Liam Aylward
Question:58 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason an application for optical benefit was refused to a person (details supplied) in Kilkenny.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The application for optical benefit from the person concerned was disallowed because, according to the records of my Department, the person did not satisfy the relevant contributions conditions. However, it now appears that the information supplied to my Department in respect of the 1990-91 contribution year is incorrect and as soon as this is established the person's claim for optical benefit will be approved.
Liam Aylward
Question:59 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the full rate of child dependant allowance is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in Kilkenny in view of the fact that all maintenance paid in respect of this child is being assessed as means against her mother.
The person concerned is in receipt of unemployment assistance of £32.50 per week being the long-term rate for herself and half rate increase for one child dependant less means of £25 derived from maintenance payments by her separated husband.
Where a couple are living apart and no adult dependant increase is payable, the legislation specifically provides for the payment of full child dependant increases where the other spouse makes no child support contribution. Up to now, the legislation has been interpreted to mean that half child dependant increase only would be payable where the other spouse does make a contribution towards child support.
It is considered that this interpretation is inequitable and, in the circumstances, it results in a claimant's income from unemployment assistance and child support being less than what they would receive in unemployment assistance were they not receiving any child support. Accordingly, I have arranged for the payment in future of full child dependant increases in these cases. This will ensure that there is no financial penalty on claimants who are in receipt of contributions towards child support.
The person concerned will, therefore, benefit by £5.50 per week from this improvement and her weekly payments will increase from £32.50 to £38.00. Arrears will issue shortly.