Persons who have been on disability benefit for a year or longer, and who satisfy the medical and contribution conditions, are entitled to claim invalidity pension. Contribution conditions for invalidity pensions are similar to those applying for receipt of disability benefit for longer than 12 months.
Detailed information, including information leaflets, regarding invalidity pension is provided by the Information Service of my Department through three public offices in Dublin and 36 information offices located throughout the country. In addition, this information is available at over 80 community information offices which are operated under the auspices of the National Social Service Board. Application for invalidity pension is made by completing a claim form and these forms are available, by writing to or phoning the invalidity pensions section in Dublin.
There are about 26,000 persons receiving disability benefit on the long duration basis, on foot of monthly medical certificates. Last year 6,350 persons applied for invalidity pension. A further 2,700 cases were identified by my Department as being suitable for invalidity pension.
The 2,700 cases related to persons who had been seen by a medical referee and who were considered to be likely to continue to be incapable for at least a further year. Not every long duration case is referred for review each year. Many persons were previously found to be permanently incapable but they refused an offer to be transferred to invalidity pension.
The 6,350 direct application cases were examined and 4,790 cases were approved. The combined total of approved direct applications and the persons invited to apply is 7,490. Only 5,040 (or 67 per cent of 7,490 qualified cases) accepted the offer. Thirty three per cent of these claimants did not accept the offer to go on to invalidity pension and chose to remain on disability benefit.
I am satisfied from the level of direct applications that the public are generally aware of the invalidity pension scheme.
As part of the normal controls in the administration of invalidity pensions, medical control is necessary to ensure that only persons who fulfil the necessary medical conditions are paid. This control is exercised through medical referees to whom claimants are, from time to time, referred for examination for the purpose of obtaining independent second medical opinions.
