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Efforts being made to resolve illness benefit payment delays, says minister

TDs said constituents have been in touch about the delay or cessation of customer payments since the new system kicked in.

EVERY EFFORT IS being made to resolve problems that have arisen with the new automated system for Illness Benefit.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan faced a number of questions from TDs today about the delay or cessation of customer payments since the new system kicked in.

In August, there were similar problems reported, with people receiving illness benefit from the State waiting weeks for payments, which resulted in financial problems for many as they face rent payments and back-to-school costs.

At the time, the department said the problem arose because some GPs were continuing to use old medical claim forms despite a system change over at the start of the month.

However, some two months on delays are still occurring.

Sinn Féin spokesperson for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, John Brady said many of his constituents have had their payments stopped after the new automated system failed to record receipt of forms sent in by recipients.

“The forms concerned are the medical review forms (MR1 forms) which are issued by the Department and must be filled in and returned by recipients within 21 days. Recipients who received the form, filled it in and returned it well before the 21 day deadline have had their payments stopped by the automated system,” he said.

However, he said the new computer system sends out the MR1 forms automatically and in some cases the forms have been sent out to the same individual as many as six times.

Fianna Fáil’s Social Protection spokesperson Willie O’Dea said the Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty told him a number of weeks ago that the situation is under control.

“It hasn’t returned to normal – it has got far worse,” he said, adding that a number of senior officials within the department have spoken of their frustration with the slow pace of progress.

Michael Moynihan said the whole system appears to have “ground to a halt”.

A number of his constituents have been left with no payments, he said, adding that they are being told to present to the local social welfare officer for money.

“People are being left without money,” he said.

He said that no information is being passed on to customers. All TDs speaking about the problem said the phone lines in the Illness Benefit Section seem to be closed, as no one can get through to get answers as to what is happening.

Flanagan said he wanted to reassure deputies today that the old forms will still be accepted.

He said discussions are ongoing in relation to the roll out of the new software systems.

“I regret there is something of a delay with the transition period. Every effort is being made to resolve the situation,” said Flanagan. 

A recent statement from the Department of Social Protection said: 

The department is aware that some Illness Benefit customers are experiencing lower than expected payments this week. However, all customers have received payments in line with the illness certificates presented.
The department is examining these cases and we expect any payment issues to be resolved over the next week.

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    Mute Denis McClean
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    Mar 16th 2018, 1:10 PM

    Multiple carts before horses and fields with open gates come to mind.

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    Mute Paul O Faolain
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    Mar 16th 2018, 1:47 PM

    Was it pilot error or something else,does anyone know the answer

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    Mute Nauris Serna
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    Mar 16th 2018, 2:11 PM

    @Paul O Faolain: Ad with most accidents, it’s a sequence of events that led to it. Also, worth noting, that the purpose of the investigation is to prevent a repeat, rather than put a blame or liability on somebody.

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    Mute Crocodylus Pontifex
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    Mar 16th 2018, 2:53 PM

    @Paul O Faolain: The investigation is ongoing. There is a requirement to publish a report 1 year after the event if the case is still open which is what today’s update is about. A lot of things had to line up for this tragedy to happen so there will be no clear and simple answer.

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    Mute Hugh Legat
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    Mar 16th 2018, 3:39 PM

    Investigation ongoing. I would like to know is it correct the pilot repeatedly ignored radar alarms of an “imminent collision” take evasive action! It doesn’t matter it wasn’t on her chart.

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    Mute Ohhh_reeally
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    Mar 16th 2018, 4:01 PM

    @Hugh Legat: good man Hugh, “you’d like to know”. Do you mind me asking why you’d like to know? What use will the information be to you once you have it?

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    Mute pat winters
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    Mar 16th 2018, 5:10 PM

    @Hugh Legat: A lot of reading but avoiding the proverbial elephant (lighthouse) in the room. A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Lighthouses mark dangerous coastlines, hazardous shoals, reefs, and safe entries to harbors; they also assist in aerial navigation.

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    Mute EUGENE 70 percent
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    Mar 16th 2018, 10:35 PM

    @Hugh Legat: is it the ground proximity warning system that gives the warning you refer to.

    Because an earlier finding was that Blackrock was not on whatever mapping the ground proximity warning uses.

    I see on RTE that the investigation is continuing and that warning systems are one of the things that will continue to be looked at.

    Best wait for the FINAL report before rushing to assume the pilot ignored warmings.

    Quite striking in my eyes to see a reccomendation for review of SYSTEMS and how the SAR operations operate “if it was as simple as a pilot ignoring a warning”.

    Can’t help but suspect that theres a POSSIBILITY that investigators see wider system flaws as at the very least a POTENTIAL contributory factor in the crash.

    They aren’t making recommendations for fun. They are likely making them because the investigation is uncovering things pointing them to a NEED for one.

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Mar 17th 2018, 9:09 AM

    @Ohhh_reeally: landing gear down 9 miles out
    Legat has a point

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Mar 16th 2018, 5:32 PM

    Altitude approach protocols a priority

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    Mute Martin Dale
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    Mar 16th 2018, 3:37 PM

    Proper order

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    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
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    Mar 17th 2018, 6:24 PM

    “Professional” Pilot error is never a root cause of air accidents when viewed from an engineering perspective. It is a systems or process error. This is the second helicopter crash after Tramore. The root cause of both must be identified.

    Even at speed a good on board radar system will give ample advanced warning of impending collision and should intervene in aircraft flight to avoid it.

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