asked the Minister for Health, in respect of each benefit administered by his Department, the estimated percentage of those entitled who do not actually claim the benefit concerned.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
323.
Estimates of this kind are not available in my Department. However, in view of the nature of the benefits concerned and the extensive publicity given to them, it is reasonable to expect that they are claimed by a high percentage of those entitled to them.
324.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have social welfare benefit paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit from 9 July 1979. Further inquiries are necessary before a decision can be given as to his entitlement to this benefit.
Disability benefit was not paid in the meanwhile, as he had only 24 contributions paid and credited in 1978, the contribution year governing his claim. To qualify for any payment he would need to have at least 26 contributions in that year.
However, following inquiries by my Department, it has been accepted that he was engaged in insurable employment for a further two weeks in 1978 in respect of which contributions were not paid. He has been credited with these contributions which qualify him for payment.
A cheque in payment of disability benefit from 13 July 1979, the fourth day of incapacity, to 21 September 1979, the date of the last medical certificate received, has been issued.
325.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting a non-contributory old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
An old age pension at the maximum rate, including an adult dependant allowance, has been awarded by an appeals officer to the person concerned with effect from 9 April 1978. The appeals officer had deferred his decision in the case pending the stamping of a deed of transfer of a holding. Confirmation of the stamping has only now come to hand.
326.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in granting a non-contributory old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
An old age non-contributory pension has not been granted to the person concerned as the social welfare officer appealed against the decision of the local pension committee, awarding pension at the maximum rate, on the ground that the claimant's means exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension. A deed of transfer of the claimant's farm has been executed and the appeals officer awaits confirmation that the deed has been stamped before he gives his decision.
327.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that the joint income from the Department of Social Welfare of a couple (details supplied) in County Meath was reduced on the wife reaching old age pension age and if he considers that this case illustrates an anomaly in the regulations which should be remedied.
In the case concerned the husband was in receipt of an old age contributory pension which included an increase for his wife. At the same time, she was in receipt of disability benefit at the rate appropriate to a married woman on her own insurance.
When the wife attained pension age in May 1979, her title to disability benefit ceased and she qualified for an old age contributory pension on her own insurance. The relevant regulations governing such cases preclude the payment to a man of an increase of old age pension in respect of his wife, where the latter is in receipt of a contributory pension in her own right. Accordingly, the increase of pension in respect of his wife ceased to be payable to the husband.
Disability benefit is payable to an insured person during interruptions of employment caused by illness up to pension age. Title to disability benefit ceases at pension age irrespective of whether the insured person is entitled to any other social welfare payment.
The anomaly arises from the concession which permits disability benefit and an increase of pension to be paid concurrently in respect of the same person. This type of case is under consideration.
328.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare, in relation to each benefit or entitlement administered by his Department the estimated percentage of those entitled who do not claim the benefit or entitlement concerned.
Estimates on the lines requested could not be made with any degree of accuracy.
The high level of beneficiaries under the various schemes administered by my Department would indicate that the numbers of persons who do not claim their entitlements under those schemes are not significant.
329.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the percentage of female claimants for (a) unemployment benefit and (b) unemployment assistance, adjudged not available for work in each of the past three years.
Statistics of the kind requested by the Deputy are not kept by my Department.
330.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare, in relation to each type of benefit or entitlement administered by his Department in the last complete financial period, (i) the number of claims, (ii) the percentage of fraudulent claims, (iii) the total amount of money involved in cases in which fraud was detected in each category, and (iv) this amount expressed as a percentage of the total amount paid out in benefit in each category concerned.
Statistics kept in my Department would not enable all the information sought by the Deputy to be supplied. However, I am having a statement compiled on the basis of the available material and I will communicate with the Deputy in the matter.