asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline the reason disability benefit has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
76.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed from 16 February 1989 following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
She has been advised of the disallowance and of her right to appeal.
77.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will take steps to eliminate the descriminatory regulations under which some categories of social welfare recipients are deprived of child dependent payments in respect of children who remain in full time education up to the age of 21; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
At present, increases in social welfare payments are generally payable in respect of child dependants up to the age of 18 years. However, in the case of widows, deserted wives, prisoners' wives and unmarried mothers, who are receiving a social welfare pension or allowance, increases are awarded in respect of children up to the age of 21 years provided that they are in full time education at either second or third level. This also applies to widows who are claiming invalidity, retirement or old age contributory pensions. The same arrangements will apply to widowers and deserted husbands with dependent children under the new social assistance scheme which I am introducing in the forthcoming Social Welfare Bill.
As also announced in the recent budget, it has been decided to extend the child dependant allowances for long term recipients to children aged 19 years where they continue in full time education, as a first step towards extending child allowances in all cases to age 21 where the child is in full time education.
78.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
To qualify for a free electricity allowance a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment for persons within their age category. The person is in receipt of deserted wife's benefit which is not a qualifying payment unless the person is over age 66. She is therefore not eligible for the free electricity allowance.
79.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding an appeal against the decision to discontinue payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
As indicated in my reply to a previous question on 7 February 1989, the person concerned was examined on 7 February 1989 by a medical referee in connection with his appeal against the disallowance of disability benefit. Following this examination the medical referee expressed the opinion that the person concerned was capable of work and he was advised accordingly on 10 February 1989.
He has also been supplied with a form on which to set out his grounds for appeal if he wishes to have his case referred to an appeals officer for determination.