Vol. 469 No. 6
173 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will change regulations to enable parents to obtain child dependent benefit immediately in the post-parturient period in order that they will not have to wait until an official birth certificate is produced to qualify for such benefit in view of the fact that this may take up to six weeks in a lot of cases. [17941/96]
Under the present arrangements a birth certificate is normally required before child benefit is awarded. However, in exceptional circumstances such as foreign adoptions where a birth certificate may be difficult to obtain, other forms of evidence are accepted. Any delays on the lines mentioned by the Deputy do not result in any loss of entitlement.
Increases in respect of child dependants payable with most social welfare entitlements are awarded on the basis of either receipt of child benefit or the production of a birth certificate. This procedure reduces the burden on the claimant of furnishing the same information for each separate payment and ensures that payment issues at the earliest possible date.
