Vol. 408 No. 8
68 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of widows who lost half-rate benefit when this was abolished some years ago; the number who have now re-qualified for half-rate benefit under the new provisions; and whether he has satisfied himself that previously eligible persons have not been arbitrarily excluded from the new scheme by virtue of the interruption in their insurance record.
The payment of half-rate disability benefit for lone parents was discontinued for new claimants only, from January 1988. No claimant who was in receipt of disability benefit at that time lost their entitlement.
The half-rate payment was restored from April 1990 and is paid for a maximum of 15 months in respect of new claimants after that date. There are currently some 2,820 lone parents in receipt of half-rate disability benefit.
The position in relation to the social insurance records of those affected is that while they were working they would have had contributions paid in the normal manner and this would have applied also during weeks of illness in respect of which they received salary from their employers. Those who submitted medical certificates to the Department, although they were not entitled to disability benefit, were awarded credited contributions which would have ensured no interruption in their social insurance records.
