asked the Minister for Social Welfare the expected annual cost of each 1 per cent increase in rates of social welfare payments (based on expected numbers in 1982) for (a) long-term and (b) short-term social insurance; and for (a) long-term and (b) short-term social assistance.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
666.
The approximate annual cost of a 1 per cent increase in the current weekly rates of social welfare payments, based on current numbers, is as follows:
|
Social Insurance |
£million |
|
(a) Long-term payments |
3.9 |
|
(b) Short-term payments |
2.6 |
|
Total |
6.5 |
|
Social Assistance |
|
|
(a) Long-term payments |
2.4 |
|
(b) Short-term payments |
1.5 |
|
Total |
3.9 |
|
Grant Total |
10.4 |
667.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated cost in 1982 of a reduction in the pension age to 65 with effect from 1 April 1982.
The approximate total cost in 1982 of a reduction in the pensionable age to 65 years with effect from 1 April 1982 is £15 million at current rates of payment.
668.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost of raising the amount of income disregarded in assessing means for non-contributory pensions from £6 per week to (a) £10 and (b) £20 per week.
The approximate cost, at current pension rates, of increasing the figure to £10 per week, is estimated to be of the order of £6 million per annum and of increasing the figure to £20 to be about £14 million per annum.
669.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost in 1982 of a reduction from 1 April of the qualifying age for single women's allowance to 55.
The cost in 1982 of reducing the qualifying age for single women's allowance to 55 from 1 April next would be £280,000 approximately.
670.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the expected number of beneficiaries for each of the following categories of benefit, assistance etc., in 1981 and 1982: disability benefit, invalidity pensions, maternity allowance, maternity grant, treatment benefits, old age contributory pension, retirement pension, unemployment benefit, widow's and orphan's contributory pensions, deserted wife's benefit, death grant, pay-related benefit, old age (non-contributory) pensions, widow's and orphan's (non-contributory) pensions, deserted wife's allowance, unmarried mother's allowance, single women's allowance, prisoners wife's allowance and unemployment allowances.
The numbers of beneficiaries in each category at the latest date in 1981 for which figures are available are given in the following table. Estimates of the number to be expected in the year 1982 have not yet been finalised.
|
Recipients |
Adult Dependants |
Child Dependants |
|
|
Unemployment Benefit |
63,785 |
27,340 |
63,065 |
|
Disability Benefit |
68,467 |
22,732 |
48,208 |
|
Maternity Allowance |
3,847 |
— |
— |
|
Maternity Grant |
44,584* |
— |
— |
|
Pay-Related Benefit |
54,174 |
— |
— |
|
Invalidity Pension |
18,211 |
8,075 |
11,851 |
|
Widows (Con) Pension |
71,700 |
— |
20,036 |
|
Orphans (Con) Pension |
943 |
— |
— |
|
Deserted Wifes Benefit |
3,097 |
— |
5,815 |
|
Retirement Pension |
32,235 |
12,491 |
3,734 |
|
Old Age (Con) Pension |
67,559 |
20,231 |
3,310 |
|
Death Grant |
6,984* |
— |
— |
|
Treatment Benefit |
305,029* |
— |
— |
|
Unemployment Assistance (including smallholders) |
77,019 |
39,635 |
105,492 |
|
Widows (Non-Con) Pension |
12,200 |
— |
5,920 |
|
Orphans (Non-Con) Pension |
155 |
— |
— |
|
Deserted Wifes Allowance |
3,033 |
— |
4,336 |
|
Prisoners Wifes Allowance |
178 |
— |
469 |
|
Unmarried Mothers Allowance |
6,218 |
— |
7,578 |
|
Single Womens Allowance |
2,967 |
— |
— |
|
Old Age Pension |
129,411 |
9,403 |
2,036 |
*Represents the total number of beneficiaries up to 28 November 1981.
