asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider changing the present arrangements so as to leave payment of disability benefit within the discretion of local managers at employment exchanges, such payment to be made immediately in cash as in the case of unemployment benefit rather than by cheque from Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Disability Benefit.
66.
It is not proposed to alter the existing arrangements for the payment of disability benefit under the Social Welfare Acts. Under these arrangements the long-term claimants, approximately half the total number, receive their benefit cheques on the same day each week in advance while the remainder receive payment promptly on submission of medical evidence of incapacity. In the majority of cases the cheque is issued on the date of receipt of the medical certificate. Furthermore, it would not be feasible to pay all disability benefit claimants by cash at employment exchanges as the distances to be travelled would prevent large numbers from attending while many others would not be in a fit state of health to attend. Even in the case of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance only half the claimants are paid by cash, the remainder, on account of the distances involved, being paid on a postal basis.