Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Jul 1991

Vol. 410 No. 6

Written Answers. - Disability Benefit Decision.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

73 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Cork was called before a medical referee within five months of the appeals tribunal's finding that the previous medical referee's decision was invalid; and if he deems this practice to be an abuse of the system by his Department.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 22 February 1988. Following an examination by a medical referee on 30 July 1990, payment of benefit was suspended with effect from 13 August 1990.

At an oral hearing on 15 January 1991, the appeals officer reversed the decision made in August 1990, and arrears of benefit were paid with ongoing payment issuing on receipt of medical certificates.

My Department periodically refers recipients of disability benefit for examination by medical referees. Selection of claimants is made on a systematic basis, having regard to the nature of their incapacity, age and other relevant factors such as duration of claim and interval since the last medical referee examination. This case would have been automatically selected for review using the routine factors indicated above.

The person concerned was examined on 17 June 1991, by a medical referee, who expressed the opinion that he is capable of work. The deciding officer subsequently advised the client that payment was being disallowed, and of his right of appeal, on 19 June 1991.