asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the invalidity pension application of a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
64.
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 28 October 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 three months. A deciding officer has, therefore, decided that he is not entitled to invalidity pension.
The person concerned has been notified of this decision and of his right of appeal.
65.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and when payment will be made.
Payment of disability benefit was issued to the person concerned from 21 May 1987 until 31 August 1987 on foot of weekly medical certification forwarded by her. Payment was suspended when a first certificate of incapacity was received at the end of August which intimated that the person concerned was only incapacitated from 21 August 1987. Consequently, a question arose as to the precise period of incapacity for work and inquiries were duly instigated. It has now been established that the person concerned has been continuously incapacitated since May 1987 and all arrears of disability benefit (totalling £415.90) from 1 September 1987 to 26 October 1987, the date of her latest medical certificate received, have been issued to her.
66.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not payable to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
The person concerned most recently claimed disability benefit from 16 September to 20 October 1987 but benefit was not payable as he no longer satisfies the contribution conditions for receipt of benefit. Where a person has less than 208 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment, entitlement to disability benefit is limited to 52 weeks. According to the records of the Department the person concerned has only 83 contributions paid on his behalf since entry into insurance and he does not appear to have paid any contributions since the year 1981-82. He has exceeded his maximum entitlement to benefit on an earlier claim which expired when he was found capable of work by a medical referee of the Department. In order to requalify for disability benefit the conditions of the scheme require him to have at least a further 13 weeks of insurable employment for which the appropriate contributions are paid.