asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of old age pensioners who do not qualify for contributory pensions because they do not have the necessary number of stamps.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensions.
9.
Some 21,500 claims for contributory old age pension have been rejected since that scheme came into operation in January, 1961. The reason for rejection in practically all of these cases was failure to satisfy the statutory contribution conditions. Over the past five years the annual average number of claims for contributory pensions disallowed on grounds of failure to satisfy the statutory contribution conditions has been 1,177.
Can the Minister indicate how accurate are the records of his Department, even going back to the time of the old national insurance scheme? Many claimants have complained that the Department are not able to trace their records to the 1930s or 1920s.
Some of the records at the time of the old national insurance scheme were taken over by the Department when they were established. I think the Department have done a very good job in getting so many of the records together.
A number of claimants allege that they have no records dating back to the 1920s or 1930s. Many of their claims have been rejected because the Department have not been able to trace the records.
That may be so. If a person had a card 40 years ago and did not return it there is not much the Department can do about it.
Would the Minister not agree that in the circumstances it is unfair to deprive these people of an old age pension, particularly as they had paid the necessary contributions in previous years?
We err on the generous side here but we must have some proof that contributions have been paid.
Does the Minister not agree that the onus should be on the Department?
No.
The Minister's Department took over the records and, therefore, they are responsible.