asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider the decentralisation of disability payments in view of the growing volume of complaints against delays in receipt of such payments which are the cause of grave hardship in many cases throughout the provinces and particularly in Limerick city.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disability Benefit Payments.
18.
I am not satisfied that the arrangements for the payment of disability benefit under the Social Welfare Acts would be improved by decentralisation. Under the present arrangements, payments are made by cheque delivered by post to the beneficiaries' addresses. These claimants are ill and it would not be possible for the majority of them to attend at local offices for payment. With centralised administration, the most modern office equipment and up-to-date techniques can be utilised to the maximum advantage in the determination of claims and the preparation and issue of benefit cheques. I appreciate that delay in payment of disability benefit during illness can give rise to hardship and my aim is to eliminate avoidable delays. Any developments in equipment or techniques which would help to achieve that end will be examined.
Is the Minister aware of the hardship experienced by families throughout the country because of delays in receiving benefits? Those people have little redress other than to approach public representatives who in turn experience nothing but frustration when they go to the Department. Any Fianna Fáil Deputy will tell the Minister of the terrible hardship suffered by people, many of whom suffer hunger because of these delays. The Minister should put up offices in major centres such as Limerick which has a quarter of a million people in the region.
I am not an expert in this area but I am assured by people who have gone into it carefully that there is no guarantee decentralisation would lead to increased efficiency or eliminate the possibility of delay. Those who have examined the position, all experts in this field, are satisfied the centralised system is the better.
As far as I am concerned, decentralisation would bring about a big improvement in my area.
The Deputy cannot be sure of that—he cannot be sure that a decentralised system would not result in even more delays. If the Deputy would like to give me some cases which he has in mind in which hardship has been caused I will have them investigated.
People have been hungry because of delays.
The Deputy is new in the House and I have been allowing him the usual courtesy. However, I must inform him that at Question Time only questions are permitted; we do not permit statements.
If the Deputy will give me a few typical cases I will have them examined.
19.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider discontinuing the present archaic system of summoning people who are in receipt of disability benefit to appear before a departmental referee when the person concerned is, in fact, the holder of a certificate which clearly sets out his or her illness and incapacity to work.
In the administration of disability benefit, medical control is necessary to ensure that only genuinely sick persons are paid benefit. This control is exercised through medical referees to whom claimants are from time to time referred for examination for the purpose of obtaining independent second medical opinions as to incapacity for work. The claimant's medical certifier in all cases is notified of the date and place of the proposed examination and invited to attend if he so desires. He is also requested to furnish particulars of the claimant's medical history and present condition, and to say whether the claimant is in a fit state of health to attend.
The medical referee system was introduced after consultation with representatives of the medical profession and it is not proposed to discontinue it.
Is the Minister aware that public representatives, myself included for some time have been expressing grave concern at some of the decisions of medical referees? People who have been unfit to work because of serious illness have been certified as fit for work by medical referees. Would the Minister agree to pay the expense of having a person's own doctor attending such examinations?
The claimant's own doctor is invited to attend.
I did not ask that question. I asked if his expenses would be paid.
I do not think so.
I have written to the Department expressing grave concern on behalf of a person who was not fit to walk in for examination but who was certified as being fit for work.
There is a great deal of complaint to the opposite effect as well.
That is my point. Because some people are able to get away with it, deserving applicants are made to suffer.
I do not know of a better system.
Is the Minister aware that there seems to have been a serious deterioration in the position in recent months in respect of undue delays in bringing disability cases to determination? People have sent certificates to the Department but there has not been any determination for months.
I am aware there are grounds for complaint.
Would the Minister look into them?
It is a question of getting additional medical referees and this is under active consideration.
What should those unfortunate people do in the meantime, many of whom have been waiting for months?
I agree we should endeavour to eliminate delays and I will do the best I can. This is not a new situation: it has existed for a considerable time.
It has been worsening considerably.
Is the Minister aware that some of the decisions arrived at have been extremely harsh?
The Deputy made that point already. I get volumes of complaints to the opposite effect as well.