asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she will set out in tabular form for each year starting in 1979 (a) the percentage increase in the consumer price index between the date that the last general increase in social welfare payments began to be paid and the date of the next increase; and (b) the percentage increases on the latter date in long term social welfare benefits and in short term social welfare benefits.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Increases.
172.
Social welfare rates increases are calculated to take account of increases during the period of the increased rates. For example, the rates increases in July 1986 are designed to compensate recipients for increases during the period July 1986 to June 1987.
Table 1 shows how social welfare recipients have fared since April 1979.
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in Table 2. However, Table 1 reflects the position of social welfare recipients more correctly.
Table 1
Real Increases in Social Welfare Rates April 1979 - June 1987
|
Year |
Month of |
CPI |
Long Term Rate |
Real |
Short Term Rate |
Real |
|
SW Increase |
% Increase |
% Increase |
% Increase |
% Increase |
% Increase |
|
|
1979 |
April |
7.7% |
16% |
7.7% |
12% |
4% |
|
1979 |
October |
9.5% |
6% |
-3.2% |
6% |
-3.2% |
|
(1979) |
(17.9%) |
(23%) |
(4.3%) |
(18.7%) |
(.7%) |
|
|
1980 |
April |
19.0% |
25% |
5% |
20% |
.8% |
|
1981 |
April |
10.8% |
25% |
12.8% |
20% |
8.3% |
|
October |
8.3% |
3% |
-4.9% |
3% |
-4.9% |
|
|
(1981) |
(20.0%) |
(28.8%) |
(7.3%) |
(23.6%) |
(3.0%) |
|
|
1982 |
April |
16.6% |
25% |
7.2% |
25% |
7.2% |
|
1983 |
July |
7.3% |
12% |
4.4% |
10% |
2.5% |
|
1984 |
July |
5.2% |
7% |
1.7% |
7% |
1.7% |
|
1985 |
July |
3.3%* |
6.5% |
3.1% |
6% |
2.6% |
|
1986 |
July |
0.5% |
4% |
3.5% |
4% |
3.5% |
Real Increases, April 1979 - June 1987:
Long-term rates — approximately 43%
Short-term rates — approximately 24%
The CPI % refers to the increase over the period of the social welfare rates increase i.e. from the date shown.
(*Estimated) The CPI increase for 1986 refers to the estimated change over the period July 1986 to July 1987.
Table 2
|
Year |
Social Welfare Increase in |
Long-Term Rates % Increase |
Short-Term Rates % Increase |
CPI % Increase since last SW Increase |
|
1970 |
April |
16% |
12% |
11.6% |
|
October |
6% |
6% |
7.7% |
|
|
1980 |
April |
25% |
20% |
9.5% |
|
1981 |
April |
25% |
20% |
19.0% |
|
October |
3% |
3% |
10.8% |
|
|
1982 |
April |
25% |
25% |
8.3% |
|
1983 |
July |
12% |
10% |
16.6% |
|
1984 |
July |
7% |
7% |
?.3% |
|
1985 |
July |
6.5% |
6% |
5.2% |
|
1986 |
July |
4% |
4% |
3.3% |