asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the application for a widow's pension submitted last November by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who was 66 years of age on 8 December 1984.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
520.
It has been decided that the person concerned is entitled to an old age non-contributory pension at the weekly rate of £19.30 from 21 December 1984. This is the rate to which she is entitled, having regard to the assessment of her means, consisting of half the weekly value of British retirement pensions. The appropriate pension book payable from 26 April 1985 issued on 6 May 1985 and a payable order covering the arrears of pension due for the period 21 December 1984 to 25 April 1985 issued on 7 May 1985.
Inquiries were necessary to obtain information about her own and her husband's United Kingdom retirement pensions and this gave rise to delay in dealing with the claim.
522.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position with regard to the return of a contributory old age pension book to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and the reason the book has been retained in his Department for the last six weeks.
A contributory old age pension book containing orders payable from 5 April 1985 to 5 July 1985, inclusive, was issued to the designated post office on 21 March 1985. The Department were notified by telephone on 1 May 1985 that the book had not been received at that office and a replacement was issued the following day. There was accordingly no question of the book being retained by the Department.