Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Dec 1988

Vol. 385 No. 7

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.

83.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the various categories of social welfare payments; the estimated cost in (a) 1989 and (b) annually of increases under each heading for each payment of (1) each 1 per cent (2) each £1 per week increase in the case of weekly payments and (3) each £1 per month increase in the case of monthly payments.

The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following tables:

(a) Estimated cost in 1989

(1)

(2)

Category of Social Welfare payment

1 per cent increase

£1 increase

£ million

£ million

Social Insurance (Weekly Payments)

Invalidity pension

0.470

0.670

Retirement pension

0.730

1.010

Old Age contributory pension

1.190

1.740

Widow's contributory pension and Orphan's con- tributory allowance

1.080

1.920

Deserted Wife's benefit

0.160

0.210

Disability benefit

1.010

1.680

Maternity allowance

0.010

0.100

Unemployment benefit

1.050

1.720

Total Social Insurance

5.700

9.050

Social Assistance (Weekly Payments)

Old age and blind pensions (non-contributory)

1.470

2.830

Widow's and Orphan's (non-contributory) pensions

0.250

0.440

Deserted wives' allowances

0.078

0.130

Unmarried mothers' allowances

0.235

0.380

Prisoners wives' allowances

0.004

0.010

Single women's allowances

0.023

0.060

Unemployment assistance (including smallholders)

2.200

3.520

Supplementary welfare allowance

0.140

0.280

Monthly Payments

Child benefit

1.500

10.400

Total Social Assistance

5.900

18.050

Occupational Injuries Insurance

0.100

0.200

Total Insurance and Assistance

11.700

27.300

(b) Estimated annual cost

(1)

(2)

Category of Social Welfare payment

1 per cent increase

£1 increase

£ million

£ million

Social Insurance (Weekly Payments)

Invalidity pension

1.07

1.52

Retirement pension

1.65

2.29

Old Age contributory pension

2.69

3.94

Widow's contributory pension and Orphan's con- tributory allowance

2.45

4.34

Deserted Wife's benefit

0.36

0.48

Disability benefit

2.28

3.80

Maternity allowance

0.02

0.23

Unemployment benefit

2.38

3.90

Total Social Insurance

12.90

20.50

Social Assistance (Weekly Payments)

Old age and blind pensions (non-contributory)

3.31

6.40

Widow's and Orphan's (non-contributory) pensions

0.56

1.00

Deserted wives' allowances

0.17

0.29

Unmarried mothers' allowances

0.53

0.86

Prisoners wives' allowances

0.01

0.02

Single women's allowances

0.05

0.14

Unemployment assistance (including smallholders)

4.96

7.96

Supplementary welfare allowance

0.31

0.63

Monthly Payments

Child benefit

2.00

13.90

Total Social Assistance

11.90

31.20

Occupational Injuries Insurance

0.20

0.50

Total Insurance and Assistance

25.00

52.20

Notes: The costings for 1989 assume an operative date of late July in the case of weekly payments and an operative date of 1 April in the case of child benefit.

It has been assumed that the 1 per cent increase in weekly payments will apply to all elements of the payments including adults and child dependant rates.

The cost of the £1 increase in weekly rates has been calculated by reference to personal rates only.

Top
Share