Processing of old age pension claims
The Deputy asked about delays in old age pension decisions. The Minister said straightforward non-contributory claims take about six weeks, while more complex cases may take longer.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the long delay in his Department in processing and deciding applications for old age pensions and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Comment on this
I am not aware that there is any undue delay in processing noncontributory old age pension claims.
In straightforward cases the issue of a pension book to an old age pensioner takes about six weeks from the receipt of the claim, since it is necessary to visit applicants to investigate their means before a decision as to entitlement can be made. I do not think that this constitutes a long delay.
It may be that the Deputy has the more complex type of case in mind such as blind pension, where medical examination is involved, or the case where evidence is awaited that a Deed of Transfer of property has been properly completed. The latter type of case inevitably takes longer, largely for reasons outside the control of my Department.