earlier than 19th March. I have explained that the regulations prescribe that the payment shall be from the next Friday after the date on which he became 70. I had no knowledge of disability——
I gave the Minister full particulars of the man's case. Did the Minister not go to the trouble of investigating it?
In the Deputy's question before me, and to which I have replied, there is no mention of disability.
I gave particulars of the man's case, and his number, to the Minister. If he had inquired from his Department, they would have told him that the man had been drawing disability benefit for two years. He was left a week hungry.
There is no mention of disability benefit in the question the Deputy put on the Order Paper.
Will the Minister now tell the House why the man was not paid?
The question refers to the old age pension.
Would the Minister explain why the man was not paid his old age pension on the date on which he became 70?
I explained that in my reply. If the Deputy wants to ask about disability, he should put down a question.
The Minister is well aware that he was paid his full amount of disability benefit——
I have answered in relation to the old age pension. That was the only question I was asked.