Vol. 447 No. 11
228 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to pay adequate social welfare to young people who are living at home regardless of whether the parents work or not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1282/95]
Unemployment Assistance is paid to unemployed people who have no entitlement to insurance based benefit. Payments are means-tested to ensure that those most in need receive the payment. Social welfare legislation provides for the assessment of any benefit or privilege enjoyed by an applicant for Unemployment Assistance such as the benefit of board and lodging in the family home.
The assessment of free board and lodging has been a feature of the Unemployment Assistance scheme since its inception. Its purpose is to achieve a degree of equity between applicants in different family circumstances e.g. between applicants whose parents are employed and those who are dependent on social welfare payments. Otherwise, people living in affluent circumstances would become entitled to the same level of assistance as those whose circumstances are poor.
Any person whose sole means are derived from the benefit of board and lodging in the parental home and is entitled to a payment of less than £10 has his/her weekly payment increased to £10.
I am committed to improving the present system, where feasible, and having regard to budgetary constraints, in order to extend a greater degree of financial independence to young unemployed people living at home.
