asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a social welfare officer has not called on a person (details supplied) in Dublin to assess her urgent request for a separate pension book.
Written Answers. - Pension Book.
358.
An official of my Department called to the person concerned on Wednesday, 28 May 1980. While she stated that she was anxious to receive a separate pension book in respect of the adult dependant's allowance payable in respect of her on her husband's old age (contributory) pension she would not permit the official to speak to her husband who, she said, was at present seriously ill.
Separate pension books cannot be issued without the husband being interviewed and informed of the reasons that separate pension books are considered necessary.
It appears, however, that she may be entitled to a non-contributory pension in her own right which would be at a higher rate than the adult dependant's allowance at present payable in respect of her. In this connection a social welfare officer called to her on Thursday, 29 May 1980 with a claim form for non-contributory pension.
A decision on her claim will be given as soon as possible.