Industrial action in the computer section of the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, is currently affecting the payment of British retirement and widows pensions to approximately 300,000 overseas pensioners. The last payable orders were dispatched from Newcastle on Friday, 11 May 1984.
Alternative arrangements for payment during the currency of the industrial action have been made by the British authorities. To avail themselves of these alternative arrangements, however, it is necessary for the pensioners concerned to write to Overseas Group, Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne giving full identifying particulars and enclosing the counterfoil of the last payment received.
As soon as my Department became aware of the situation it got in contact with the British Department to try to ensure that the effects of the industrial action in individual pensioners is minimised. I do not have information as to the number of people who are affected. A number of those concerned would be in receipt of pension from my Department in addition to the British pension but a number would not be entitled to pension here where they did not have a sufficient record of Irish insurance and where the level of their British pension was such as to put them over the means limit for entitlement to a non-contributory pension.
In all cases, however, it is open to those concerned to apply to the local community welfare officer for assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The community welfare officers have been informed of the industrial action and are aware that they may be called on to provide temporary financial assistance in this situation.
Many people may be reluctant to seek assistance from the community welfare officer in cases like this and may feel that as pensioners they should not have to seek assistance in this way. There are others, mentioned by the Deputies, who feel that their British entitlement will be withheld when the dispute is settled pending a refund of the allowance. I should like to point out that no arrangements have been made either between the health boards and the British Department or between our Department and its British counterpart to withhold payments or refunds of this type. People in this position of course will have to give an undertaking that when they receive their arrears from the British authorities they will repay the amount out of the arrears.
In practice, however, there is no other option open to me to provide such financial assistance. Furthermore, the supplementary welfare allowance scheme was specifically designed to cater for emergencies. The basic reason for the reform of the old home assistance system and the introduction of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme was to have a uniform scheme across the board which would provide standard basic rates of assistance but which would also be flexible enough to deal with the short-term emergencies which can arise. People should be aware that the service is available to deal with situations of the sort which has arisen in this case, and I would hope that nobody who is in need of immediate financial assistance would refuse to seek such assistance or would feel that the service is not for them.
I do not have any information as to the likely duration of the present action. My Department are, however, keeping in touch with the British Department on the matter and will be aware of any developments. An announcement will be made whenever arrangements to resume normal payments have been agreed. In the meantime, however, pensioners can arrange for payment to be made to them under the special arrangements introduced by the British authorities. As those arrangements have been made by the British authorities it is not appropriate for the Irish authorities to advertise them, but I hope that one of the results of the Deputies raising this matter tonight will be that it will get sufficient press coverage to make people aware of the arrangements. I expect that Members will also bring those arrangements to the notice of those concerned. I would stress the necessity when writing to the UK Department to give as much detail as possible in order to enable the pension to be identified on the manual system — name and address, pension number, type and amount of pension, frequency of payment, date of last payment and counterfoil of that payment. In this way the case can be quickly identified and the alternative arrangements put in train without delay. Where a husband and wife are receiving separate pensions individual application should be made. That is the best system for those who can afford to wait a few weeks, but those who cannot should not delay in seeking assistance from community welfare officers. Those officers have been notified of the position and are prepared to deal with cases.
The other matter raised by Deputy Gallagher was the taking up of pension books for readjustment following increases in the UK rates. This is normally done following the increase in November. I am not aware of any widespread taking up of books for that purpose. There may be individual cases where books would be taken up for specific purposes. If there are cases where the Irish non-contributory pension book is in the Department of Social Welfare for any appreciable time the details should be brought to my notice and I will see that they are re-issued. I am assured that there could not be a large number of these books held in the Department, because the adjustments following the increase in the UK rates have been made and the books were re-issued some time ago.
