Vol. 504 No. 5
145 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the proposals, if any, he has to change the means test for pre-retirement pensioners to allow a person to earn a small personal income or have a living alone allowance where appropriate. [12436/99]
Pre-retirement allowance is a means-tested payment which allows a person aged 55 or over to retire from the labour force and receive a weekly allowance. The person must be in receipt of a long-term unemployment payment, or be no longer entitled to one-parent family payment or carer's allowance or be separated from his or her spouse and have not engaged in employment or self-employment for the preceding 15 months.
In order to qualify for pre-retirement allowance a person must retire from the workforce and thus will not receive earnings from insurable employment. However, the first £2,000 of savings, the value of investments or any property owned by the applicant other than his or her own home are not assessed as means. There are no plans at present to change the means test for the pre-retirement allowance.
A person who qualifies for pre-retirement allowance is also entitled to butter vouchers and may be entitled to a fuel allowance, assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme and a medical card from the health board.
The purpose of the living alone allowance of £6 per week is to recognise the extra cost of living alone. It is payable as an addition to weekly social welfare pensions to people aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of certain social welfare-type payments, and who reside alone. The living alone allowance is not payable in conjunction with a pre-retirement allowance.
