Vol. 488 No. 7
319 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs whether a person (details supplied) in County Mayo could be approved for the back to work scheme allowance; and if his periods of unemployment and disability will be taken into consideration for the purposes of the back to work scheme. [7345/98]
The objective of the back to work allowance scheme is to provide a financial incentive to long-term unemployed people to return to work. The scheme has a limited number of places and is targeted at people on unemployment payments, one-parent family payment and permanently incapacitated people in receipt of disability allowance.
The person concerned took up employment on 15 September 1997. Prior to this he had been in receipt of disability benefit, since 1 August 1995. Disability benefit is not a qualifying payment for the scheme and the person concerned is, therefore, not entitled to the allowance.
320 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was deducted £20 per week from his benefits in view of his current farming income and the current economic status of the farming industry. [7346/98]
Following a recent review of his entitlements, a deciding officer assessed the weekly means of the person concerned at £20.00 from 11 March 1998, derived from income from a holding. The assessment entitles him to payment at the weekly rate of £100.70.
321 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if maintenance from a separated spouse paid directly towards mortgage on the family home is assessable as means against the wife in determination of her eligibility for one parent family allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7347/98]
When determining a person's entitlement to a one-parent family payment the legislation specifies that all maintenance payments received by the family must be assessed as means. However, verified rent or mortgage payments, up to a maximum of £75 a week, incurred by the client in respect of the family's principal residence can be disregarded in assessing means from maintenance payments. This means disregard applies whether this family housing cost is paid directly by the client or by his or her separated spouse as part of a maintenance arrangement.
