asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will indicate the reason a disability benefit has not been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
9.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 12 May 1987. Prior to that date he had been receiving unemployment benefit and subsequently unemployment assistance from 1983 when he returned to live in this country from Great Britain.
He is not entitled to credited contributions for the period he was receiving unemployment assistance and has, therefore, no contributions paid or credited in the 1985-86 or 1986-87 contribution years and accordingly is not qualified for disability benefit.
Due to a misinterpretation of the legislation governing the awarding of credits to persons receiving unemployment payments, the disability benefit claim was allowed in error on 12 January 1988. As a result of this error a sum of £67.70 was issued and he was also advised that a substantial amount of arrears would be paid. The error was subsequently detected and he was notified of the revised decision on 22 January 1988.
As the overpayment in this case was due to a misinterpretation of the law, repayment of the £67.70 issued will not be pursued. The person concerned attained the age of 65 on 27 January 1988, and he has been advised to claim a retirement pension from the DHSS in Britain.