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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 May 1977

Vol. 299 No. 4

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

57.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons in receipt of (a) non-contributory old age pensions (b) non-contributory widows' pensions and (c) blind persons' pensions on 31st March, 1975, 1976 and 1977.

The number of persons in each of the categories referred to by the Deputy on the dates specified was as follows:

31st March 1975

31st March 1976

31st March 1977

(a)

114,711

123,439

122,695

(b)

13,746

12,596

12,454

(c)

6,200

6,200

6,200

The numbers of blind persons' pensions shown are approximate as separate statistics of these pensions are not kept.

58.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons in receipt of (i) non-contributory old-age pensions (ii) non-contributory widows' pension and (iii) blind persons' pensions on 31st March, 1975 and 1976 who had their pension reduced or terminated because of an increase in their means.

Statistics are not kept in a form which would enable the information requested to be supplied.

59.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the inquiries that have been made by his Department regarding the application for a widow's pension by a person (details supplied) in County Meath who first applied in October, 1976; and when it will be possible to establish her late husband's insurance record in view of the fact that his insurance cards were not stamped for six years although he was in continuous employment.

A claim for a widow's non-contributory pension from the person referred to was received on 2nd November, 1976. She stated on the claim form that her late husband had been a farmer. An Irish insurance number was not quoted for him but a British insurance number was given. The claim was investigated by the Department's local officer on 6th December, 1976. Information regarding an Irish insurance record for the deceased was not made available to him but the particulars regarding British insurance were, however, confirmed. As the widow's means were found to be in excess of the limits for entitlement to widow's non-contributory pension her claim was rejected on 14th December, 1976. Particulars of her late husband's British insurance number were forwarded to the British Ministry of Health and Social Security on 15th December, 1976 for any action which they might be able to take. On 12th January, 1977, the Deputy furnished an Irish insurance number in respect of the applicant's late husband and also stated that there were contributions due in respect of employment in which he had been engaged. The relevant insurance record was traced but did not contain sufficient contributions to give title to Irish widow's contributory pension. Particulars of this record were forwarded to the British Ministry on 21st January, 1977, to be combined with the husband's British insurance record under the EEC regulations. It is understood that a British pension has been put into payment. There is no title to Irish pension under the EEC Regulations on the combined insurance records.

An inquiry was issued to the employer by whom the widow's late husband was stated to have been employed but no reply was received. A reminder which issued on 30th March, 1977, has also been unanswered. The Department's local officer has been asked to investigate the alleged employment but it is not possible at this stage to say when or if a further insurance record for the applicant's late husband will be established.

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