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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Feb 1988

Vol. 377 No. 7

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

53.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.

To qualify for payment of disability benefit a claimant must have 39 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 19 November 1987. She is not entitled to payment of benefit as according to the records of the Department she has fewer than the required minimum of 39 contributions paid since entry into insurable employment. She has only 15 contributions paid. Credited contributions will however be awarded for the duration of her claim on foot of weekly medical certificates.

54.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the voluntary bodies which applied for and did not receive grant-aid in 1986-1987.

The information requested is being compiled and will be sent to the Deputy shortly.

55.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim has been refused disability benefit in view of the fact that she wears a support; and if he will have her case reviewed.

The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 4 May 1987 to 10 December 1987, when benefit was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. The claimant then submitted a final certificate stating that she was fit to resume work on 14 December 1987.

The person concerned again made a claim for disability benefit from 13 January 1988 with the same incapacity. Arrangements have been made to have the claimant examined by a medical referee at an early date. Her entitlement to payment of disability benefit from 13 January will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report following the examination.

56.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will confirm that the decision to award a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 an invalidity pension with effect from 17 December 1987 is upheld; if he will explain the circumstances in which the contents of a letter from his Department of 21 December 1987 notifying the applicant of the decision to award him an invalidity pension from 17 December 1987 which would be payable at the local post office from 28 January 1988 has not been implemented; if his attention has been drawn to the very serious hardship now being endured by the applicant who has been living on supplementary welfare assistance since 12 December 1987; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit from December 1986 to December 1987. He applied for invalidity pension in November 1987. Due to an administrative oversight he was incorrectly notified that he was entitled to the pension. Prior to the issue of the pension book, however, it was noted that the person concerned did not satisfy all the contribution conditions for entitlement to invalidity pension. He does not satisfy the condition which requires the claimant to have qualifying contributions paid or credited in respect of not less than 48 contribution weeks in the last complete contribution year before the date of the claim.

The contribution year in question is the period from April 1986 to April 1987. According to the Department's records there are only 16 credited contributions registered in respect of the person concerned during that period. A deciding officer has accordingly decided that he is not entitled to invalidity pension. He was notified of this decision on 1 February 1988.

The person concerned ceased to be eligible for the receipt of disability benefit on 11 December 1987 as he has insufficient contributions paid or credited on his behalf in the 1985-86 contribution year, which is the year that governs his claim to disability benefit from that date.

It is noted that the person concerned resided in England from September 1985 to a date unknown and during that period claimed sickness benefit from the Department of Health and Social Security. The British authorities have been asked to supply details of his British insurance record. On receipt of this information his entitlement to disability benefit and invalidity pension will be further considered.

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