asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of workmen's compensation payable for total incapacity to an agricultural worker earning £5 8s. 0d. per week, and the amount of disability benefit payable to an agricultural worker having one adult dependant and four children; and, if the amount of disability benefit exceeds the workmen's compensation payment, if he will state whether the workman is entitled to (a) full social welfare benefit or (b) the difference between social welfare benefit and workmen's compensation; and if he will make a statement to clarify this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Workmen's Compensation: Disability Benefit.
6.
A person whose average weekly earnings are £5. 8s. 0d. is entitled under the Workmen's Compensation Acts to £4. 1s. 0d. per week compensation for total incapacity due to an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment.
The maximum rate of disability benefit payable to a person with an adult dependant and four qualified children is £4. 2s. 6d. per week.
Where an insured person is incapacitated due to an accident at work and his appropriate weekly rate of disability benefit exceeds his weekly rate of compensation he is entitled to receive the difference, which in the case cited is 1s. 6d. per week, by way of benefit.
Would the Minister say if there was a regulation made to that effect recently, or was a regulation necessary?
There was no regulation made, but the existing regulations provide for the payment of the difference between the two rates in any case that has come to light since 2nd January, 1961.
Will the Minister take any steps to make that more widely known, because some of these people who have accidents and receive workmen's compensation are not aware they are so entitled?
I shall consider what steps I can take to that end.