Vol. 432 No. 4
52 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on whether there is discrimination in relation to the spouses of self-employed people in relation to the assessment of their unemployment assistance whereby any earnings of the self-employed person are taken into account while there is a threshold for those who are employed; and if he intends to redress the imbalance.
In determining the rate of unemployment assistance payable to a person, income earned by their spouse is taken into account. Where the spouse is self-employed the net earnings, after deducting all expenses incurred, are taken into account. Where the spouse is an employed person the amount taken into account is the gross earnings less tax and PRSI contributions, travel costs and a standard disregard of £45 in lieu of other personal expenses. In both cases the resulting figure is assessed. Where the claimant's spouse qualifies as an adult dependant, the amount of unemployment assistance payable is the married rate of assistance less the means. Where the spouse does not qualify as a dependant, the amount payable is the personal rate of assistance less half the means.
I am examining the whole issue of the treatment of working spouses of social welfare recipients. Last week I increased from £55 to £60 the amount which a person can earn and continue to qualify as an adult dependant on their spouse's social welfare payment. I will be addressing, in the context of this examination, the provision for assessing the income of couples in determining means for unemployment assistance purposes.
