asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for delays in disability benefit payments to persons who are submitting certificates on a continuous basis.
Written Answers. - Delays in Disability Benefit Payments.
27.
The position generally in relation to disability benefit is that payments are being issued promptly where the claim is made correctly and the claimant is qualified on his or her insurance record. As the issue of payment depends on the receipt of medical evidence of incapacity any delay or irregularity in the submission or delivery of medical certificates to my Department inevitably delays the issue of payment. These are matters over which my Department have no control.
I am very conscious of the need for the speedy processing of disability benefit claims. In this respect internal administrative practices are kept under continuous review to ensure that they are operating as efficiently as possible.