asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Louth.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
189.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 18 July 1989.
According to the records of my Department the person concerned has no contributions paid or credited during the period from 1959 to 1974, and has not had 26 contributions paid since then. She is, therefore, not entitled to disability benefit or the award of credited contributions on her claim to disability benefit.
She has indicated, however, that she was employed in Great Britain during this period and her insurance record has been requested from the British authorities. When this information comes to hand her entitlement to disability benefit will be reviewed.
190.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a full widow's pension will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of a widow's non-contributory pension at the rate of £13 a week. This is the rate of pension payable to a widow under 66 years who has no qualified children and whose weekly means exceed £40 but do not exceed £42. Her means, derived from a farm holding and capital, have been assessed at £40.52 per week, effective from 16 September 1988.
If the claimant feels that her means have decreased since the last investigation, she should advise my Department to this effect and her case will be re-investigated.
19.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Louth which was held on 4 September 1989 will be decided.
The person concerned is in receipt of disablement benefit under the occupational injuries scheme since 6 January 1989 in respect of an accident at work.
He was first examined by a medical referee on 2 February 1989 and was found to be suffering from the effects of the accident and also from a relevant condition so that he was assessed at 100 per cent disabled pending stabilization of his condition. Disablement benefit was paid accordingly in respect of the period to 1 June 1989.
Following a medical referee review on 17 May which revealed his condition had stabilised in the meantime, his disablement was reassessed at 10 per cent and he was awarded disablement benefit accordingly from 2 June to 1 September 1989.
He appealed against the decision and his case was referred to an appeals officer for determination who requested a further examination by a different medical referee. The further examination was carried out on 28 August when the second medical referee also assessed the disablement at 10 per cent.
The appeals officer proposes to hold an oral hearing of the case as soon as possible which is expected will be about the middle of next month.