asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that Mr. E. Lyons, 29 Larkfield Park, Dublin (National Health Insurance No. 143040), who has been ill and under the care of a doctor since 22nd January last, has not been paid any insurance benefit notwithstanding the fact that medical certificates have been furnished by him to the National Health Society; and whether, in the circumstances, he will take steps to have benefit paid to Mr. Lyons immediately, and, also, if he will state the cause of the delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Insurance Benefit Claim.
The National Health Insurance Society received no claim for benefit from Mr. Lyons until the 13th March, 1946, when a medical certificate covering the period from the 22nd January, 1946, was submitted. On the 15th March, he was notified by the society that, owing to his failure to notify the illness within the statutory period of seven days from its commencement, no benefit could be paid for the period previous to the date of notice, in the absence of satisfactory evidence that he was not reasonably able to give notice earlier. It was not until the 28th March that the member explained that his failure duly to give notice was due to ignorance of the regulations. Although it was not convincing, the society accepted the explanation and, in view of the period involved and the fact that only one medical certificate had been furnished, requested the member on the 1st April to secure a note from his employer indicating the period of incapacity. The note certified incapacity up to the 10th April and sickness benefit to the amount of £8 covering the period to that date was then paid by the society. Payment in respect of the period from the 10th April to the 23rd April, when Mr. Lyons was certified fit to resume work, has since been made.
Responsibility for the delay in payment of benefit in this case rests entirely on the member himself.