asked the Minister for Social Welfare why an old age pension has not been granted to a person (name supplied) in County Offaly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensions.
22.
An appeals officer has determined that the person concerned is not entitled to an old age non-contributory pension on the ground that his means exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension.
23.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age contributory pension will be granted to a person (name supplied) in County Meath who first applied in December, 1974; and the reason for the delay in dealing with the application.
No claim for an old age contributory pension was received from the person concerned. A claim for a non-contributory old age pension which was received on the 20th January, 1975 gave no particulars of any social insurance record or any other indication that the claimant wished to be considered for an old age contributory pension. As a result of inquiries which have now been made in his case, it would appear that he may have entitlement to such a pension and arrangements have accordingly been made to enable him to submit necessary claim and insurance particulars.
I take it that the person will be awarded the contributory pension and that it will be backdated to January when he first applied?
I take it that will be the case. If a person communicates with the Department with regard to a pension and if there is some confusion on the side of the Department as to the type of pension being claimed, the person concerned would be entitled to have it backdated.
The man concerned understood he was applying for the correct pension when he filled in the form sent to him. In view of this, I think the man should be paid from the date of application.
Is it the practice of the Department to consider an alternative pension if the person does not apply for the correct pension in the first instance without seeking a further application?
As I understand it, the person would not be entitled to a non-contributory pension.
In that case, would the Department not automatically consider him for the contributory pension?
The Department do the reverse. If a person applies for a contributory pension to which he is not entitled, automatically we would consider him for a non-contributory pension but not in this case.