To qualify for payment under the various benefit, pension and allowance schemes administered by my Department, applicants must satisfy a number of statutory conditions which include the need to claim in time. In the case of old age contributory pension, a claim must be made in the period commencing three months before and ending three months after the person's 66th birthday. Where a claim is not made within this period, the person is disqualified for receipt of payment in respect of any period more than 12 months before the date on which the claim is made. Prior to 1 January 1997, the disqualification applied in respect of any period more than six months before the date of claim. Section 32 of the Social Welfare Act, 1997, provided for 12 months back-dating in respect of claims made after that date. This section also provides power to make regulations which will extend the periods for which claims to which the section applies may be back-dated in certain circumstances. The drafting of these regulations is at an advanced stage and will be completed shortly. The regulations will be laid before or each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after they are made in accordance with the relevant legislation.
