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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Ivan Yates

Question:

58 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proposals, if any, he has to provide unemployment benefit for self-employed people who find themselves temporarily unemployed, who cannot satisfy the means test for assistance and who may be obliged to give up work arising out of this; and if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who finds himself in this circumstance has any entitlement to unemployment benefit.

The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment assistance at the rate of £54.10 per week based on a means assessment of £79 per week, derived from self-employment.

He requested a review of his means. The review has been completed and he has been assessed with weekly means of £138, derived from self-employment and a small amount of capital. The revised assessment will be effective from 9 March 1994.

As the revised means exceed the maximum rate of assistance payable in his case of £133.10 per week he will not be entitled to assistance from 9 March.

The person concerned does not satisfy the contribution conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit, in particular, he does not have the necessary 39 paid or credited contributions in the relevant contribution year 1992-1993. Self-employed persons with income in excess of £2,500 per annum are insured under the social insurance system for old age and widow's pension purposes and pay a contribution at the Class S rate. They are not covered for unemployment benefit.

Unemployment benefit is intended to provide an employee with a replacement income in the event of involuntary loss of employment. An employee, by definition, supports himself-herself through earnings from employment. Loss of employment in such a case generally occurs as a result of a decision by the employer and the person is therefore in need of income maintenance. This is supplied through unemployment benefit.

In the case of a self-employed person, the overall income position rather than the week-to-week earnings is the relevant factor in regard to his-her need for income maintenance. The position of such a person between jobs would not be regarded as unemployment in the sense in which that term applies to employees.

Bernard Allen

Question:

59 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will investigate a situation whereby the Southern Health Board are stating that assistance towards nursing home fees is not provided for under the supplementary allowance welfare scheme; if he will reconsider this in view of the fact that persons helping towards their parents maintenance prior to January 1994, had no assistance offered to them by his Departments but were helping the health boards throughout the country in alleviating pressure on beds.

Legislation governing the supplementary welfare allowance scheme provides that an allowance shall not be paid to or in respect of a person who is maintained in an institution such as a nursing home.

The provision of subventions for nursing homes is the responsibility of the Minister for Health. The Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990 provides for the payment of subvention in respect of dependent elderly people who require nursing home care but cannot afford it. Subvention is paid subject to assessments of the person's dependency, means and circumstances.

John Browne

Question:

61 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to raise the present cut-off point of 15 years of age where widows or widowers have free telephone rental.

In order to qualify for a free telephone rental allowance, the applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and must satisfy the living alone condition of the scheme. Normally, the applicant is not deemed to be living alone if he or she is living with someone who is able to summon help in an emergency. Children living with the applicant are not considered to be able to summon help when they are under 15 years of age but the entitlement to the allowance ceases when a child reaches 15 years. This has been the position since the scheme was introduced in 1978. Raising the age limit would have cost implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context.

Ivor Callely

Question:

62 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the approximate number of people who are unable to avail of full or any benefit due to the 1984 regulation; the estimated costs if full benefit were to be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

It is not evident from the question which specific provision of the Social Welfare Code the Deputy has in mind. I would suggest that the Deputy contact my office directly and I will arrange to have the required information povided to him.

Ivor Callely

Question:

63 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total costs in 1994 to extend the six weeks payment after death of adult dependants to social welfare recipients; the categories of recipients that qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Arising out of the 1994 budget, payment of the adult dependant allowance is being continued for six weeks after the death of an adult dependant in the case of retirement pension, old age (contributory) pension, old age (non-contributory) pension, pre-retirement allowance and invalidity pension. All social welfare payments now provide this six weeks after death cover.

It is estimated that the extension of six weeks payment after death of adult dependants will cost £230,000 in 1994 and £500,000 in a full year.

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