asked the Minister for Social Welfare what criteria were employed in the fixing of the amount of 16s. 6d. per week reduced disability benefit payable to a recipient of an Army disability pension under Article 16 of the Social Welfare (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations, 1953; whether this amount of 16s. 6d. has been increased since it was first fixed; and, if so, at what date or dates it was increased, and by how much.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Disability Benefit.
31.
The 16s. 6d. rate of disability benefit is a special rate paid to persons in receipt of full Army disability pension who have not requalified for the ordinary rates of disability benefit under the Social Welfare Acts by payment of a required minimum number of contributions in respect of insurable employment after discharge and who immediately prior to the 5th January, 1953, were in receipt of benefit at that rate under the former National Health Insurance Acts. The Social Welfare Acts and Regulations preclude persons in receipt of full Army disability pension from receiving disability benefit until they have paid the required number of requalifying contributions after discharge. In order to avoid hardship to persons in this category who were already in receipt of sickness or disablement benefit immediately prior to the 5th January, 1953, it was decided to make provision for the continuation of such benefit. There has been no increase in this rate since 1953.