asked the Minister for Social Welfare the guidelines under which social welfare officers make their assessments on applicants for social welfare; if all expenses are taken into account in the cases of small farmers and business people; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Assessment of Social Welfare Applicants.
51.
Social welfare officers investigate the means and circumstances of applicants for a range of social welfare schemes such as unemployment assistance, family income supplement, rent allowance and the various non-contributory pension schemes and social assistance allowances.
The rules governing the calculation of means are contained in the Social Welfare Acts and in regulations made under those Acts. In general, these rules provide that in assessing means the main items taken into account are cash income, the value of property personally used, such as a farm but not the applicant's own home, the value of property not personally used, such as a second house, and the value of investments and capital.
The yearly value of any benefit or privilege enjoyed, such as board and lodgings, is also assessable in the case of applicants for unemployment assistance or single women's allowance. Circular instructions and guidelines on the application and interpretation of the law, as they relate to means assessment, are issued to social welfare officers from time to time as the need arises.
As regards the assessment of means of the self-employed, for instance small farmers, the position is that means are assessed under the legislation as the yearly value of the advantage accruing from their farm or businesses. The calculation is done on an income and expenditure basis and represents the net income from the farm or business. In assessing that income all expenses actually and necessarily incurred are taken into account.
The means test is designed to ensure that all applicants for payments under schemes involving a means test are treated in an equitable manner having regard to the resources available to them. I am satisfied that the present system of means assessment, as applied to all applicants, including small farmers and business people, ensures that payments are made only to those who are in genuine need and is directly related to the financial circumstances in each particular case.
Where an applicant is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed, it is open to him or her to appeal and have the case determined by an appeals officer. A person can, in addition, ask at any time to have the means assessment reviewed to take account of any change of circumstances which may have occurred in the meantime.