asked the Minister for Social Welfare why he has not authorised the North Western Health Board to pay a double week before Christmas to recipients of allowances under the Social Welfare (Supplementary Welfare Allowances) Act, 1975 in line with the sanction for payment of a double week to recipients of other allowances and benefits; and in view of the urgency of and the need for such payment, if he will take immediate action to authorise such payment.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
187.
Supplementary welfare allowances are not included in the pensions and allowances which qualify for a double week's payment this month under the recently enacted Social Welfare (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1980.
188.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of disability benefit, due in respect of a period of 18 months, will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and the reason for the delay in payment to date.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from 1 August 1974 to 31 May 1975. He was not entitled to payment from 2 June 1975 to 5 June 1976 as he had less than the statutory minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the contribution year, 1974, which governed claims for disability benefit in the benefit year 1975-76.
Following the disallowance of benefit he ceased to submit medical certificates until 17 November 1977. Payment of disability benefit was then made from 17 November 1977 to 18 January 1978, when this title to benefit was exhausted on the completion of the 52 weeks payment to which he was entitled as a person having less than the 156 paid employment contributions required to qualify for payment beyond that period.
The contributions outstanding in respect of his employment from 1 September 1967 to 31 October 1972 were collected by my Department on 5 September 1978 and payment of disability benefit was resumed from that date. These contributions could only be treated as paid at the proper times for the purpose of any right to benefit prior to the date of collection if the failure to pay or the delay in payment was shown not to have been with the consent or connivance of or attributable to any negligence on the part of the insured person.
It has been ascertained that the person in this case failed to give an insurance card to his employer during the period of his employment even though he was aware that employment contributions were not being paid on his behalf. In the circumstances the contributions for which payment was received on 5 September 1978 could not be regarded as having been paid on any date prior to that date. Accordingly there are no arrears of disability benefit payable to the claimant.
189.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when five weeks arrears of pension, due since August 1980 will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The arrears which arose in this case were due to the fact that the pensioner concerned lost his pension book. The outstanding money due to him for a period of four weeks was issued to the pensioner on the 12 December 1980.
190.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reasons further queries have been raised on the application of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary for disability benefit.
The person concerned is a long-term recipient of disability benefit from my Department and her benefit cheques are issued to her on the same day each week. She complained of non-receipt of a benefit cheque which was issued to her on 26 May 1979 and a duplicate cheque was issued to her in August 1979.
Both of these cheques were produced for inspection by her and she acknowledged receipt of them. She further contended that she did not receive other benefit cheques which were issued to her in May and June 1979 and asked to inspect all cheques issued to her in that period. She will be given an opportunity to inspect the cheques as soon as possible.
191.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay by his Department in dealing with the claim of a person (details supplied) in County Galway for a widow's pension.
The person concerned claimed a widow's non-contributory pension from my Department on 19 August 1980.
The local officer, who investigated the claim, reported that she failed to disclose her full means, derived from a small farm and shop. Her application for pension was accordingly rejected.
If at any stage she indicates that she is prepared to disclose her means for widows' pension purposes to my Department the claim will be reviewed.