Bernard J. Durkan
Question:604 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1487/00]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The person concerned, who was in receipt of disability allowance at the maximum rate of £114.70 per week reached pension age on 6 January 2000.
He has been awarded a pension of £92.70 per week with effect from 7 January 2000. This amount comprises a personal rate of £58.50 and an increase of £34.20 in respect of his wife. This decision is based on a means assessment of £25.96 per week, deriving from the capital value of a second property owned by him.
Disability allowance had been in payment to him at the maximum rate because his previous entitlement under the former disabled person's maintenance allowance scheme was preserved under the transitional arrangements which were made on the transfer of disabled person's maintenance allowance recipients to the new disability allowance scheme administered by my Department. For the purposes of his pension application, however, his means must be assessed under the rules applying to that scheme. If he is not satisfied with this decision he may appeal to the independent social welfare appeals office.
His means will be reviewed again later this year in the context of the improved capital assessment rules announced at budget time and for which provision is being made in the forthcoming Social Welfare Bill.
It is also open to his spouse in the circumstances of the case to apply for a carer's allowance, and the Department has arranged to issue an application form to her. In the event that his spouse would be entitled to that allowance, the qualified adult allowance would not be payable to the person concerned, but the overall income position of the couple would be improved.
Michael Ring
Question:606 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to an old age contributory pension in view of the fact that he made tax returns from 1988-89 onwards. [1494/00]
One of the conditions for receipt of an old age contributory pension is that a person must have entered insurance more than ten years before reaching pension age of 66.
The person concerned commenced paying self-employment contributions for the first time in 1991-92 at which stage he was 58 years of age. As he had not entered insurance more than ten years before reaching pension age, his claim to pension had to be disallowed and he was notified accordingly.
Returns for income tax purposes were made by the person concerned to the Revenue Commissioners in 1988-89, 1989-90 and 1990-91. However, as his income was less than £2,500 in each of these three years, he was not liable to pay self-employment contributions and did not commence payment of such contributions until 1991-92.
Persons who paid social insurance contributions while self-employed and who do not qualify for old age contributory pension or a means-tested old age non-contributory pension are entitled to a refund of the pension element of these contributions. The person concerned had a claim to old age non-contributory pension disallowed recently. He may, therefore, apply for a refund of the pension element of the contributions he has paid as a self-employed person.