asked the Minister for Social Welfare how the means test is applied in the case of a male applicant for unemployment assistance who is living at home.
Written Answers. - Unemployment Assistance Means Test.
357.
The means of a male applicant for unemployment assistance who is living at home in common with those of other applicants have to be determined under section 13 of the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933, and regulations made under that Act. Items which must be taken into account include the yearly value of all property owned, personally used or enjoyed by the applicant and all cash income, with certain exceptions, which he is likely to receive during the coming 12 months including income which he may reasonably expect to receive as head of a household.
Where the applicant is not the head of a household the yearly value of any benefit or privilege enjoyed by him such as free or partly free board and lodgings must be reckoned as means. This is determined factually by reference to the standard of living of the household in which he resides and to his position in the household. Each case is decided on its merits by a deciding officer in the light of these circumstances. Account is taken of the income of the household and of the composition of the household with particular reference to the number of persons who are not self-supporting.
358.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he considers that the present means test limit applied to applicants for unemployment assistance is in need of revision.
The present means test limit for any applicant for unemployment assistance is the maximum weekly rate of unemployment assistance appropriate in his case. This rate is determined by reference to the marital status of the applicant, the size of his family and as to whether he lives in an urban or a rural area. The rate of assistance payable to him is this amount less the weekly value of his means. Consequently a revision of the means test limits requires a revision of the weekly maximum rates of unemployment assistance which is a matter for consideration in the context of the budget. I should mention that the rates of unemployment assistance and consequently the means test limits were recently revised with effect as from the 28th September, 1977.