Vol. 486 No. 4
52 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will correct the anomaly where recipients of unemployment benefit are not entitled to claim for children over 18 years of age who are still in full-time education. [2705/98]
59 Mrs. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will have arrangements made to ensure payment of child dependant allowances to recipients of short-term social welfare payments, such as disability benefit, in relation to students over 18 in full-time education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2686/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 59 together.
Child dependant allowances are payable in respect of all children up to the age of 18 years. Where a claimant is in receipt of a long-term social welfare payment, child dependant allowances are payable where children are in full-time education up to the age of 22 years, or up to the end of the academic year after the 22nd birthday. This applies to long-term payments (such as pensions) only; it does not apply to short-term payments such as disability benefit, unemployment benefit, short-term unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance. The favourable treatment of people on long-term payments is in recognition of the fact that families with children on long-term payments face a higher risk of poverty.
The Deputy will be aware that the thrust of child income support policy in recent years has been to target resources towards providing increases in child benefit, as part of a strategy aimed at ensuring that child income support is more neutral vis-a-vis the employment status of the parents. Child benefit remains one of our more 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.
In the 1998 budget this policy direction has been continued through further enhancement of the child benefit scheme. Child benefit will be increased by £1.50 per child per month for the first two children and by £3.00 per child for the third and subsequent children, thus bringing the lower rate up to £31.50 and the higher rate up to £42.00. In addition to special supplementary payment in respect of twins will be introduced. These measures will take effect from next September.
