asked the Minister for Social Welfare if there are any proposals to reduce the age of eligibility for living alone allowances for widows, pensioners and invalidity pensioners.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
365.
The living alone allowance is payable to all pensioners, including widow and invalidity pensioners, aged 66 years and over who are living entirely on their own. It was designed to meet the special needs of elderly persons living alone which they have to provide out of a single income.
It is not the intention in present circumstances to reduce the age of eligibility for the allowance.
366.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if there are any proposals to alter the supplementary welfare system.
As I have already announced I intend to appoint a review group to examine the social welfare code generally including the operation of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. When I have the report of the group I will then consider what alterations to the supplementary welfare allowance scheme may be desirable.