Michael Ring
Question:160 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the capping regulations for rent allowance can be amended for performing artists in view of the interrupted nature of their work. [3065/03]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered by the health boards, provides for the payment of a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of rent to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet his or her needs. With the exception of those participating in approved employment schemes, people in full-time employment, that is, 30 hours or more per week, are excluded from receiving assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
Rent supplements are subject to a means test and are calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to his or her family circumstances, less a minimum contribution of €12 which recipients are required to pay from their own resources.
A person who is not in full-time employment is entitled to apply for a rent supplement. Accordingly, in any week where a performing artist works less than 30 hours, he or she is entitled to apply for a rent supplement.
Michael Ring
Question:161 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will issue a directive to social welfare officers that when performing artists, with equity membership cards, are making a claim they should be given special treatment under the law to recognise the interrupted state of employ ment they endure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3066/03]
Michael Ring
Question:162 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will introduce special arrangements for dealing with claims by performing artists in view of their specialised careers; if they will be given a period of three years in which to pursue their profession, with entitlement to full benefits during that period with qualification of 15 weeks social insurance contributions paid in the previous 18 months and for proof of eligibility documentation to demonstrate that they are seeking work or have attended auditions, meetings, classes and so on with equity membership cards being used as proof of status as a performing artist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3067/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.
A person claiming unemployment benefit is required to have at least 39 PRSI contributions since starting work and either 39 contributions paid or credited in a recent year as defined or 26 contributions paid in that tax year and in the previous tax year. Where a person is seeking work in his or her usual employment, he or she would normally satisfy the conditions for receipt of payment, provided there is a reasonable prospect of securing such work.
People in the acting and other artistic professions who experience periods of unemployment can qualify for payment when they are out of work. It is recognised also that they may need to attend auditions on an ongoing basis for that purpose. In situations, however, where it is clear that there is no employment available or likely to be offered to them within a reasonable period of time, they would be expected to broaden their search to include other types of employment. The application of these conditions is the same for performing artists as for other claimants for unemployment payments.
The introduction of special arrangements for performing artists as proposed would raise issues of equityvis-à-vis other claimants and would have financial implications. There are no current plans for changes to the legislation in this regard.