asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Galway, who was in receipt of a non-contributory old age pension at the rate of £9.40 per week up to January 1978, did not receive any pension since then; and the reasons for this occurrence.
Written Answers. - Non-Contributory Old Age Pension.
306.
I am aware of what happened in this case and it may be helpful to the Deputy if I recount the sequence of events.
In January 1978 the social welfare officer learned that the pensioner in the case was no longer living alone and that she was no longer, therefore, entitled to the living alone allowance of £1 a week in addition to her basic pension of £9.40 a week. Shortly afterwards the social welfare officer raised a question about the basic pension being paid in the case on the grounds that there had been a change in the pensioner's means. Following this the pensioner's book was recalled in April 1978 as it appeared that she was no longer entitled to a pension on grounds of means.
Subsequently there was an appeal in the case and on the 18 October 1978 an appeals officer decided that the pensioner was entitled to pension at the reduced rate of £2.40 a week. A pension order book at this rate was issued to the pensioner on the 27 October 1978. Arrears which were due to the pensioner have been issued.