asked the Minister for Social Welfare by or under what authority pension officers and appeals officers have determined that in cases of married old age non-contributory pension claims where the applicant has inter alia an I.R.A. pension of £80 per annum and a voluntary allowance of £52 10s., only the married person's allowance of £165 may be deducted in determining the means of the applicant, and that the other two amounts must be taken into account against the applicant and not deducted, as it appears they ought to be on a reasonable interpretation of the law governing these matters.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Non-Contributory Pensions: Means Assessment.
97.
The method of calculating the means of a married applicant for non-contributory old age pension is set out in Rule 3 of the Seventh Schedule to the Social Welfare Act, 1952, as amended by Section 19 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1961. It is not open to the interpretation suggested by the Deputy. Under the law, the sums referred to must be regarded as forming part of the figure of £165 of yearly cash income which may be disregarded, in accordance with the concession introduced as from 1st August last, when assessing the means of the elder member of a married couple who fulfil the necessary conditions.
I intend, Sir, raising Question No. 94 on the Adjournment so that I may hear the answer.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
The Deputy will get a copy of the answer.
We should like to hear it.
Deputy Sweetman would not allow the Deputy to hear it.
We will bring you back: that will teach the Minister.
It would be no harm if somebody would teach the Deputy.
I never had to be demoted by the Taoiseach as the Minister was.
Deputy Sweetman should allow Questions to be answered.