asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (name supplied) in County Cork who applied for an old age pension early in August, 1973, has not yet received a reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - County Cork Old Age Pensioners.
572.
An old age contributory pension order book at the maximum rate, including an allowance in respect of his wife, was in fact issued to the post office nominated by the claimant on 13th December, 1973, and in accordance with the usual procedure, a form authorising him to collect the book was sent to him on the same day. The claimant, who has since collected the pension book, states that he did not receive the notification sent to him on 13th December, 1973.
573.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a person (name supplied) in County Cork has not drawn his old age pension for approximately four months as the Department have not issued a book to him; and if he will investigate the matter urgently.
The person concerned was absent from the State from 1st October, 1973, to 24th November, 1973. Legislation provides that an old age—non-contributory—pension may not be paid to any person while he is absent from the State. A pensioner who leaves the State is obliged to notify my Department of his intention to leave and to surrender his pension book before departure. Instructions to this effect are printed on the back cover of each old age pension book. These instructions were not complied with in this case. It appears that after the pensioner left the State, he wrote to his son requesting that his pension book should be sent to him. It is understood that it was lost in the course of posting to England. A new pension book has been issued to the pensioner and all arrears of pension due have been paid.