Vol. 468 No. 4
747 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason back-to-school payments have been refused to a parent (details supplied) in spite of the fact that these payments have been made for the past few years, her gross pay is £119 per week, she has two children and a weekly mortgage payment of £39.32; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15572/96]
The back to school clothing and footwear scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards, is designed to assist recipients of social welfare and health board payments with the cost of children's school uniforms and footwear. People on low incomes who are in receipt of family income supplements may also qualify for assistance.
In order to qualify for the allowance, the applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and must satisfy a means test. The means test takes account of any income over and above the appropriate rate of survivor's — widow's and widower's — contributory pension plus £5 where the guardian is single, and contributory old age pension plus £5 where the guardian is one of a couple. Where the income of a household exceeds these limits, the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance is not payable.
