asked the Minister for Social Welfare if delays have occurred in paying 1980 budget increases to pensioners.
Written Answers. - Budget Pension Increases.
194.
Because of the short interval between the date of this year's budget and the dates from which the increases in the rates of pension had effect, it would not have been possible to have pension order books at the increased rates printed and issued to the pensioners before their existing pension books expired at the end of March. In order to avoid a situation where the pensioners would have had no books on which to receive payment from the beginning of this month it was necessary this year to have two issues of pension books prepared for the 330,000 pensioners in the country.
The first issue of books, at the prebudget rates, was made in March and the books were in the hands of the pensioners to enable them to receive payment at these rates from the first week of this month. The second issue which provides for the weekly increases is being made at present. So far approximately two-thirds of pensioners have received their supplementary pension books and it is anticipated that the issue of the balance of the books will be completed next month. These books contain orders from the first week in April in all cases, with the result that no pensioner will suffer any loss arising from the delay in their issue.
An advertisement advising pensioners of the arrangements for the issue of the two sets of books was inserted in all the main daily and evening newspapers on Monday 31 March 1980 and in the Sunday newspapers on 6 April 1980.
The delay in the issue of the supplementary pension books containing the increases in the rates is regretted but every effort is being made by my Department to ensure that the remainder of the books will be issued to the pensioners as quickly as possible.
As payments such as of disability benefit, unemployment benefit, unemployment assistance and other short-term payments are made by cheque or by cash as appropriate the increases in the rates of those payments were made from the operative date in each case.