asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
56.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since 1984. In the process of a review of her entitlement in April of this year, an administrative error gave rise to her payment being inadvertently suspended. The matter was subsequently resolved and the arrears of benefit payable to her were issued on 30 April 1987.
All benefit due has now been issued to 27 April 1987, the date of the latest medical certificate received. The inconvenience caused to the person is regretted. The person concerned is also in receipt of child benefit in respect of two qualified children. Payments in respect of the elder child was temporarily suspended following her 16th birthday pending official confirmation of her student status. This was subsequently received in the Department and a child benefit book in respect of her was issued to the person concerned on 24 April 1987.
57.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who was in receipt of stamps was transferred to certificates.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit in October 1984. Payment was authorised from 4 October 1984, fourth day of incapacity. Pay-related benefit was issued from 22 October 1984 to 12 June 1985, when his full 62½ week entitlement to this benefit ended.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 4 February 1987 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance and was later examined by a different medical referee who found him to be incapable of work.
The person signed on and was paid unemployment benefit from 4 February 1987 to 8 April 1987, during the period of his appeal. His entitlement during that period included pay-related benefit as entitlement to pay-related benefit with unemployment benefit was not affected by the fact that he was no longer entitled to it with disability benefit payments. On being found incapable of work, disability benefit was restored from 9 April 1987. Payment of that benefit is not due however in respect of the period during which he was paid unemployment benefit. All benefit due since has been paid to date.
58.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the full rate of old age non-contributory pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
An appeals officer decided on 14 January 1987 that the person concerned was entitled to old age pension at the reduced weekly rate of £43.40 from 13 June 1986 (including £3.40 living alone allowance), increased to £45.30 from 18 July 1986. This is the rate to which he is entitled having regard to his means consisting of the weekly value of a holding and capital. The transfer of the holding has not been accepted for old age pension purposes as the transferee works and resides in England.
If there should be a change in the pensioner's circumstances at any time it will be open to him to apply for an increase in his pension by writing to the social welfare services office and setting out the grounds on which he considers he is entitled to an increase.
59.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will again be paid disability benefit.
The person concerned has been in receipt of disability benefit since February 1982 and is currently being paid at the weekly rate of £41.10.
The records of the Department show that payments appear to have been issued at regular weekly intervals on receipt of monthly medical evidence and that all benefit due has been issued to date. If, however, the person feels that she did not receive payment in respect in any particular week or weeks, she should forward details to the Department and the matter will be looked into.
The person concerned is entitled to make an application for invalidity pension and a form on which to make such a claim has been forwarded to her.
60.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if payment of a disablement pension will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was allowed injury benefit from September 1976 to February 1977 in respect of an accident at work in August 1976.
He was then informed of his right to claim disablement benefit if he considered that he suffered from disablement as a result. He inquired subsequently about his entitlement and was given a claim form to complete but a completed claim form was not received from him.
The question is accepted as notice of a claim for disablement benefit and an examination will be arranged as soon as possible to assess his disablement, if any, resulting from the occupational accident.