asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of applicants who (a) received less than the full non-contributory old age pension and (b) were refused this pension in 1974.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensions.
19.
Out of a total of approximately 123,000 recipients of non-contributory old age pensions in 1974 the estimated number who received less than the full pension is 8,600. The estimated number of applicants who were refused this pension during the same period is 1,500.
20.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person (name supplied) in County Leitrim has not qualified for an old age contributory pension; why he has no credits for the years between 1953 and 1970; and why his employer during those years was not obliged to stamp his card.
One of the statutory conditions for receipt of old age (contributory) pension is that the claimant must have a prescribed average number of contributions paid or credited per contribution year. The claimant in this case failed to satisfy this contribution condition. The employment of the person concerned over the period referred to by the Deputy was insurable for widows' and orphans' pension purposes only and the appropriate contributions were received in the Department in respect of that employment. These contributions, however, are not reckonable for old age (contributory) pension purposes.
21.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why arrears of an old age pension due from 6th January to 31st March, 1974, have not been paid to a person (name supplied) in County Offaly.
A payable order for £22.60, the net arrears of old age pension payable following deduction of an overpayment of pension amounting to £52.00, has now been issued to the person concerned. The overpayment arose from the fact that the pensioner did not inform my Department, although statutorily obliged to do so, of increases in the pension which he receives as a retired official of another Government Department. Pension for the period 6th January to 31st March, 1974, had been withheld to enable the overpayment to be recovered.