asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that it has been stated on behalf of his Department that persons in receipt of a social welfare retirement pension are not liable to pay the 15p contribution for health services, with the implication that persons in receipt of the social welfare contributory old age pension, which is 5p higher than the retirement pension, are obliged to make the 15p contribution per week towards health services; and if he will indicate the steps he proposes to take to remove this anomaly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Services Contribution.
12.
Persons on social welfare retirement pensions remain insured persons for the purposes of the Social Welfare Acts and are credited with contributions between the ages of 65 and 70, in order to preserve entitlement to other social security benefits, including contributory old age pensions. This crediting of contributions extends to the health element so that they do not have to pay the 15p a week. If there is an anomaly here, it is only in respect of any of the recipients of these allowances who are not entitled to medical cards and thus exempt in any event from liability to pay health contributions. It could be claimed that a similar anomaly exists in respect of agriculture labourers, all of whom are exempted even though some may not have medical cards.
Those in receipt of old age contributory pensions are required to pay health contributions only if not entitled to medical cards. Many of them are exempt on this account and those who are liable would have other sources of income. Their liability is assessed on the same basis as for other retired or self-employed persons.
I would point out that, in fact, the maximum weekly rate of contributory old age pension is greater than the retirement pension by 55p for a single person and 95p for a person with a dependent spouse.
Is the Minister aware that he is, in fact, making confusion worse confounded when he says farm labourers do not have to pay? Is he not aware that the farm labourers have the stamps put on by their employers?
Yes.
The stamps are, in fact, put on for them. Does the Minister suggest that, when a person reaches 70 and qualifies for an old age pension on stamps for which he or she paid all his or her life, he or she should be required to pay 15p to the State for medical treatment which, up to that time, he or she had in most cases under the stamps? The qualification for pension qualifies people for benefit. Now these people must pay 15p thereby reducing the pensions they are getting. Is that not rather stupid?
No it is not. The contribution they pay is not an accumulated contribution. It is not saving up for the future. It is average cost required to meet the middle income hospital service. I would not compare the two.
The Minister may not compare them, but would he take it that the ordinary, average person, particularly the old age pensioner, considers he is being very unfairly treated? Sticking them for income tax is bad enough; sticking them for this beats everything.
These are people with private means, as the Deputy knows.