Vol. 413 No. 3
26 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he intends to change the present system of assessment for unemployment assistance whereby applicants under the age of 25 and over the age of 18 are indiscriminately means tested for board and lodgings in their own home; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The value to a claimant of free board and lodgings occurs, in the main, in the assessment of the benefit accruing to a young person living at home and claiming unemployment assistance. It covers the value of accommodation, meals, support and maintenance as well as generally sharing in the standard of living of the household and facilities which the household enjoys. The assessment achieves a degree of equity as between applicants in different household circumstances.
In this year's budget a minimum weekly payment of £5 was introduced for unemployment assistance claimants whose current entitlement is less than £5 and whose only means is the yearly value of free board and lodgings at home.
While the assessment procedure is kept under review there are no plans to remove the assessment. To change the system of assessment of the value of free board and lodgings in the assessment of means would have financial implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context.
30 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether, in the early stages of desertion, a health board is enabled to help the deserted spouse with mortgage repayments when that spouse is dependent on income maintenance from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme a person can receive assistance in the form of a weekly supplement to help meet the cost of rent or mortgage interest payments. Payment of a supplement is a matter for the health board.
In determining whether a mortgage supplement should be paid in a particular case the health board would have regard to, inter alia, the nature of the accommodation and to what arrangements could be entered into with building society or other institution involved. In the absence of details it is not possible to say whether a mortgage supplement would be paid in a particular case.
31 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a decision has been made on the appeal for unemployment assistance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following investigation by a social welfare officer the person's application for unemployment assistance was disallowed by a deciding officer on the grounds that he had failed to show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit for receipt of assistance. He appealed against this decision to the independent social welfare appeals office and an oral hearing of his appeal was held on 9 October 1991. The principal matter at issue is the disposal of sums received by the applicant and his wife by way of compensation payments. Arising from the appeal, authorisations were signed by the person permitting further inquiries to be made in relation to bank and building society accounts. This is being investigaged by the local social welfare officer and the appeal will be determined by the appeals officer immediately these inquiries are completed.
