asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who was 66 years since 2 January, 1987, received payment of an old age pension from 22 February 1987.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
125.
Under the provision of the scheme, payment of Old Age Pension commences from the first Friday after the date on which the claim is received, or from the first Friday after the date on which the claimant first becomes entitled to pension, whichever is the later.
Although the person concerned was 66 on 2 January 1987 he only applied for pension on 17 February 1987 without any explanation for his late application. Accordingly, payment commenced from 23 February 1987, the Friday following the date of receipt of the claim.
If he can now furnish a satisfactory explanation for the delay, his case will be reviewed.
126.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason maternity allowance was refused in 1985 to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13.
There is no trace of a claim having been received from the person in question in 1985. A claim was received on 16 June 1987 in respect of a confinement on 24 April 1985. The position is that it is prescribed by statutory regulations that a claim for Maternity Benefit must be made six weeks before the expected week of the confinement. Where a claim is not made within the prescribed time, and good cause for the failure to claim in time is shown, the claim may be accepted. In such cases, however, payment may not be made in respect of any period more than six months prior to the actual date on which the claim is received. The claim in question was over six months late.
127.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford who was refused disability benefit.
The person concerned had been in receipt of disability benefit from 6 December 1982 to 7 February 1987 when payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
He appealed against the disallowance and was examined by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. His case was then referred to an appeals officer who decided that he was capable of work during the period from 9 February 1987 to 6 May 1987, the date of the latest medical certificate before him at the time, and was not entitled to be paid disability benefit in respect of that period.
No further medical evidence was submitted by the claimant until 7 September 1987, and a deciding officer again held that he was not incapable of work and was therefore not entitled to payment of disability benefit.
The person concerned was notified of this decision on 30 September 1987 and was also informed of his right to appeal the deciding officer's decision within 21 days. To date no letter of appeal has been received.
However, if he does appeal the decision to disallow payment of benefit, arrangements will be made to have him examined by a medical referee. His claim to disability benefit from 7 September 1987 will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report.
128.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford has been refused an invalidity pension; and if the case will be re-examined.
Invalidity pension is payable to insured persons who satisfy the contribution conditions and who are permanently incapable of work.
The person concerned was examined on 16 April 1987 by a medical referee who did not consider him to be permanently incapable of work and asked to have him referred for a further examination in nine months. A deciding officer decided that he was not therefore entitled to invalidity pension.
The person concerned appealed against this decision and arrangements have been made to have him examined by a different medical referee on 16 October 1987. His entitlement to invalidity pension will be reviewed in the light of the report of that examination.