Vol. 448 No. 3
154 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the cost of commission on currency exchange is taken into account in the calculation of British pensions for means purposes in Ireland, in view of the fact that a standard exchange rate is altered every three months, whereas in conversion of a pension to Irish money, as well as exchange rate a social welfare recipient would be charged commission by a bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2031/95]
A person in receipt of a British pension may also be entitled, if aged 66 or over, to an Irish Old Age (non-contributory) Pension. The British pension would count as means for this purpose converted to Irish pounds by reference to an average exchange rate used by my Department.
No bank charges are specifically taken into account in the assessment of means for social welfare entitlement. However, banks generally operate free banks services for people over 60 years of age who bank with them. These people are not required to pay any bank charges including commission charges.
For those British pensioners who do not have bank accounts and who are in receipt of an Irish Old Age (non-contributory) Pension, the banding arrangement in the payment structure of this pension (details attached) allows for small adjustments in weekly means. This, in most cases, would take account of commission charges without the requirement of a corresponding change in the rate of the Irish Old Age (non-contributory) Pension.
|
Where the weekly means as assessed by the Department are: |
Rate per week |
Increase per week for adult dependant |
|
Up to £6.00 |
£61.00 |
£36.60 |
|
Over £6.00 and up to £8.00 |
£59.00 |
£35.60 |
|
Over £8.00 and up to £10.00 |
£57.00 |
£34.60 |
|
Over £10.00 and up to £12.00 |
£55.00 |
£33.60 |
|
Over £12.00 and up to £14.00 |
£53.00 |
£32.60 |
|
Over £14.00 and up to £16.00 |
£51.00 |
£31.60 |
|
Over £16.00 and up to £18.00 |
£49.00 |
£30.60 |
|
Over £18.00 and up to £20.00 |
£47.00 |
£29.60 |
|
Over £20.00 and up to £22.00 |
£45.00 |
£28.60 |
|
Over £22.00 and up to £24.00 |
£43.00 |
£27.60 |
|
Over £24.00 and up to £26.00 |
£41.00 |
£26.60 |
|
Over £26.00 and up to £28.00 |
£39.00 |
£25.60 |
|
Over £28.00 and up to £30.00 |
£37.00 |
£24.60 |
|
Over £30.00 and up to £32.00 |
£35.00 |
£23.60 |
|
Over £32.00 and up to £34.00 |
£33.00 |
£22.60 |
|
Over £34.00 and up to £36.00 |
£31.00 |
£21.60 |
|
Over £36.00 and up to £38.00 |
£29.00 |
£20.60 |
|
Over £38.00 and up to £40.00 |
£27.00 |
£19.60 |
|
Over £40.00 and up to £42.00 |
£25.00 |
£18.60 |
|
Over £42.00 and up to £44.00 |
£23.00 |
£17.60 |
|
Over £44.00 and up to £46.00 |
£21.00 |
£16.60 |
|
Over £46.00 and up to £48.00 |
£19.00 |
£15.60 |
|
Over £48.00 and up to £50.00 |
£17.00 |
£14.60 |
|
Over £50.00 and up to £52.00 |
£15.00 |
£13.60 |
|
Over £52.00 and up to £54.00 |
£13.00 |
£12.60 |
|
Over £54.00 and up to £56.00 |
£11.00 |
£11.60 |
|
Over £56.00 and up to £58.00 |
£ 9.00 |
£10.60 |
|
Over £58.00 and up to £60.00 |
£ 7.00 |
£ 9.60 |
|
Over £60.00 and up to £62.00 |
£ 5.00 |
£ 8.60 |
|
Over £62.00 and up to £64.00 |
£ 3.00 |
£ 7.60 |
|
Over £64.00 |
Nil |
Nil |
