asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
121.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 December 1987 to 22 December 1987 and 29 December 1987 to 30 January 1988. The records of the Department show that all benefit payable on both claims has been issued to 30 January 1988, the day before her maternity benefit claim commenced.
The irregularity with which payment issued was due to the fact that the person concerned submitted various certificates with conflicting dates of incapacity on them. She was requested to clarify these dates and subsequently the position was rectified.
122.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned submitted a medical certificate on 4 December 1987 and a claim for disability benefit was opened. However, as no further medical evidence was received, payment did not issue and his claim was closed.
Medical evidence was again received in March and a claim was opened. Inquiries had to be made regarding the position from December 1987 to February 1988 and it was also necessary to obtain details of supplementary welfare allowance advanced to him by the South-Eastern Health Board. The position was clarified and his claim was admitted from 4 December 1987. On 11 March 1988 arrears of £922.30 were refunded to the health board and the remaining arrears of £13.80 were issued to the person concerned.
All benefit currently payable has been issued to 12 April 1988, the date of the latest medical certificate received.
123.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated cost of extending the payment of child dependant allowance with social welfare payments for children in full time education up to the age of 21.
The estimated annual cost of extending the payment of child dependant allowances with social welfare payments for children in full time education up to the age of 21 years would be about £7 million.
124.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement regarding the entitlement to maternity benefit of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if approval will be given to the application for the maternity benefit and allowances.
The person concerned claimed maternity benefit under the scheme for women in current employment on 18 January 1988 in respect of her confinement expected on 20 March 1988.
She is not entitled to benefit because, according to the Department's records, she has insufficient contributions paid or credited at the appropriate rate in the relevant contribution periods governing her claim. The contribution periods relevant to her claim were the 12 months immediately before the first day of her maternity leave (during which year she had 36 A1 and 16 JI class contributions) or alternatively the 1986-87 tax year (during which year she had 37 A1 and 12 J1 contributions). Thirty-nine Class A1 contributions are required and contributions at the J1 rate are not reckonable for the payment of maternity benefit.
The person concerned was notified of this decision on 2 March last.