asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state whether any increase in old age pensions is contemplated, and whether he will recommend to the Government such an increase in view of the increase in the cost of living.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensions.
Since this Government came into office the rates of old age pensions have been increased and the means test has been modified in favour of claimants, by the Social Welfare Act, 1948. These changes have involved an increase of approximately £2,250,000 in the yearly cost.
The matter is being further considered.
Will the Minister agree that these aged persons have a greater claim to consideration than other sections of the community who have received increment increases within recent months?
I do not want to put old age pensioners in competition with other sections of the community. The difficulties are being examined sympathetically and are understood by the Government.
The Minister is bulging with sympathy.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state (a) the total number of old age pension recipients and the number in receipt of the full rate of pension; (b) the total annual cost of old age pension payments, and (c) the estimated additional cost of paying the present full rate of pension without any means test.
The latest available figures regarding the numbers of recipients of old age pension are for the last Friday in December, 1950.
At that date the total number of recipients was 161,232. Of these 136,509 were in receipt of the maximum rate, 17/6 per week.
The cost of pensions in the year to 31st March, 1950, was £7,077,775. The estimated cost for the current financial year is £7,150,000.
To pay the present full rate of pension without any means test to all persons over 70 years of age and to blind persons who could qualify, would, it is estimated, cost an additional £2,541,500.
Will the Minister be so kind as to tell the House when he proposes to provide this £2,541,500 which this would cost?
If the Deputy will put down a question instead of picking from other questions, I will reply to it.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the estimated annual cost of the proposed amendment of Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, under Section 82 of the Social Welfare (Insurance) (No. 2) Bill, 1950.
It is estimated that the annual cost of this proposed amendment would be of the order of £150,000 to £200,000.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the number of claimants for old age pensions in 1948-49 and 1949-50 (a) who were in receipt of home assistance, and (b) who were granted the full rate of old age pension in addition to their income from home assistance; and, further, if he will state the present ruling of his Department in such cases and the date from which it took effect and whether retrospective payment will be made to all pensioners who may be affected by it.
No statistics are available as to the numbers of persons who have obtained full old age pensions in addition to home assistance.
Since October, 1949, the ruling in such cases has been that home assistance is not to be included in calculating means for the purposes of the Old Age Pensions Acts.
If an old age pensioner considers he is entitled to an increase of pension, whether as a result of this ruling or for any other reason, it is open to him to raise a question for increase by writing to that effect to the local Social Welfare officer. The question would be investigated and decided in the same manner as an original claim; but if an increase should be granted, the provisions of the Acts do not admit of payment of the increase being allowed from any date earlier than the Friday following the date on which notice of the question was received by the Social Welfare officer.
Do I understand from the Minister that there is a statutory bar to making retrospective payment in these cases?
That is so. The Act as at present drafted does not permit retrospective payment in such cases.
Can the Minister say under what statutory authority the ruling that he has referred to was made—will he give the reference?
The ruling was made on advice obtained from the Attorney-General.
Has the accounting officer observed that ruling?