asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he has any proposals to increase the upper limit from £800 per annum so that non-manual workers will be enabled to continue as ordinary contributors under the Social Welfare Acts and will not lose the benefit of a life-time of contributions by being declared not eligible to continue stamping.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Income Limit.
88.
In view of the fact that the Select Committee of the Dáil on Health Services is not yet in a position to submit its final report, I am arranging to re-open the question of increasing the limit for compulsory insurance of nonmanual workers.
There is no question of contributors losing the benefit of a life-time of contributions when they cease to be insurable because of the present limit. They can continue insurance for contributory widow's pension, and also for old age contributory pension if previously insured for that benefit, by becoming voluntary contributors. Furthermore, title to other benefits continues for periods of up to 23 months after compulsory insurance ceases.
It may be taken, moreover, that when the limit is raised, consideration will be given to the question of allowing contributions to be credited to persons who again become compulsorily insurable so as to give them immediate cover for unemployment, disability and treatment benefits, but not for benefits to which title could have been preserved on a voluntary basis.