asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that an Irish citizen and resident of the Republic (name supplied) who has been in receipt of social welfare benefit and a British unemployability supplement has suffered a reduction of 40 per cent in his income allegedly as a result of the coming into operation in January, 1975, of EEC regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Welfare Benefit Claimant.
104.
As the person referred to by the Deputy was last employed in the United Kingdom prior to the commencement of his incapacity his claim to disability benefit, in accordance with EEC regulations relating to social security of workers who move within the Community, fell to be dealt with by the United Kingdom from 1st April, 1973, the date on which these regulations became applicable to this country following our accession to the Community. However, when the claim was transferred to the United Kingdom Department it transpired that he was already receiving a disablement pension and an unemployability supplement from that Department and, as unemployability supplement and sickness benefit cannot be paid concurrently, his claim for sickness benefit was disallowed by the United Kingdom. Had the fact been known that the claimant was receiving these payments from the United Kingdom when he initially claimed disability benefit from my Department, his claim to that benefit would have been similarly disallowed.