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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 May 1988

Vol. 380 No. 4

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

95.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a person (details supplied) in County Cork is in receipt of the correct amount of sick benefit.

The person concerned has been paid benefit from 15 April 1988. His present weekly entitlement of disability benefit is £66.10 being £42.30 personal rate plus half of the allowances for his five children. He is also entitled to pay-related benefit of £18.48 a week.

According to the records of the Department the claimant's spouse is earning in excess of £50 weekly and therefore he would not be entitled to payment of an adult dependant allowance, and to only half of the child dependent allowances. A form has issued to the claimant seeking confirmation of his wife's weekly earnings and on receipt of same, further consideration will be given to his entitlement to the allowances for his dependants.

There was some delay in issuing the child dependant allowances. The claimant indicated on his claim form for disability benefit that he had five child dependants. However, as he failed to indicate whether or not the children were residing with him, payment did not issue in respect of them. It was subsequently established that the children were residing with the claimant and all arrears due have now been issued to him.

Disability benefit has issued to the claimant to 2 May 1988, the date of the latest medical certificate received.

96.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Louth against the disallowance of disability benefit will be heard.

The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 7 November 1987 after which date payment was disallowed following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance of benefit and was examined by a different medical referee on 29 January 1988 who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.

The case has been held awaiting receipt of medical evidence which the person concerned indicated he wished to submit. A reminder was sent to him on 21 March asking him to submit any evidence he wished to in support of his appeal but he has not replied to date.

His appeal has now been referred to an appeals officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing of his claim as soon as possible.

98.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick has had his claim for disability benefit disallowed by the medical referee as he has been certified unfit for work by two orthopaedic surgeons at the same time who act on behalf of his employers.

The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 4 June 1987 after which date payment was disallowed following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He appealed against the disallowance of benefit and was examined by a different medical referee on 27 August 1987 who also expressed the opinion that he was capable of work.

The case was referred to an appeals officer who decided that he was not incapable of work in respect of the period from 6 June 1987 to 7 December 1987 and was not entitled to be paid disability benefit in respect of this period.

The person concerned continued to submit medical evidence and benefit was again disallowed. He appealed against this decision and was again examined by a medical referee on 11 April 1988 who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. The case was referred to an appeals officer on 26 April 1988. No date has been set for an oral hearing.

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