Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Nora Owen
Question:
159
Mrs. Owen
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
if he will extend child benefit to twins where both are going through full-time education after the age of 18 in view of the fact that this is a particularly difficult commitment for twins.
[23491/97]
Child benefit is a universal payment which is payable in respect of all children up to the age of 16 years and continues to be paid in respect of children, until they reach the age of 19, who are in full-time education, or who are physically or mentally challenged. There is no provision for payments under the scheme to any children beyond that age.
The Deputy will be aware that in the 1998 budget, which was announced recently, provision was made for a range of enhancements to the child benefit scheme. For instance, child benefit will be increased by £1.50 per child per month for the first two children and by £3 per child for the third and subsequent children, thus bringing the lower rate up to £31.50 and the higher rate up to £42.
In recognition of the additional costs faced by the parents of twins, the 1998 budget also provides for the payment of child benefit at 150 per cent of the normal monthly rate. The existing grant of £500 which is paid on the birth of twins, and again when the twins reach the ages of four and 12 respectively, will, of course, also continue to be payable.
The enhancements to the child benefit scheme provided for in the 1998 budget will take effect from next September and will cost £28.5 million in a full year.
Child benefit remains one of our most effective means of tackling poverty, as it channels resources directly to families most in need. It is of particular importance to families on low incomes. As it is not taxable, and is not withdrawn when an unemployed parent takes up employment or assessed as means for other secondary benefits such as differential rents, medical cards, etc., it does not act as a disincentive to taking up employment or improving wages. I will continue to seek to develop and enhance the scheme as resources permit and the Deputy's proposal will receive due consideration in that context.
Pat Carey
Question:
160
Mr. P. Carey
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
the examination, if any, which is being undertaken in relation to mixed pro-rata pension scheme for account to be taken of social insurance contributions paid prior to 1953; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23452/97]
To qualify for the old age contributory pension, a person must have entered insurance at least ten years before pension age, have at least 156 contributions paid and have a yearly average of at least 20 contributions, or 24 in the case of a retirement pension, registered since January 1953, when the unified system of social insurance came into effect, or the time they started insurable employment, if later. The yearly average condition was reduced to ten contributions for the new pro-rata old age contributory pension which came into force with effect from 21 November last. To qualify a person with a yearly average of between ten and 19 must have 260 rather than 156 paid contributions.
A mixed insurance pro-rata old age (contributory) and retirement pension was introduced with effect from 28 November 1991 for people with a mixture of full rate and modified rate PRSI and is payable subject, of course, to the person satisfying the specified qualification criteria.
Prior to 1953 three different types of contributions were payable — national health insurance, widow's and orphan's pension and unemployment insurance contributions. These gave specific entitlement only to the benefits of the schemes under which they were paid.
The old age contributory pension scheme was introduced in 1961. Contributions paid by insured persons prior to 1961 did not contain an element in respect of this pension. However, as a concession and to enable persons reaching pension age at that time to qualify immediately for a contributory pension, contributions paid prior to 1953 were taken into account in calculating a person's entitlement to pension. These transitional arrangements operated until 1973. From that date contributions paid prior to 1953 were no longer counted for the purposes of the satisfying of the yearly average test.
However, social insurance paid before 1953 under the National Health Insurance Acts can be taken into account for old age contributory pension and mixed insurancepro-rata pensions in satisfying the first two conditions, set out in the first paragraph above, but cannot be used in calculating the yearly average.
Dan Neville
Question:
161
Mr. Neville
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
the current position in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who was guaranteed that he would obtain and regain all his benefits, including a 1997 Christmas bonus, when he had completed the FAS community employment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23453/97]
Dan Neville
Question:
162
Mr. Neville
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
the current position in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who was guaranteed that he would obtain and regain all his benefits including a Christmas bonus when he had completed the FAS community employment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23454/97]
The persons concerned were employed on a community employment scheme up to 21 November 1997. While employed on the scheme they were, on foot of provisions made in April 1996, insured at the full Class A rate of PRSI and on their return to the live register, they qualified for unemployment benefit at the full rate rather than long-term unemployment assistance. A Christmas bonus is payable only with long-term social welfare payments and is not payable with unemployment benefit.
While I recognise the difficulties faced by community employment workers who requalify for unemployment benefit when their community employment period finishes, I cannot introduce special arrangements for them without having equal regard to the position of other short-term social welfare payment recipients. Any such arrangements would, accordingly, carry a very high cost and could only be considered in light of available resources.
