asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of non-contributory pension paid in 30 consecutive cases since 1st April, 1976, where the applicant for the pension had been self-employed in agricultural work.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
91.
Twenty claims were allowed at the maximum rate of £10.75 a week, together with, in four of these cases, an increase of £5.35 a week for an adult dependant.
Four claims were allowed at reduced pension rates—one at £7.30 plus £3.60 a week for an adult dependant; one at £7.30 a week; one at £5.00 plus £2.45 a week for an adult dependant; and one at £2.70 plus £1.30 a week for an adult dependant.
Four claims were disallowed as the means exceeded the statutory limit.
Two claims were withdrawn.
The rates given here are as increased from 1st October, 1976, from the coresponding rates in force before that date.
92.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the approximate number of pensions of each of the following types payable to persons who were employed in agriculture before the pension was first paid: agricultural employees' contributory, pension, agricultural employees' non-contributory pension and other persons' non-contributory pension.
Statistics of pensions in payment are not maintained in a form which would give the information requested by the Deputy.
93.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number or estimated number of cases where a non-contributory pension is payable to an adult dependant instead of the supplement for an adult in the contributory pension.
The number is 4,030.
94.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the approximate Exchequer contribution in 1976 to the following types of social welfare benefit: contributory old age pension, retirement pension, contributory widow's pension, non-contributory old age pension and non-contributory widow's pension.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to old age contributory pension, retirement pension and widow's contributory pension is not available. These, like all social insurance benefits, are payable out of the Social Insurance Fund, which is financed by contributions by employers, employees and the Exchequer. The Exchequer contribution is the amount by which the income of the fund is less than its expenditure but it is not apportioned between the different benefits.
The cost of old age non-contributory and widow's non-contributory pensions is borne in full by the Exchequer. It is estimated that the following amounts will be paid in 1976 on these services.
|
Old age non-contributory pension |
£74 million |
|
Widow's non-contributory pension |
|
|
£7.9 million |
95.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number or approximate number of each of the following types of social welfare pensions now in payment: contributory old age pension, retirement pension, contributory widow's pension, non-contributory old age pension and non-contributory widow's pension.
The approximate numbers of each of the following types of social welfare pensions now in payment are:
|
Old Age (contributory) Pension |
55,000 |
|
Retirement Pension |
24,000 |
|
Widow's (contributory) Pension |
62,500 |
|
Old Age (non-contributory) Pension |
133,000 |
|
Widow's (non-contributory) Penon |
12,700 |
96.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit has been refused to a person (details supplied) in County Laois since the beginning of October.
Payment of unemployment benefit has not been refused to the person concerned. She required to have at least 26 contributions paid or credited in respect of the 1974-75 contribution year to entitle her to unemployment benefit on her claim of 4th October, 1976. As her insurance record showed no paid contributions and only four credited contributions in that year, inquiries had to be made about the stamping of her 1974-75 insurance card. While these inquiries have not been fully completed it has been found possible to allow her credit in respect of sufficient contributions to enable payment to be made to her at a reduced weekly rate of £8.90. Arrangements have been made for payment at that rate during the present week of all unemployment benefit due to her. Further payments will continue as they fall due.
The question of her entitlement to unemployment benefit at a higher rate will be considered when the inquiries regarding the stamping of her 1974-75 card have been completed.
97.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit has been withheld since 17th September, 1976, from a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The person concerned required to have at least 26 employment contributions paid or credited in respect of the 1975 contribution year to entitle him to unemployment benefit on his claim of 18th September, 1976. His Irish insurance record showed that he had only 11 contributions in that year but as he had also been employed in Great Britain in 1975 the British authorities were asked to supply particulars of his contribution record there. As soon as this information was received his claim was allowed and arrangements have been made for payment during the present week of all unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit due to him. Further payments will continue as they fall due.