Vol. 490 No. 7
200 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will extend the concession for earnings by an adult dependant which applies to disability benefit, for incomes in the range £60-£90, to invalidity pension; when the £60 threshold was last increased; and if he will consider applying indexation according to inflation over the intervening period. [11005/98]
With effect from 27 November 1997, regulations provide for the tapered withdrawal of the qualified adult allowance for people getting unemployment benefit, unemployment assistance, disability benefit, disability allowance, pre-retirement allowance, injury benefit and unemployability supplement. Under these arrangements, if the person getting the social welfare payment is on the maximum rate, and their spouse or partner is earning between £60 and £90, the increase in respect of the qualified adult is payable as follows:
|
Spouse's Income |
SW Increase |
|
£ |
|
|
Income up to £60 |
40.00 |
|
Income between £60.01 and £65.00 |
34.00 |
|
Income between £65.01 and £70.00 |
28.00 |
|
Income between £70.01 and £75.00 |
22.00 |
|
Income between £75.01 and £80.00 |
16.00 |
|
Income between £80.01 and £85.00 |
10.00 |
|
Income between £85.01 and £90.00 |
4.00 |
|
Income above £90.00 |
nil |
201 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs further to a meeting held on 29 April 1998 regarding the methods employed to means test persons in north Mayo, the individuals who attended this meeting; the outcome of the meeting; the changes, if any, he proposes to make in relation to means testing; and his views on whether there is an excess of social welfare officers means testing people in the north Mayo area. [11010/98]
On Wednesday, 29 April 1998, I met a delegation from north Mayo arranged by the Fianna Fáil Oireachtas Members for the area. I was accompanied by two officials from my Department.
The group outlined to me the position regarding smallholders living in north Mayo who are in receipt of a payment from my Department. During the course of the meeting a number of proposals were put forward by the group and I have asked that these proposals be examined by my Department.
In this connection I recently announced, with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, improvements in the method of assessing compensation payments under the rural environment protection scheme designed to improve take-up under that scheme especially by smallholders on social assistance payments. Under the revised arrangements, the first £2,000 is disregarded, with the balance being assessed at 50 per cent rather than on a full pound for pound basis as previously. This means, for example, that a farmer who receives a REPS payment of £4,000 will now be £1,000 better off. This represents a significant improvement in income support for those involved.
These improvements also apply to the compensation scheme for compliance with special areas of conservation conditions, which is operated by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and to the enhanced REPS payments for those in SAC areas. I understand that a considerable amount of land in County Mayo has been designated and, therefore, smallholders in these areas will be the major beneficiaries from these improvements.
202 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs whether he has reviewed the additional increment payment to invalidity pensioners over and above sickness benefit in recent years; his views on whether this increment is sufficient to meet the needs of persons who are permanently incapable of work; and if he will consider increasing this amount. [11265/98]
The policy of the Government on the level of social welfare payments has been to progressively increase the rates to the levels recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare. Partnership 2000 contains a commitment that the minimum rates recommended by the CSW will be implemented before the end of the partnership — 1999. This policy is also in line with the views of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, which recommended, in relation to payment levels for people with disabilities, that the rates recommended by the CSW should be achieved as a matter of priority.
The increases in the rates of payment, which will take effect from June, will mean that the majority of social welfare payments, including invalidity pension and disability benefit, comprising 94 per cent of the recipients will be above the minimum rates recommended by the CSW.
Following the increases in the weekly rates of payment from June, a single invalidity pensioner aged under 66 years will be £1.70 better off than a person in receipt of disability benefit. The special increase of £5 a week, which has been provided in this year's budget for old age pensioners, will mean that an invalidity pensioner aged 65 or over will be £12.50 better off. An invalidity pensioner couple under 65 years will be £7 better off, while a couple aged 65 or over will be £17.80 better off. The differential between the invalidity pension and disability benefit would be further increased where there are child dependants.
