Brendan Howlin
Question:53 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when he intends that the new payments to be announced in the budget will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20558/97]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The 1997 budget provided for the introduction of a range of improvements in the social welare system, including as follows:
(a) the introduction of two new payments — the widower's (non-contributory) pension and sickness allowance;
(b) the extension of maternity and adpotive benefit to the self-employed;
(c) an extension of the disability allowance scheme to provide for the payment of the allowance at half-rate to persons in part-time residential care;
(d) a revision in the method of assessing capital for various social welfare payments;
(e) the continued payment of qualified adult allowance on a tapering basis for recipients of unemployment benefit and assistance, disability allowance, injury benefit, disability benefit and pre-retirement allowance where the spouse's earnings are between £60 and £90; and
(f) a 50 per cent increase in the level of carer's allowance payable where a carer is caring for more than one person.
The majority of the improvements provided for in the 1997 budget have already taken effect. For example, the 50 per cent increase in the rate of carer's allowance and the extensions of disability allowance to people in part-time residential care and maternity and adoptive benefit to the self-employed were introduced with effect from early June, while the new widower's (non-contributory) pension was introduced with effect from 17 October. However, the sickness allowance scheme has still to be introduced.
Under current Social Welfare provisions, disability benefit (DB) is payable to persons who are temporarily incapable of work due to illness or injury and who fulfil the contributory requirements. However, there is no provision in the social welfare code at present for an analogous means-tested social assistance payment for people who have insufficient contributions to qualify for DB. The needs of people within this category are at present catered for by supplementary welfare allowance. This years budget provided for the completion of the cover available for people who are unable to work due to illness or injury, with the introduction of a new social assistance payment — sickness allowance.
It was originally envisaged that the sickness allowance scheme would commence this year. However, it has been found that the level of computer systems development work which would be required to introduce this scheme is such that it could jeopardise the critical work which it is necessary to undertake in order to ensure that all the Department's computer based payments systems are fully prepared for the Year 2000. In the circumstances, it has been necessary to defer the introducton of the sickness allowance scheme for the present. I will be reviewing the position in mid-1998 in the light of progress on Year 2000 preparations.
I should point out however, that all of those who would qualify for this new payment, are currently catered for under existing social welfare payments, such as supplementary welfare allowance and will not lose out as a result of the deferred implementation.