Vol. 512 No. 2
138 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason parents of an 18 year old attending second level school receive no extra payment to maintain him in their unemployment benefit while they are paid family allowance for the same child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25719/99]
Child benefit is paid up to age 16 or up to age 19 if the child is in full-time education or where the child has a physical or mental disability.
In addition, families at greatest risk of poverty receive income support up to age 22 in respect of children in full-time education. Child dependant allowances are payable in respect of all children up to the age of 18 years; however, where a claimant is in receipt of a long-term social welfare payment, child dependant allowances are payable where children are in full-time education up to the age of 22 years, or up to the end of the academic year after the 22nd birthday.
This applies to long-term payments, such as pensions, only; it does not apply to short-term payments such as disability benefit, unemployment benefit, short-term unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance.
The more favourable treatment of people on long-term payments is in recognition of the fact that families with children on long-term payments face a higher risk of poverty.
