Vol. 501 No. 5
96 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will amend the criteria to qualify for a death grant in relation to an insured person being born before 22 March 1901; if he will agree to have no date limit in view of the number of people this affects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6529/99]
The death grant was introduced in October 1970 to help families meet the costs of funeral expenses. The contribution conditions for entitlement to a grant were based on social insurance contributions paid after the date of introduction.
To qualify for a death grant a person must have been insured since 1 October 1970. If the person concerned was born before 22 March 1901 no grant would have been payable in respect of the death as s/he would have been over pensionable age in 1970 and would not have been in a position to make contributions towards the scheme.
I have recently announced changes in the death grant, which is being redesigned and upgraded by increasing the amount payable fivefold from £100 to £500; improving the coverage by easing the qualifying contribution conditions and extending the scheme to other PRSI contributors; and renaming the scheme to bereavement grant.
The new arrangements will apply in respect of deaths on or after 2 February 1999.
There will now be no "born before a certain date" condition. The bereavement grant will be payable provided the contribution conditions are met and the death occurs on or after 2 February 1999.
If the Deputy has a specific case in mind, I will have this investigated if he supplies the details.
These improvements, at an estimated cost of £10 million in a full year, are the first step in the development of a new and improved bereavement allowance. Other schemes, including the six week payments after death arrangements will be reviewed further in 1999.
