Vol. 518 No. 3
222 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of farmers who have had a reduction or increase in benefit under the farm assist scheme since its introduction giving details of the average loss or gain. [11546/00]
The farm assist scheme, which came into operation just over a year ago introduced special arrangements for farmers on low incomes.
On 31 March 2000, there were 7,568 farm assist claims in payment, receiving on average £75.85 per week. The average payment to 431 claimants still in receipt of small-holder's unemployment assistance on that date was £75.43.
Former small-holders, who are now in receipt of farm assist, are receiving on average £83.82 per week, an increase of £9 per week compared with small-holder's unemployment assistance at the end of 1998.
New applicants to farm assist are receiving an average payment of £59 per week.
On the application form completed by former small-holders, many of them indicated that their circumstances had changed since their last assessment. Following reviews of their means, 3,565 claimants are now in receipt of an increased payment while 1,276 have had their payments reduced.
The Social Welfare Act, 2000, makes a number of important changes to the means test for the farm assist scheme. The child related disregards are being increased from £100 for the first two children and £200 for each subsequent qualified child to £200 and £300 respectively.
Furthermore, instead of 80%, only 70% of self-employment income, including off-farm self-employment, will now be taken into account. There are also changes in the way capital is assessed, with the first £10,000 held by a claimant disregarded, and the balance treated more favourably than heretofore. These changes will be effective from October 2000.
