Michael Ring
Question:121 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for free schemes. [10632/99]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Michael Ring
Question:122 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for a disability allowance. [10633/99]
It is proposed to answer Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together.
No application for disability allowance has been received from the person concerned. However, my Department has issued an application form to her and a decision will be given on her claim as soon as it can be determined whether she satisfies the means and medical conditions which apply to the disability allowance scheme.
Free schemes such as free electricity allowance, free TV licence and free telephone rental allowance are available to people, living in the State, aged 66 or over, who are in receipt of a welfare type payment, and who are living alone or with certain specified excepted people. They are also available to certain people with disabilities under that age who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. In addition, widows-widowers between the ages of 60 and 65, whose late spouses had been in receipt of the free schemes, retain that entitlement.
The spouse of the person concerned was in receipt of these free schemes prior to his death. However, he person concerned, who is in receipt of a widow's contributory pension, is not entitled to these allowances as she is under 60 years of age.
If she is awarded disability allowance, she would also be entitled to the free schemes, based on the information supplied in her recent applications for free electricity allowance-free TV licence and free telephone rental allowance.