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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Nov 1999

Vol. 509 No. 6

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Michael Ring

Question:

469 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive an increase in unemployment benefit to include payment for her dependant husband and child. [21456/99]

The person concerned has applied for an increase in payment in respect of her husband, who is self-employed, and their child – she is receipt of half-rate child dependant allowance already. Her case has been forwarded to an inspector for a report regarding her husband's level of income from self-employment.

On completion of these inquiries a decision will be given and she will be notified of the outcome.

Willie Penrose

Question:

470 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that people in receipt of carer's allowance will not have this allowance treated as income in determining eligibility for rent allowances under the supplementary welfare allowance system in view of the fact it often deprives applicants of their eligibility for the back to school allowances, footwear allowance and other allowances; if he will take appropriate steps in line with what was done for medical card eligibility in excluding income derived from carer's allowance in the income categories used for calculating or determining eligibility for participating in these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21527/99]

The supplementary welfare allowance – SWA – scheme is generally intended as a short-term payment which is designed to provide immediate assistance for those in need. The SWA scheme is administered on behalf of the Department by the health boards and the Department has no function in deciding entitlement in individual cases.

Those eligible for assistance under the SWA scheme would normally be in receipt of a social welfare or health board payment and would have to satisfy a number of criteria, including a means test. In addition, people with low incomes may also qualify for a weekly supplement to meet certain special needs, for example, rent, diet, heating, or a payment to assist with the cost of any exceptional needs they may have.

The amount of SWA payable in all cases is the difference between the person's means and the minimum weekly income prescribed in legislation for the household type in question. Household income is taken into account and will reduce the amount of SWA payable. Any income above the SWA rate is taken as means unless specific provisions have been made under legislation to disregard certain payments.
While the carer's allowance is assessed as income for the back to school clothing and footwear scheme it is partially disregarded for the purposes of rent and mortgage interest supplements. The amount disregarded when assessing entitlement is the rate of carer's allowance in payment less the current SWA qualified adult dependant allowance where the carer is one of a couple. If the carer is single, the rate of carer's allowance less the personal rate of SWA is disregarded.
A review of the back to school clothing and footwear scheme has recently commenced as part of my Department's series of programme expenditure evaluations. The working group will examine all aspects of the scheme, including the means assessment and the qualifying income limits for the allowance.
In the assessment of means for the medical card, social welfare and health board payments, including carer's allowance, are disregarded. However, to apply a similar type of disregard in relation to SWA rent supplement would have major cost implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context.
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