asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he accepts that long term recipients of disability benefit are seriously discriminated against in relation to other long term social welfare recipients in that their level of benefit is lower and they receive none of the following benefits available to other social welfare categories: (a) butter vouchers (b) free fuel allowances (c) the Christmas bonus and (d) EC hand-outs; and if he has any plans to deal with this situation.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Long-Term Disability Benefit Recipients.
13.
Disability benefit is essentially a short term payment in respect of temporary incapacity for work. It is similar to other short term benefits, such as unemployment benefit, in terms of the rate payable and entitlement to additional benefits.
Persons who have been on disability benefit for a year or longer, and who satisfy the medical and contribution conditions, are entitled to claim invalidity pension. Contribution conditions for invalidity pension are similar to those applying to receipt of disability benefit for longer than 12 months. This pension is paid at a higher rate than many other social welfare payments — it is, for example, £4.50 per week more than long-term unemployment assistance for a single person. Invalidity pensioners can qualify for free fuel allowances and the Christmas bonus, as well as other benefits such as free travel.
In view of these facts I trust that it is clear that recipients of disability benefit are not discriminated against in relation to other social welfare recipients.
I should like to point out to the Minister that that is far from clear. The question of invalidity pensions has no relevance to the 34,000 people who are on long term disability benefit. I should like the Minister to repeat to the House the figures he gave us last month on this issue. Would he confirm that the 34,000 people who have been on long term disability benefit are, as I outlined in my question, being discriminated against?
I have outlined very clearly in my reply what the position is. I accept that quite often there is confusion in regard to this issue but when disability benefit is paid for longer than a year anyone who is entitled to disability benefit on contribution conditions is entitled to apply for an invalidity pension. The reality is that many of those who are on long-term disability benefit do not wish to apply for an invalidity pension. There are various reasons for this. One reason is that an invalidity pension is taxable whereas disability benefit is not taxable because it is a short-term payment. About 40 per cent of clients who are invited by the Department to transfer from disability benefit to invalidity pension opt to stay on disability pension. I can only guess as to the reason for this but it seems fairly clear to me that in most cases it is because a spouse is working and this would affect his tax position. Consequently they consider it is preferable in the circumstances which exist at present to continue on disability benefit. By taking that choice they, therefore, decide not to have the extras which go with the invalidity pension.
I accept the Minister's figure that 40 to 50 per cent of families may have another income coming into their households but can he say how many of the 34,000 families who, according to statistics from his Department, have been on disability benefit from 15 months to five years have no other income? On that basis will the Minister agree that those people are seriously discriminated against and that they will face a winter of hardship? They will not receive a Christmas bonus or any assistance towards the cost of fuel. Will the Minister agree to consider those cases through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme? Many of those people are looking to the Minister to offer them some help this winter. Is the Minister aware that at least 17,000 families are totally dependent on disability benefit——
I should like to appeal for brevity, especially in respect of Priority Questions.
——and that some have been in receipt of that benefit for up to five years?
I should like to clarify the position in regard to disability benefit. A person on long term disability who is suffering from an illness which is not severe enough to put him or her into the invalidity category, or who has chosen not to go into that category, may apply for assistance from the free fuel scheme under health board arrangements. It caters for people who have special needs for health reasons. The people referred to by the Deputy are included in that category and are covered for the fuel allowance.
I ask Deputy Flaherty to be brief because I want to move on to other questions.
Will the Minister accept that his constant reference to invalidity pensions is a red herring because it is one of the most difficult benefits to obtain? Will he agree that people in receipt of that benefit have a difficulty holding on to it?
I accept that we operate certain criteria for invalidity pensions but disability benefit in most other countries does not last for much longer than six months. In some countries it is paid for up to 15 months but we allow people to stay on that short-term payment for many years, as the Deputy pointed out. That is an unusual feature of our system. We all agree that that should continue for as long as people are genuinely ill and unable to return to work.
May we move on to another question?
With regard to the invalidity pension, I should like to tell the Deputy that 40 per cent of those invited to go on to invalidity do not do so and decide instead to stay on long-term disability.
Are they invited to go on? Are they not invited to go for examination?
The Deputy should think about the reason why 40 per cent decide to stay on disability benefit.
Let us deal with Question No. 14.