Vol. 487 No. 6
176 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the tax status of blind person's pension in contrast to unemployment assistance which has been highlighted by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he has received or sought a view on these issues from the Ombudsman. [4982/98]
The blind person's pension is taxable under section 19 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997. Treating the blind person's pension as income for tax purposes is merely to treat it in the same way as other social welfare pensions. Unemployment assistance is not chargeable to tax under current income tax legislation. I would remind the Deputy that in the recent budget I announced an increase in the blind person's income tax allowance of £300 to £1,000 for a single person or married couple where one spouse is blind and an increase of £400 to £2,000 for a married couple where both spouses are blind.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the Office of the Ombudsman has been in contact with them by telephone requesting details of the facts of this particular case. In response, the Revenue Commissioners have supplied copies of letters which issued to the taxpayer by the tax office setting out his tax position.
