asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a rebate will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly who was a medical card holder from 1979 to 1985 and paid an employee's contribution of 3.9 per cent PRSI when the amount should have been 0.9 per cent.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
164.
Since the inception of the PRSI system in 1979, any person who is the legitimate holder of a current medical services card has been exempt from payment of the health contribution, youth employment levy and the former income levy, and the liability transfers to the employer. This is provided for in the various PRSI contribution classes, part 3 of each class being applicable to persons who hold medical cards. Any "rebate" of contribution vis-à-vis the employee is therefore the liability of the employer.
The Department has been in contact with the employer of the person concerned and it is understood that a difficulty has arisen arising out of the fact that the person concerned did not inform the employer of the existence of the medical card until after it had been withdrawn. In the circumstances, the Department is writing to the employer outlining the legal provisions governing the transfer of liability for certain components of the contribution from employees to employers in medical card cases.
165.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if approval has been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford for disability benefit who appealed against the decision refusing her benefit.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 10 October 1985, and payment was issued from 10 October 1985 to 30 July 1986.
Payment was disallowed from 31 July 1986 following an examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed against the disallowance and was again examined on 16 September 1986 by a different medical referee who also expressed the opinion that she was capable of work.
Her case was then referred to an appeals officer for determination. In his decision of 13 February 1987 the appeals officer decided that the claimant was incapable of work from 31 July 1986 to 20 January 1987 (the date of the latest medical certificate before him) and was entitled to disability benefit for this period.
Arrears of disability benefit payable from 31 July 1986 to 20 January 1987 were issued to the person concerned on 17 February 1987. All benefit payable to 14 April 1987, the date of the latest medical certificate, has been issued.
166.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has been granted disability benefit.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed for the statutory period of nine weeks from 26 December 1986 as he failed to attend for examination by a medical referee of the Department on 17 December 1986. His explanation for failure to attend for examination has been accepted and payment of benefit was restored on 13 February, from the date of disallowance.
All disability benefit, including arrears payable in respect of the period of disallowance, was issued up to 28 February 1987, the day before the person concerned was certified fit to resume work.