asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether any instructions have been issued to pension officers to apply a more strict means test to applicants for, and recipients of, old age pensions; and whether, in view of the hardship which is likely to result from the issue of such instructions, he will have them withdrawn.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensions Means Test.
No instructions on the lines indicated have been issued to pension officers.
Pension officers are telling applicants for old age pensions that they have been requested to apply a means test in its most rigid interpretation. Would the Parliamentary Secretary say if any direct intimation, by telephone or jungle telegraph, was sent to these pension officers to apply the strict means test in the case of all applicants for old age pensions?
Would the Deputy indicate any old age pensioners who were victimised?
Thirty per cent. of the applicants at the present time.
In ten years the outlay on old age pensions has been increased from £3,800,000 to £10,100,000.
Thanks to the inter-Party Government.
Is it not a fact that during the past six months, a large number of old age pensioners have had their allowances reduced?
If the Deputy would give the source of his information, we will be only too glad to investigate.