asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the guidelines used by Social Welfare officers in the calculating of means for small farmers when applying for benefits; whether these assumed profit margins for each farming enterprise are grossly out of line with reality; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Eligibility of Small Farmers.
73.
The guidelines issued to social welfare officers, for the purpose of calculating the means of small farmers in relation to unemployment assistance, were outlined by a previous Minister on 18 May, 1984 in the debate on the Social Welfare Vote. The same guidelines continue to apply, not only to unemployment assistance, but to other assistance schemes operated by my Department.
The Social Welfare legislation requires that the assessment of means should represent the yearly value of the advantage a farmer derives from his holding and that normally this yearly value be determined by reference to the nett income from the holding in the 12 months preceding the date of investigation by a social welfare officer. That nett income is not based on standard units of production or on any notional inputs or outputs but normally represents the difference in the particular 12 months period between the gross output of the farm and the costs and expenses necessarily and actually incurred in achieving that output. The profit margins from each farming enterprise are reflected in the nett income and are based on current market values for produce, stock and inputs.
While the assessment itself is not a precise conventional accounting exercise the details of income and expenditure for the previous year are basic to it. In making an assessment of means under the guidelines, however, any unusual factors or changes in circumstances which have occurred to the claimant's circumstances in the meantime are taken into account. The final assessments are made by deciding officers and any person who is dissatisfied with his assessment has the right to have the circumstances of his case referred to an appeals officer.