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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 4

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefit.

John Connor

Question:

187 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on whether widows under 66 years who live alone and whose sole income is widows pension are unfairly treated under the Social Welfare Acts since they do not qualify for (1) the living alone allowance (2) the electricity allowance and (3) the free telephone rental allowance or for any other concessions payable to other pensioners; and if he intends to extend some or all of these schemes to recipients of the widows pensions.

Free travel is available to all persons aged 66 years and over and to persons under that age who are blind or are permanently incapacitated and in receipt of certain social security type payments. Entitlement under the other free schemes administered by my Department is confined to the elderly or permanently incapacitated who are receiving certain social security type payments and who are living alone or only with excepted persons. The living alone allowance is payable to recipients of certain social security type payments who are living alone and who are 66 years and over. All these entitlements are available to widows who meet the requirements set out above.

Extension of the free schemes and the living alone allowance to people generally under 66 years of age or in particular to such people on widows pension would have cost implications and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

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