asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a widow (name supplied), whose total income from invested capital is only £152 10s. per annum, has had her means calculated for a non-contributory old age pension under the Acts as exceeding the statutory limit of £247 15s. per annum.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensions.
13.
It is not the actual income from invested capital which is assessable for old age pension purposes but the yearly value of capital, calculated in accordance with the rules as to calculation of means contained in the Seventh Schedule to the Social Welfare Act 1952. In this case the means of the claimant, calculated on this basis, exceed the statutory limit for entitlement to pension. These rules are designed to ensure that a person with capital will not be treated on the same footing as a person who has no capital. It would not be equitable to expect the taxpayer to support fully a person with capital who prefers to leave it untouched so that he may pass it on to relatives.
Is the Minister aware that this is due to the fact that she has an income of £152 10s per annum, and that the fact that she is being deprived of a pension and has a means calculated at £247 15s or more is due to an Act of Lloyd George in 1906?
No, I do not agree.
Could I ask the Minister to look into this immediately because this is the reason and the pensions committee know this. They are very anxious to help her but due to this Act of 1906 they are precluded from doing so. This woman has a total income of £152 10s——
We cannot discuss the whole question now.
This is a serious matter where a woman has less than £3 a week coming in and she cannot have an old age pension. That is exactly what she is trying to live on. She is told if she spends £200 they will give her an extra 5s a week. I am asking the Minister whether we can bring in any amendment or get rid of this Act of Lloyd George so that we can give her a pension. I am asking for co-operation to do this.
I do not want to read out the source of this woman's means but it is sufficient to say that it is all derived from interest on capital invested.
I am not denying that.
She has quite a capital sum invested and I do not think this is the type——
If she had a house of the same capital value would——
We cannot argue this matter here.
I think it is very serious if a woman is expected to live on less than £2 a week——
Deputies' questions usually are serious.
——and that is what this Parliament is all about, that we discuss these matters because they concern communities as well as individuals. I am asking the Minister to look into this.
I shall certainly look into every case the Deputy raises with me but where a claimant has investments in seven different forms—
That does not matter.
She is only getting £150 wherever she has investments.
I shall look into it.
We cannot discuss this matter further. Question No. 14.
14.
andMr. Timmins asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is now prepared to consider the introduction of old age pensions at 65.
Reduction of the qualifying age for old age pensions generally to 65 is not contemplated at present. As the Deputies are aware, a scheme of retirement pensions payable at 65 years of age is already in operation.