671.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the means test that is applied to the pensioners who qualify under the Military Service Pensions Acts, 1924 and 1934 who live alone and who are entitled to the free fuel voucher scheme.
A military service pension is taken into account in the same way as any other income for the purpose of determining entitlement under the national free fuel scheme. While each case is decided on its merits, the upper level of income for eligibility in the case of a person not receiving a social welfare or analogous payment is in general taken as the maximum rate of social welfare payment including, where appropriate, a living alone allowance.
672.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will arrange to pay unemployment benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason some benefit has not been paid.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 24 October 1981. However, as he was in receipt of holiday pay from 24 October 1981 up to 8 November 1981 and consequently regarded as not unemployed during that period, his claim was authorised with effect from 9 November 1981.
As he satisfied the statutory contribution condition for payment of unemployment benefit at the weekly rate of £66.20 all unemployment benefit due was paid to him during week ending 17 November 1981 and further weekly payments are being made as they fall due.
673.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will sanction an application for a free telephone rental for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Application for free telephone rental allowance from the person concerned which was received in my Department on 10 February 1981 was disallowed as she did not satisfy the conditions of the scheme. She was advised accordingly on 25 February 1981.
Following an extension to the scheme with effect from 1 July 1981 to include recipients of invalidity pension from my Department the application was reviewed and approved. The person concerned was notified of the approval on 14 July 1981.
The allowance cannot, however, be applied until such time as telephone service is approved. The installation of a telephone is a matter for the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.
674.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person concerned did not apply for disability benefit under the Social Welfare Acts.
It is understood that she applied to the North Western Health Board for a disabled person's maintenance allowance and that the appropriate application form has issued to her for completion.
675.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when benefits will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 6 October 1981 and has been paid all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due from 9 October 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 14 December 1981, at the maximum appropriate rate.
676.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when her Department will pay disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 16 November 1981 and was paid all disability benefit and pay-related benefit due from 19 November 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 14 December 1981 at the maximum appropriate rate.
677.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the prescribed relative's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
A claim for prescribed relative allowance has not been received from the person concerned. I have, however, arranged for the appropriate claim form to be sent to her. When the form is returned to my Department the claim will be dealt with immediately.
678.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if unemployment benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo.
Payment of unemployment benefit to the person concerned at the maximum weekly rate of £25.30 payable in the case of a single man was authorised with effect from 6 November 1981. As he is a postal claimant a payment docket covering all arrears due was issued to him last week for encashment at his local post office.
679.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when disability benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 16 November 1981 and has been paid all disability benefit due from 19 November 1981, fourth day of incapacity, to 14 December 1981, at the maximum appropriate rate.
His entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and payment due, if any, will issue when inquiries are completed.
680.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The application for unemployment assistance from the person concerned has been approved at the weekly rate of £16.70, being the maximum appropriate rate of £51.70 less means of £35.00, with effect from 16 October 1981.
Arrangements have been made to pay all arrears due this week and weekly payments will continue as they fall due.
681.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an unmarried mother's allowance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person claimed a social assistance allowance on 25 November 1981. The case has been sent for investigation and when inquiries have been completed a decision on the claim will be given as quickly as possible.
Pending a decision on her claim she has been advised to apply for supplementary welfare allowance to the local community welfare officer.
682.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is aware that a person (details supplied) in County Offaly has not received unemployment benefit since 10 October 1981; if she is further aware that this person is married with two children and has paid 8-9 years' stamps; if she has contacted the Department of Defence to obtain the necessary details; if so, the date; the reply received; and when payment together with arrears will issue.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 19 October 1981, and it was necessary to inspect the Army discharge papers in connection with his claim to unemployment benefit. It was not necessary to contact the Department of Defence in the matter.
His claim has been authorised at the rate of £55.10 a week from 19 October 1981, increased to £85.86 from 1 November 1981, including £30.76 pay-related benefit and arrangements have been made for payment of all arrears due to be made this week. Further payments will continue to be made weekly as they fall due.