asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in finalising inquiries into the replacement of a disability benefit cheque for a person (details supplied) in Dublin which was reported as missing last August; and if the matter will be expedited.
Written Answers. - Disability Benefit.
178.
A cheque value £30.68 in payment of disability benefit due, which issued to the person concerned at her address, was subsequently reported to my Department as having been lost. The inquiries in the matter, which were protracted, established that the cheque has not been cashed. A substitute cheque was issued to her recently.
179.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an officer of his Department has a right to obtain particulars of an Army pension which has been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who was refused disability benefit and who produced details of his Army pension in the course of an appeal hearing.
Overlapping benefits regulations under the Social Welfare Acts provide that a person who is in receipt of a 100 per cent army disability pension is not entitled to disability benefit unless at least 26 employment contributions have been paid in respect of him since his discharge. Where the rate of pension is less than 100 per cent this provision does not apply. According to the records of my Department the person concerned has no employment contributions paid since his discharge from the army. In the circumstances it was necessary to obtain from him details of the rate of his Army disability pension for the purpose of his claim for disability benefit.
180.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for immediate payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit from my Department since 25 October 1980. Payment issues on receipt of medical evidence of incapacity. All disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 2 February 1981 has been paid.