Roger T. Garland
Ceist:105 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in processing the appeal by a person (details supplied) in Waterford to have disability benefit paid.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The person concerned was seen by two different medical referees in connection with her disability benefit claim. Following the second examination she submitted a formal notification of the grounds for an appeal at the end of March 1991.
Her case was reviewed by my Departments' medical adviser in April 1991 but it was not found possible to reverse the findings of the two medical referees.
The case is now with the appeals officer and I understand that he proposes holding the formal hearing this month. An oral hearing has been arranged in this case and as a result some delay is inevitable.
Jim Mitchell
Ceist:106 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the facts of the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 who is a window of a teacher and is living solely on the teachers widow's pension and is therefore not receiving either a widow's or old age pension from his Department and is excluded from receiving a free electricity allowance, free telephone rental or free TV licence, he will now extend these entitlements to this category; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Entitlement under the free electricity, TV licence and telephone rental schemes administered by my Department is provided for elderly or permanently incapacitated persons who are receiving certain social security type payments and who are living alone. Persons in receipt of an occupational pension whose means entitled them to a non-contributory pension at a reduced rate can also qualify for these allowances.
Extension of the schemes to other persons in receipt of occupational pensions would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.