asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the particulars of alterations in rates of social welfare allowances since 1947 under the following headings:— old age pensions, blind pensions, widows' and orphans' pensions, disability benefits (sickness and disablement), unemployment benefits and unemployment assistance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Allowances.
17.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, it is proposed, with your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it in the Official Report.
Following is the reply:—
The principal rates of social welfare benefits, etc., which have been payable during the period 1947 to date are shown in the accompanying table. More detailed information of the alterations in the rates are available in the published Reports of the Department of Social Welfare.
PRINCIPAL RATES OF SOCIAL WELFARE BENEFITS 1947 TO 1959
NOTES
|
1947 (a) |
1948 (a) |
1949 |
1951 |
1952 |
1955 |
1956 |
1957 |
1959 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
s.d. |
s.d. |
s.d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Old Age and Blind Pensions |
100 |
No change |
176 |
200 |
21 |
6 |
24 |
0 |
No change |
25 |
0 |
27 |
6 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Widows' and Orphans' Contributory Pensions: |
Non-Agricultural |
Agricultural |
Urban |
Rural |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Non-Agricultural |
Agricultural |
Non-Agricultural |
Agricultural |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Widow |
10 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
12 |
6 |
24 |
0 |
30 |
0 |
||||||||||||||
|
First child |
5 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
No change |
No change |
7 |
0 |
No change |
8 |
0 |
No change |
No change |
|||||||||
|
Second child |
3 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
||||||||||||||
|
Orphan |
7 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
8 |
6 |
9 |
0 |
7 |
6 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
||||||||||||||
|
Non-contributory Pensions: |
County Borough |
Urban |
Rural |
Urban |
Rural |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Widow |
7 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
22 |
6 |
23 |
6 |
26 |
0 |
||||||||||||
|
First child |
3 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
No change |
6 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
No change |
6 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
No change |
8 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
|||||||||
|
Second child |
1 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
||||||||||||
|
Orphan |
4 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
PRINCIPAL RATES OF SOCIAL WELFARE BENEFITS 1947 TO 1959—continued.
|
1947 (a) |
1948 (a) |
1949 |
1951 |
1952 |
1955 |
1956 |
1957 |
1959 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Disability and Unemployment Benefits: |
Sickness |
Disablement |
Unemployment |
Sickness |
Disablement |
Unemployment |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Man |
15 |
0 |
7 |
6 |
15 |
0 |
22 |
6 |
15 |
0 |
22 |
6 |
24 |
0 |
30 |
0 |
|||||||||||||||
|
Woman |
12 |
0 |
7 |
6 |
12 |
0 |
18 |
0 |
13 |
6 |
18 |
0 |
No change |
24 |
0 |
No change |
30 |
0 |
No change |
No change |
|||||||||||
|
Wife |
— |
— |
7 |
6 |
— |
— |
7 |
6 |
12 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
First child |
— |
— |
2 |
6 |
— |
— |
2 |
6 |
7 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Second child |
— |
— |
2 |
6 |
— |
— |
2 |
6 |
7 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Unemployment Assistance: |
County Borough |
Urban |
Rural |
County Borough |
Urban |
Town |
Rural |
Urban |
Rural |
Urban |
Rural |
Urban |
Rural |
||||||||||||||||||
|
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
||||||
|
Man |
10 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
18 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
|||||
|
Man and Wife |
15 |
0 |
11 |
6 |
11 |
6 |
22 |
6 |
17 |
6 |
15 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
No change |
No change |
28 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
No change |
No change |
30 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
32 |
6 |
24 |
6 |
|
|
Man, wife and 2 children |
18 |
6 |
14 |
6 |
16 |
6 |
28 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
19 |
6 |
18 |
0 |
38 |
0 |
28 |
0 |
41 |
0 |
31 |
0 |
43 |
6 |
33 |
6 |
NOTES
(a) Under Emergency Powers legislation in operation in 1947 cash supplements were receivable in addition to the amounts of benefits given in the Table. These supplements were subsequently incorporated in the benefit rates.
(b) The schemes of (1) Old Age and Blind Pensions (2) Widows' and Orphans' Non-Contributory Pensions and (3) Unemployment Assistance are subj ect to means tests which were altered during the period covered by the Table. The rates shown are those payable to persons who have no means or whose means do not exceed the statutory limits giving title to the Maximum benefit.
(c) The rates of disability and unemployment benefits shown in the Table are those payable to persons who satisfy fully the contribution condi ions. Where these conditions are not fully satisfied the rates are subject to reduction.
(d) Benefits in respect of dependent children under the schemes of widows' pensions, unemployment insurance and unemployment assistance, prior to 1952 were not limited to two children but were payable in respect of the third and subsequent children also.