andMr. Boland asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason free board and lodging is assessed as means in claims for single women's allowance but not assessed in claims for non-contributory old age pension.
Written Answers. - Means Assessment.
347.
The reason free board and lodging is assessed as means in claims for single woman's allowance is that means assessment for that allowance is similar to that applied to unemployment assistance which requires the assessment of free board and lodging.
The scheme of social assistance allowances for single women was introduced to cover a need which was not being covered adequately by the unemployment assistance scheme and it was considered appropriate to apply the same criteria for means assessment to it as applied to unemployment assistance. The same considerations do not apply in the case of non-contributory old age pension the means test for which is designed to meet the needs of persons aged 66 or over and differs in several respects from that applicable to unemployed persons.