Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 6

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Michael Ring

Question:

304 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the level of reduction a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in receipt of a carer's allowance for two persons where one of those persons has died can expect to receive in his allowance benefit. [6961/99]

Carer's allowance is payable at a rate of 150 per cent of the maximum rate, less means, where a carer is caring for two or more persons. The person concerned has been receiving carer's allowance at a rate of £84.30 a week in respect of two pensioners, taking account of his means of £30.96 derived from the net yearly value of a holding.

Following the death of one of the pensioners on 13 January 1999, the person concerned is now entitled to carer's allowance at the reduced rate of £47.50 a week.

The Department has issued a revised carer's allowance book to his local post office, payable at the reduced weekly rate of £47.50 with effect from 4 March 1999.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

305 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the entitlement to unemployment assistance for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has been reduced by the amount of his wife's earnings from casual house cleaning; if he has satisfied himself that this represents equitable treatment in circumstances where no other employment is available to the claimant's spouse; the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that these casual earnings are disregarded for unemployment benefit purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6998/99]

Under the legislation governing unemployment assistance any income from self-employment of either the claimant or his spouse must be assessed as means. Account is taken in this connection of any expenses associated with the self-employment.

The person concerned, who is in receipt of unemployment assistance since 1984 is self-employed as a cabinet maker and his wife as a cleaner. He is assessed with means of £37 per week derived from his own net earnings of £5 per week and his wife's net earnings of £32 per week. This assessment has been upheld by an appeals officer.

In assessing means from self-employment for unemployment assistance purposes any expenses incurred are deducted from the assessment. There are no plans to change the method of assessment of earnings from self-employment for the purposes of the unemployment assistance scheme.

Further investigations are taking place into the circumstances of the employment in this case and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

306 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford whose social welfare insurance record includes no contributions or credits since 1973 and who has been ill for many years but unable to claim any payment owing to his wife's income, can be awarded credits if medical certificates concerning his health are submitted to his Department; if so, if backdated medical evidence will be accepted for credit purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6999/99]

Contributions are credited in respect of any contribution week of duly notified incapacity for work. However, credited contributions cannot be awarded where a person has no contributions paid or credited for two years, until 26 contributions are again paid on his behalf.

According to medical evidence the person's incapacity for work commenced in July 1987. The records of my Department show the person has no contributions paid or credited since 1973. In line with the above legislation, therefore, he would not qualify for the award of credited contributions in respect of his incapacity from 1987.

The person concerned also applied for disability allowance. While he satisfies the medical criteria for the award of the allowance, his means exceed the statutory limit and, accordingly, he does not qualify for payment of the allowance.
Top
Share