Tony Gregory
Question:265 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to increase the income limit of £60 for partners of persons in receipt of an invalidity pension. [18310/96]
Written Answers. - Invalidity Pension.
Under existing provisions, an increase is payable in respect of a spouse or partner as an adult dependant where the spouse or partner is not in receipt of a social welfare payment in his or her own right and does not have income in excess of £60 per week. Increasing the present limit of £60 would not resolve the problems associated with the current arrangements whereby a beneficiary loses entitlement to both the adult dependant allowance and half of any increases payable in respect of dependant children, where the earnings of a spouse or partner exceeds the income limit. A more effective arrangement might be to introduce a gradual or tapered withdrawal of the adult dependant allowance where the income of the spouse or partner is within specified income limits. Any changes along these lines would have substantial cost implications and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.