Vol. 402 No. 10
5 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will introduce equal payments to both spouses in families in receipt of social welfare payments where there is agreement for divided payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Up to now the amount payable to the spouse of a UA/UB recipient by way of separate payment arrangements has consisted of the amount payable in respect of an adult dependant and qualified child dependants. I have recently made regulations which provide for a change in the method of determining the "split" in the case of a couple living together where separate payment arrangements apply.
Under the new provisions, the amount payable to each spouse by way of separate payment will be half of the appropriate married rate of UA/UB i.e. half the sum of the personal and adult dependant rate. In addition, the spouse with care of any qualified child dependants will receive the full amount payable in respect of these. I trust that these new arrangements meet the Deputy's concern.
