Dublin disability benefit and contribution inquiry
The claimant received disability benefit through 3 January, but the Department investigated because its records showed no contributions for 1978 or 1979; Woods said the cheque issued on 20 February. Mitchell alleged severe hardship, while Woods cited the need to verify employment and payments in Britain.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason no disability benefit has been paid to date to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and when it will be paid.
Comment on this
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 17 November 1980 and has been paid from 20 November 1980, fourth day of incapacity, to 3 January 1981 when he was certified fit to resume work. The question of his entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and payment due, if any, will be made on completion of these inquiries.
There was a delay in payment in this case as, according to the records of my Department, he had no paid or credited contributions in either 1978 or 1979 and was therefore not entitled to payment of benefit. Inquiries were made to ascertain whether he had any insurable employment which would qualify him for benefit. On completion of these inquiries his entitlement to disability benefit was established and payment issued on 20 February 1981.
Comment on this
How long did it take to establish that? Will the Minister tell me when the cheques issued for those payments up to 3 January?
Comment on this
If there is no record of contributions there must be an investigation. The officers of the Department cannot pay money out without having a record of contributions.
Comment on this
Is the Minister aware that in this case the person concerned attended at his Department every single day for weeks and that he was hungry? His neighbours, because of the state that man and his children were in, got in touch with me. Would the Minister accept that this case highlights the collapse of his Department?
Comment on this
If the Deputy is honest he will recognise that this person was employed in Britain and there was a question of finding out what benefits or payments had been made in Britain. This took quite some time. The Deputy is trying to claim that the Department are wrong in everything but that is not the case. The Department process 17,000 payments a week for disability alone.
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