asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the application for disability benefit of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim as the claim was made on 20 March 1989; and when payment will be made.
Written Answers. - Disability Benefit Application.
184.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 20 March 1989. Payment was not authorised on the claim as the claimant has only 162 Irish contributions paid. She had exhausted her entitlement to benefit on previous claims and would have required 260 paid contributions to requalify for disability benefit.
The person concerned subsequently indicated that she was formerly employed in the United Kingdom and her insurance record in that country was requested from their Department of Social Security. They subsequently asked for the date the claimant had returned to Ireland and this information was requested from the person concerned. A reply was received on her behalf by telephone on 20 October which was forwarded immediately to the Department of Social Security.
When the UK record is available, a decision on her entitlement to disability benefit from 20 March 1989 will be given without delay.