asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
69.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 22 June 1987.
Payment was disallowed from 13 February 1989 following examination by a medical referee who considered him capable of work. He was informed of the disallowance and of his right to appeal within 21 days.
He has not indicated to the Department that he wishes to appeal the decision nor has he submitted medical evidence of incapacity for work since 30 January 1989.
70.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that spouses of those entitled to free travel passes are only entitled to free travel when travelling with the holders of such passes; whether he accepts that this concession is not available when the holder of the free travel pass is unable to travel because of infirmity or illness; whether in the circumstances he will consider issuing separate free travel passes to such spouses; and the cost of implementing same.
The free travel scheme applies to all residents of the State aged 66 years or over and to certain categories of disabled persons under 66 years. The scheme also applies to spouses under age 66 for journeys on which they accompany the qualified person. The issue of free travel passes to spouses in their own right would be a major extension of the scheme and while it is not possible to give a precise estimate of the cost of such an extension it is likely to be significant. There are no plans to introduce such an extension at present.
71.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of a free fuel allowance to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare who are living on an invalidity pension and who have been granted the allowance in the past by the health board; and if not, the reason.
The national fuel scheme administered by my Department applies to persons in receipt of long term social welfare or health board payments who live alone or only with persons who come within certain categories. Children aged 18 and over do not come within these categories unless they are in full-time education.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of invalidity pension and has a child over 18 years of age who is not in full-time education residing with him. He is not therefore, entitled to be paid a fuel allowance from this Department.
The wife of the person concerned is in receipt of separate payment on his invalidity pension. Apart from the fact that she also is residing with a child aged over 18 who is not in full-time education she is a dependent on her husband's pension and is not the actual pensioner. Thus, she is not entitled to be paid a fuel allowance from this Department.
The allowance paid to the wife of the person concerned last year and in previous years was paid under the exceptional needs provisions of the supplementary welfare scheme administered by the health board and was not in fact a fuel allowance under the fuel scheme then in operation. It is open to her to apply again this year to the health board under the same provisions.
72.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding disability benefit arrears for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned did not qualify for payment of disability benefit until certain investigations were made and until her British contribution record was confirmed by the British authorities on 24 November 1988. She then qualified for payment.
Payment of benefit was disallowed from 13 December 1988 following examination by a medical referee who considered her capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance and was examined by another medical referee on 9 February 1989 who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
She will be advised of the result of this examination and supplied with a form on which to set out the grounds for appeal if she wishes to have her case referred to an appeals officer for determination.
It was necessary to confirm the amount paid on her behalf on her husband's unemployment assistance claim before paying arrears of disability benefit due to her on 12 December 1988. This is now being done and arrears due will be paid by cheque tomorrow.
Question No. 73 withdrawn.
74.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the fact that he is in receipt of a disability pension from the Department of Energy and that this pension plus occupational injury benefit pension amounts to only £56 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 18 February 1987. From 19 February 1987 his entitlement to payment ceased because he did not have the required 26 contributions paid or credited in the 1985-1986 governing contribution year.
He remained, however, entitled to the award of credited contributions until 2 October 1987 when he was found capable of work following examination by a medical referee.
He appealed against this decision and was examined by a different medical referee on 28 April 1988 who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.
His case was then referred to an appeals officer who decided that the person concerned was capable of work within the meaning of the Social Welfare Acts from 2 October 1987.
The appeals officer's decision is final and can be changed only in the light of new facts or fresh medical evidence.