asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who is in a wheelchair for life and who applied for disability benefit on 16 October 1987 has been disqualified as a result of a piece of legislation which was subsequently introduced; and if he will reinstate as a matter of urgency this person's benefit.
Written Answers. - Disability Benefit.
51.
Section 8 of the Social Welfare Act (No. 2), 1987, provided that persons on disability benefit who had not received 52 weeks of benefit by 4 January 1988 require to have paid 260 social insurance contributions in order to qualify for benefit for more than 52 weeks.
The person concerned was paid disability benefit from October 1987. As he has a total maximum of 221 social insurance contributions paid, his title to benefit was terminated on 14 October 1988 when he had been paid 52 weeks benefit under the specific provisions of the Act. There is no provision to allow payment of benefit beyond that date.
If the person's means are insufficient to meet his needs, he should apply to his local community welfare officer with a view to claiming disabled persons maintenance allowance.