Vol. 488 No. 7
308 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on whether an anomaly exists when a pensioner, whose wife gains in excess of £60 to £90 per week, is disallowed an adult dependant allowance at £91 per week but, if that pensioner has substantial funds himself, he continues to receive an adult dependant allowance in respect of his wife even though he does not require same. [7013/98]
The entitlement to a qualified adult allowance to a pensioner is based on the dependency of the qualified adult to that pensioner while entitlement to the old age (contributory) or retirement pension itself is based on the individual's own social insurance record satisfying the minimum qualifying criteria.
For a person in receipt of a contributory social welfare pension to qualify for a qualified adult allowance in respect of his-her spouse, he-she must be wholly or mainly maintaining the spouse. A spouse is regarded as wholly or mainly maintained where his or her income is not greater than £60 per week. In the case of savings, for example, this would allow for a person to have capital of up to £32,800 approximately and still be regarded for social welfare legislation purposes as a qualified adult. Where, however, a spouse's income is greater than £60 per week, the qualified adult allowance is not payable.
The tapering of the qualified adult allowance for dependant spouses with income of between £60 and £90 applies only to the following payments: disability benefit, unemployment benefit, injury benefit, unemployability supplement, unemployment assistance, pre-retirement allowance and disability allowance.
Any income of the person in receipt of the contributory pension is not taken into account in determining whether the qualified adult allowance is payable — only the income of the spouse himself-herself is taken into account in that regard.
