asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that social welfare payments are not suspended in any case during the course of reinvestigation of eligibility of the recipient.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
80.
Where social welfare benefit or assistance is in payment it is not the practice to suspend payment during the course of a reinvestigation that might become necessary. In such a case payment would not be discontinued until the investigation had been completed and, following consideration of the report of the investigation, a deciding officer decided that entitlement to the benefit or assistance no longer existed.
It is not clear from the Deputy's question what specifically he has in mind. If, however, he lets me have more precise details of the problem with which he is concerned I will be glad to have the matter further examined.
I am very glad to note that there are no hold-ups while investigations are taking place. I would be interested to know since when has this obtained because in the case of both benefit and assistance it has not always been the case. Payment has been suspended until spot checks were carried out. Can I take it that there is or will be no suspension of payment in the case either of assistance or benefit while investigations, reinvestigations or spot checks are taking place?
I am given to understand that the reply I gave to the Deputy is the correct position but, as I indicated, if the Deputy has any cases in mind I would be glad to have them examined.
Can I take it that the indication given by the Parliamentary Secretary is the one that would be applied?
In general it would be applied. There may be exceptional circumstances in a particular case but without having full details of a particular case I cannot give an answer.
In other words, they would continue to be entitled to benefit or assistance until proved otherwise?
That would be the normal procedure.