asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a blind pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
494.
It was decided by the local pension committee on 27 October 1981 that the person concerned is not entitled to a blind pension as the statutory condition as to blindness is not fulfilled in his case. If the claimant is dissatisfied with this decision he may appeal against it.
495.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will ensure that disability benefit is paid without delay to an applicant (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 11 September 1981 and has been paid all benefit due from that date to 22 October 1981, date of the latest medical evidence received, at the maximum appropriate rate.
496.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why disability benefit has not been paid for seven weeks to an eligible applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 31 July 1981 and has been paid at the maximum appropriate rate to 27 October 1981. All disability benefit due has issued. He is not entitled to pay-related benefit.
Delay in payment initially was due to the fact that he quoted his old insurance number only on the earlier medical certificates and the claim form submitted by him and his RSI number was not received until the end of September.
497.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit has been paid to an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 3 July 1981 and was paid from 7 July 1981, fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit due to 21 July 1981, after which date he was certified fit to resume work, has been paid. He is not entitled to pay-related benefit. There is no record in my Department of a more recent claim from the person concerned.
498.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if disability benefit has yet been paid to an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person concerned had been in receipt of disability benefit from 13 May 1974 at the maximum appropriate rate up to 12 September 1981. At that stage payment was inadvertently stopped when the rate of benefit was being reviewed as one of the children attained age 18 years. Payment has now been restored and all benefit due to 7 November 1981 has issued.
499.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a contributory pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
There is no record in my Department of the person in question having claimed a contributory pension. He is, however, a recipient of non-contributory old age pension at a reduced rate. A claim to an increase in this pension is currently under investigation by the social welfare officer. When the inquiries have been completed the claim will be referred to the local pension committee for decision. If the pensioner is dissatisfied with the decision, he will, of course, have the right of appeal against it.
500.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a contributory pension has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and the efforts that are being made by her Department to expedite the matter.
The person concerned attained pension age in January 1981 and claimed old age contributory pension from my Department. He is not qualified for such pension as he does not satisfy the statutory condition which requires a claimant to have at least 156 contributions paid in respect of him since his entry into insurance. According to the records of my Department he has only 122 such contributions to his credit since he entered insurance in 1966. Further inquiries are being made to establish whether he had insurable employment prior to 1966 which might enable him to satisfy this statutory condition.
501.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will investigate the maternity benefit payments made to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal as it would appear that benefit was not allowed for a fourteen week period.
The person concerned originally claimed maternity benefit under the Social Welfare Acts and was paid maternity allowance and pay-related benefit amounting to £464.03. She subsequently claimed benefit under the Maternity Protection of Employees Act as a person in current employment. It was calculated that the gross amount of benefit payable under this Act was £612.24 but after taking account of the amount already paid the net balance due to her was £148.21. Cheques in payment of this amount issued on 28 September 1981.
502.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is aware that very many persons who are entitled to free transport are denied the service due to the failure of private operators to cater for them with particular reference to the Thurles to Clonmel route; and if she will take steps to remedy the situation and enter into negotiations with the private operators in the area with a view to providing this essential service without delay.
I am aware that many people are unable to use free travel for the reason stated by the Deputy. All private bus companies who operate regular bus services have been approached by my Department with a view to their inclusion in the free travel scheme and in the country generally 16 out of 26 licensed private bus operators who provide regular scheduled services participate.
With regard to the particular service referred to by the Deputy, the position is that my Department have written to an operator providing a bus service on this route on a number of occasions in recent years inviting him to participate in the scheme but such invitations have met with no response. It is not in the power of my Department to compel any bus operator to participate but if the operator concerned, or any other private bus operator providing a licensed scheduled service, wishes to be included in the free travel scheme my Department will be pleased to negotiate with him.
503.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the grounds on which a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim has been refused a contributory old age pension.
The person concerned attained pension age in June 1981 and claimed old age contributory pension from my Department. He is not qualified for such pension as his yearly average of contributions paid and credited since 1953 is only 16. He would require a minimum yearly average of 20 paid or credited contributions to qualify for pension at the minimum rate.
504.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit from 8 September 1980 and has been paid at the maximum appropriate rate. All disability benefit due to 7 November 1981 has been issued.
In view of the duration and nature of his incapacity he has been transferred to the automatic payments system whereby payment will in future issue in advance of the receipt of medical evidence which will be required at monthly intervals only.