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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Mar 1966

Vol. 221 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensions.

41.

(Cavan) asked the Minister for Social Welfare (a) the number of non-contributory old age pensioners who received an increase of 10/- per week in their pensions in respect of the week ended 6th August, 1965, without making special application; (b) the number of pensioners in receipt of a non-contributory pension of 37/6d. per week on 1st August, 1965, who received an increase of 10/- per week as a result of making application since that date, and (c) the number of pensioners in receipt of 37/6d. per week on 1st August, 1965, whose means had, prior to that date, been assessed at more than £26 5. 0., but less than £50, who did not apply for, and have not received, an increase of 10/- per week under the Social Welfare Act, 1965.

The numbers are (a) 70,850 and (b) 7,000 (estimated).

With regard to (c) of the question statistics are not available in respect of persons with means between £26 5. 0. and £50 but 20,645 pensioners with annual means assessed at more than £26 5. 0. but not exceeding £52 10. 0. did not apply for and have not received an increase of 10/- per week under the Social Welfare Act 1965.

42.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that, in the case where a person in receipt of a contributory old age pension dies, there is frequently a delay of up to some weeks before his widow receives her book for a widow's pension; and if, in view of the hardship this causes to widows, he will institute some method whereby the widow may receive interim pension payments pending the receipt of her new pension book.

I am not so aware. In normal course a new Pension Order Book is dispatched to the widow of a person who had been in receipt of an old age (contributory) pension within a week of the receipt of notification of his death. On occasion, but this is a very infrequent happening, some delay occurs because correct particulars of the pensioner's death have not been furnished or because the relative old age (contributory) pension order book had not been returned, or because there had been an overpayment of old age pension in the case. Even such cases can generally be dealt with and a new pension order book issued within two weeks. I do not consider therefore that any special arrangements on the lines suggested by the Deputy are necessary.

Is the Minister aware that there is often a period of five or six weeks before a widow is issued with a book? I had a case myself last week in which it was five weeks before the book was issued. I ask the Minister to have the matter reconsidered.

If there were such a delay, it must have been because the death certificate was not received or the contributory old age pension book not returned.

Could the Minister devise some scheme whereby some book will be issued or some provision made for the widow right away? Very often a widow in such circumstances has nobody to help her and is living on her own. These people are often five or six weeks waiting for a book.

I am giving facts.

The normal delay would be less than a week. It might occasionally go to two weeks but if the contributory old age pension book is returned and the death certificate forwarded, then the widow's contributory pension book is automatically issued within a week.

If the Minister checks up in his Department, he will find that it often goes to five or six weeks.

It does not.

These are facts.

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