asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cause of the long delay in paying social welfare disability benefit to a person in County Kerry (name supplied).
Written Answers. - Kerry Disability Benefit.
34.
The person referred to by the Deputy claimed disability benefit from 22nd March, 1976, but was not entitled to benefit as he had no paid or credited contributions in the contribution year governing his claim. When advised of this position the claimant furnished information regarding his employment in the United Kingdom and this information was sent to the Department of Health and Social Security with a request for details of contributions which could be taken into account for the purpose of the claim.
On 5th May, 1976, that Department advised that only 18 contributions had been received in respect of the governing contribution year and, as this is less than the minimum of 26 required, the claimant was again advised that he was not qualified for disability benefit. On 14th May, 1976, the claimant's United Kingdom insurance card for the year ended 6th April, 1975, was forwarded to my Department and this was transmitted to the Department of Health and Social Security to ascertain if any additional contributions were reckonable for the purpose of the claim. On 14th June, 1976, a revised record was received from the Department of Health and Social Security which gave the claimant an entitlement to disability benefit. On 18th June, 1976, payment of the amount of benefit due up to 12th May, 1976, was issued after which date his claim has been disallowed as he was found to be capable of work when examined by a medical referee on 13th May, 1976.