asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefit.
22.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 29 February 1988 to 7 December 1988, when payment was disallowed following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
Having expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to disallow payment the person concerned was examined on 1 February 1989 by a different medical referee who also considered her capable of work. That decision was not appealed.
The person concerned made a fresh claim to disability benefit from 8 May 1989. An assessment of her incapacity for work by a medical referee is necessary before payment can be authorised. Arrangements have been made for her examination at an early date and the claim will be reviewed in the light of the medical referee's report.
23.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in payment of unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow.
The reason for the delay in this case has been the difficulty experienced in establishing precisely the social insurance record of the person concerned during the periods which govern her entitlement to benefit.
The person concerned had been paid unemployment benefit for the maximum number of days allowed under the scheme and she needs to have paid a further number of contributions of the appropriate class to requalify for further benefit. She has been employed on a casual basis in a hospital and inquiries are still being made by the local social welfare officer from the health board to determine precisely the extent of the employment, the contribution paid and whether they have been paid at the appropriate rate.
It is understood that the inquiries should be completed very shortly and this will enable a decision to be made on the person's entitlement to benefit without further delay.