asked the Minister for Defence the justification for applying a means test in respect of pensions of widows of veterans and in particular a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7, as the pension is such that it could not under any circumstances provide a living income.
Written Answers. - Pension Means Test.
241.
There is no means test in connection with the grant of an allowance under the Army Pensions Acts to the widow of a veteran who dies while in receipt of a military service pension, wound pension, disability pension or special allowance. In 1982 arrangements were introduced for the grant of an allowance to the widow of a veteran who was not at any time in receipt of a special allowance provided that the yearly means of the widow do not equal or exceed the sum prescribed for the award of a special allowance. The purpose of the allowance in such a case is to assist the person who is in needy circumstances by supplementing that person's means where the means do not equal or exceed the prescribed annual sum.
An application by the person referred to in the Deputy's question for the allowance could not be granted as her means exceeded the sum prescribed for the award of a special allowance.