Terry Leyden
Question:204 Mr. Leyden asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline the circumstances in regard to an appeal for free telephone rental allowance of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Written Answers. - Telephone Rental Allowance.
The person concerned applied for Free Telephone Rental Allowance in January 1992.
In order to qualify for this allowance she would have to reside alone or only with other persons who are so permanently incapacitated so as to be unable to summon help in the event of an emergency or with children under 15 years of age. Medical evidence must be provided to meet this latter condition.
The person concerned submitted medical evidence in respect of herself. However, the application was rejected as the medical evidence did not satisfy the incapacity condition of the scheme.
If the person's state of health has deteriorated further since the rejection of the application, entitlement will be reinvestigated if fresh medical evidence is submitted.
If her husband is so incapacitated that he would be unable to summon help in an emergency, a medical certificate setting out his degree of incapacity should also be submitted to my Department.