asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will grant a retirement pension to a person (name supplied) in County Kildare who first applied in May, 1976 but whose application was turned down because he could not produce his wife's birth certificate as she was born in Scotland, in view of the fact that his Department has been paying this person disability benefit and invalidity pension with an allowance in respect of his wife for the past 15 years.
Written Answers. - Retirement Pension.
73.
The claim for retirement pension by the person concerned was not rejected at any time on any grounds. The circumstances are that on 4th June, 1976, a letter was received in my Department from the person concerned, indicating that he was receiving invalidity pension, that he had reached age 65 and that he qualified for retirement pension. He had not, however, at the time submitted a claim for retirement pension but a claim form to enable him to do so was then issued to him. The claim form was received back, unsigned, on 2nd July, 1976, and was returned to the claimant for his signature. He was asked at the same time to forward a birth certificate in respect of his wife. This is a normal requirement in retirement pension claims as, unlike invalidity pension, the rate of increase of retirement pension payable in respect of a wife is determined by her age. The claim form was again received back on 27th July, 1976, together with a letter from the claimant in which he stated that his wife's birth certificate had been mislaid but that inquiries were being made with a view to getting another one and that he would forward it as soon as he received it. The certificate has not been received to date. The claimant, however, has been awarded retirement pension from 6th May, 1976, including increase of pension in respect of his wife and his two qualified children. The increase awarded in respect of his wife is at the rate payable in the case of a wife who has not reached age 67. Payment of invalidity pension to him will terminate on 10th November and payment of retirement pension will commence on 11th November, 1976.