Disability benefit delayed by number change
The claimant received benefit through 16 February; the Minister attributed the delay mainly to the insurance-to-RSI number change and noted a gap in medical certificates. The Chair deferred the remaining questions to the next sitting.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and when payment will be made.
Comment on this
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 29 December 1980 and has been paid all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due from 1 January 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 16 February 1981, date of latest certificate received. The delay in payment was due mainly to the change-over in January 1981 from the system of insurance numbers to RSI numbers for the purpose of payment of benefit. There were no certificates received between 19 January 1981 and 9 February 1981. Deputy Pattison asked me earlier about sending individual letters. An issue comes from the computer in those cases. These are on the monthly system of certificates and these are the ones called "automatic". They are not put off immediately but if no certificate has come in, the computer will automatically issue a letter stating that no certificate is in and then approximately six weeks after the certificate is due and if nothing has happened at that stage it is put off.
