Micheál Martin
Question:327 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will award arrears of a blind person's pension to the date on which the person (details supplied) in County Cork was assessed as being blind. [7893/97]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The person concerned has been in receipt of a blind person's pension since April 1996. This is a means tested payment. In order for the Department to consider backdating her pension entitlement to when she was first certified as being blind, a local officer will call to the person concerned shortly to determine her means between then and 1996.
If it is decided to backdate her pension, then any arrears of pension would be paid to the person concerned net of the amount of adult dependant allowance paid to her husband in respect of her during that period.