asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of sick benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry and when payment will issue.
Written Answers. - Kerry Sick Benefit Payment.
261.
The person concerned submitted medical evidence of incapacity on 11 March 1980. He failed to satisfy the contribution condition for disability benefit which requires the claimant to have at least 26 contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. He has a total of only 20 contributions in the governing year, 1978.
When a completed claim form for disability benefit was received on 18 April 1980, the incapacity appeared to be due to an occupational accident. Inquiries are being made about his entitlement to injury benefit under the occupational injuries scheme in respect of the incapacity and a decision will issue as soon as confirmation is received from the employer that the incapacity is in fact due to an accident which occurred during the course of his employment.