Jim Higgins
Question:44 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make the free telephone rental scheme available for patients waiting for heart and lung transplants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Free Telephone Rental Allowance.
The free telephone rental allowance scheme applies to people in receipt of social welfare or certain other pensions who are aged 66 or over and to incapacitated people under 66 who are in receipt of a pension or allowance for long term incapacity. To qualify for this allowance the person concerned must be living alone or only with certain excepted persons.
Any extension of the scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context. However, it is open to anyone who, because of exceptional circumstances is in need of temporary assistance to contact his local community welfare officer who may be able to assist through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.