asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 to be reviewed urgently in view of her circumstances.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
49.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit to 3 December 1988 after which date payment was disallowed following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She appealed the disallowance and was examined on 12 January 1989 by a different medical referee who also considered her capable.
Her appeal has been referred to an appeals officer for determination. The appeals officer proposes to hold an oral hearing of the case. The person concerned will be advised of the date and place of the hearing when final arrangements are completed. In the meantime, if she is in need of financial assistance she should contact her local community welfare officer.
50.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who claimed disability benefit from 18 April 1988 was not notified until 14 June 1988 that she would have to be examined by a medical referee before payment could be made on her claim; that this medical examination did not take place until September or October 1988 and the claimant was found fit; that having appealed this decision on the advice of her general practitioner she was notified in January 1989 that the decision had been upheld although no further medical examination had taken place in the meantime; that this claimant is still under the care of a specialist in Wexford County Hospital; that a letter which she wrote to his Department five weeks ago has been ignored; and the reason this claim has been dealt with in this manner.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 18 April 1988. She was notified on 6 May 1988 that a second medical opinion on her incapacity was needed before payment could be authorised, as she had been found capable of work by a medical referee on 5 February 1988 on her previous claim. She was examined on 3 June 1988 by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. She was informed on 8 June 1988 that her claim was disallowed by a deciding officer.
She appealed the disallowance of her claim and a further medical examination was arranged for 2 August 1988. However, due to an administrative error the notification of the examination did not issue. The person concerned was advised of this and a third examination took place on 7 October 1988. She was examined, for the third time, by a different medical referee. She was again considered capable of work.
Her appeal was then referred to an appeals officer who decided the case summarily.He upheld the decision to disallow payment of disability benefit from 18 April 1988. The decision of the appeals officer is final and can only be altered in the light of new facts or fresh evidence.
A letter was received from the person concerned subsequent to the appeals officer's decision stating that she would be submitting further medical evidence in support of her appeal. There is no record of this medical evidence having been received in the Department.
51.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the facility of free travel for disabled persons, who are entitled to be accompanied by a spouse, to entitle any second person, or even a stated second person, to travel with the disabled persons, since many disabled persons are not married, often in consequence of their disability.
To extend free travel to cover persons other than spouses accompanying a disabled person or another qualified person would have wide-ranging implications for the free travel scheme and there could be substantial cost implications.There is no financial provision for such an extension at present.
52.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 126 on 12 April 1989 in relation to the person concerned, he has been found capable of work on two separate occasions by medical referees of my Department and he was supplied with a form on which to set out his grounds for appeal if he wished to have his case referred to an appeals officer. The position remains unchanged in that the form in question has not been returned to the Department.