asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
260.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 4 December 1980 to 6 December 1980 when he was certified as fit to resume work. As the medical evidence submitted covered only three waiting days no benefit was payable on the claim.
He again claimed disability benefit from 29 December 1980, in respect of a different incapacity and was entitled to payment from 1 January 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 6 January 1981 when he was again certified fit to resume work. All benefit due on the claim was issued on 11 February.
The delay in payment was due to the fact that he quoted his insurance number, instead of his RSI number, on the final certificate dated 6 January 1981.
261.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit from 22 November 1980 in respect of an incapacity which arose out of an accident at work in April 1977. As the claim was outside the injury benefit period, which is 26 weeks from the date of accident, he was not entitled to payment of injury benefit. The claim was then treated as one for disability benefit.
Entitlement to disability benefit in 1980 was, however, governed by the number of contributions in the 1978 contribution year. As, according to the records of my Department, he had no contributions in that year, inquiries were undertaken to ascertain whether he had any insurable employment which would qualify him for payment. On completion of these inquiries his entitlement to disability benefit was established and all such benefit due to 9 February, date of the latest medical certificate received, has issued.
The question of his entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and payment, if any, due will be made on completion of these inquiries.
262.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned claimed occupational injury benefit from 18 December 1980. As a result of inquiries made by my Department it has been established that the occupational injury occurred in January 1979 and that he was paid injury benefit for the full statutory period of 26 weeks from that date. As injury benefit is not payable beyond this period his claim was treated as one for disability benefit. All such benefit due to 26 January 1981, the date of the latest medical evidence received, has issued.
The delay in payment was due to the fact that on some of the certificates submitted the claimant quoted his insurance number instead of his RSI number. The question of his entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and payment due, if any, will be made on completion of these inquiries.
263.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of pay related benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 4 August 1980.
His entitlement to pay-related benefit from that date is based on his reckonable earnings in the 1978-79 tax year. As details of his earnings were not available to my Department under the Revenue number quoted by him it was necessary to obtain from his employer a statement of his earnings in that year so that his entitlement could be determined. However, the information furnished by him in the first instance referred to earnings in the 1979-80 tax year and it was necessary to approach him again in the matter. Details of his earnings in 1978-79 have since come to hand and a cheque in payment of all pay-related benefit due to 21 February 1981 has issued to him.
264.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned is the widow of a former recipient of disability benefit who died on 2 January 1981. Payment of benefit had been made up to 9 January 1981 in advance of medical certificates of incapacity. Notification of his death was not received until early in February when the Deputy made representations on behalf of the widow. Payment of all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due up to the sixth week after his death has since been made. In addition payment of a death grant has been made.
A widow's contributory pension at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow with four qualified children has also been awarded.