asked the Minister for Social Welfare the date on which application was made for benefit by an insured person (particulars supplied); the date on which benefit was paid, the date on which the firm eventually stamped the employee's insurance cards and the date on which benefit was finally paid to the applicant; and the arrangements being made to eliminate delay in the payment of benefit where contributions have been deducted from pay and have not been paid over to his Department
Written Answers. - Insured Person's Benefit Application.
336.
The person referred to by the Deputy claimed disability benefit on 8 August 1977 and payment was made regularly up to 3 December 1977. A new benefit year for women commenced on 5 December 1977 and title to benefit from that date depends on the number of contributions paid and credited in the contribution year 1976-77. As her insurance record showed that she had less than 26 contributions in the 1976-77 year she was not entitled to benefit from 5 December 1977. Inquiries made by my Department have established that further contributions in respect of employment in the 1976-77 year were due to her but these contributions have not yet been received.
Where contributions have been deducted from pay and have not been paid over to the Department, there is provision in regulations to treat the contribution as having been paid on the due date. The period of employment in 1976-77 mentioned has been verified and contributions have been treated as paid, as a result of which payment of benefit has been restored with effect from 5 December 1977. Arrears of benefit covering the period to 10 April 1978, after which date she was certified as fit to resume work, issued on 21 April 1978. Inquiries such as were necessary in this case take time but every effort is made to minimise the inevitable delay.