asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Galway from 22 February 1981.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
131.
There is no record of the receipt of a disability benefit claim in my Department from the person concerned for the period commencing 22 February 1981. It is presumed therefore that the Deputy is referring to a disability benefit claim which commenced on 28 September 1981 and which is still current.
Payment has been made on this claim from 1 October 1981, the fourth day of incapacity, at the maximum appropriate rate. The cheques issued regularly on receipt of medical evidence up to 22 February 1982 at which stage payment was withheld due to the non-receipt of medical certificates after 18 January 1982. Following the receipt of the medical certificate, dated 5 March 1982, payment was resumed and all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to 3 April 1982 has been issued. Payment will in future continue to issue regularly each week but medical evidence will be required only at monthly intervals.
133.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that the invalidity pension payable to a person (details supplied) in County Galway was reduced just because his daughter reached 18 years of age even though she is still attending school and is a dependant; if so, if he will consider changing this unjust regulation.
The person concerned, who has been in receipt of invalidity pension since 19 June 1975, was receiving payment in respect of five qualified children up to 10 March 1982. In accordance with statutory provisions his pension was reduced by £5.95 from that date as his eldest daughter, having then attained 18 years of age, no longer qualified as a child dependant.
I have no proposals under consideration at this time for an extension of the age limit for invalidity pension purposes. Any proposals for raising the age limit for child dependants could only be considered in the context of all social welfare schemes.