asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that recipients of old age pensions who are also in receipt of British contributory pensions are subject to a great deal of inconvenience when adjustments are made in the rate of British pensions; and if he will examine the possibility of making some more stable arrangement for these pensioners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pension.
38.
I am not so aware.
When an alteration in the rate of non-contributory old age pension falls to be made in the case of pensioners who are also in receipt of British contributory pensions following adjustments in the rate of British pensions no inconvenience arises in the normal course for the pensioners. My Department's arrangements ensure that a replacement book is issued promptly when notification of the adjustment has come to hand and the pension order book has been returned to the Department.
Is the Minister aware that British pensioners who are also in receipt of pensions here are asked by the Department of Social Welfare when the British pension is increased to return their books in order that adjustments may be made, which means a reduction in the Irish pension? Consequently the pensioners may find themselves without the pension order book for a considerable period.
I know that since July, 1973 when, as the House is aware, major easement of the means test was introduced, cases in considerable numbers have arisen where persons in receipt of British contributory pensions qualified for Irish noncontributory pensions. The Department has no evidence that inconvenience to the pensioner arises in cases of this kind but if the Deputy will supply me or the Department with such evidence we shall certainly have any such cases examined.
I can assure the Minister that I can give hundreds of instances where what I have stated happened.
Will the Deputy give me a few, please?
Is the Minister aware that not alone is what Deputy Gallagher said true about the book being taken in and delay being incurred but there is the problem that if the recipient of the British pension does not declare the increase he is penalised for not so doing? Surely some arrangement could be made whereby increases in British pensions would be notified to the Department of Social Welfare and adjustments made accordingly without the onus being placed on the recipient down the country to report the matter. He may not be aware of the obligation to report.
The Department is very anxious to make beneficiaries of all social welfare schemes more aware of their rights in these matters than has been the case, including the aspect the Deputy refers to. The Deputy is aware that an appeals procedure does exist and, no doubt, Deputies being aware of that can advise persons who are likely to be concerned.
What does the person do in the six months that intervene?
It is not a case of knowing rights; it is a matter of the delay that occurs when the book has gone in.