Vol. 520 No. 1
61 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason the payment of child benefit at the higher rate for third and subsequent children is reduced to the lower rate when payment for the first and second children ceases; and the steps he will take to remedy this anomaly. [15049/00]
Child benefit is a universal payment which is payable in respect of all children up to the age of 16 years. Child benefit continues to be paid up to age 19 in the case of children who are still in full-time education and in the case of children with disabilities.
The structure of the child benefit scheme ensures that additional resources are targeted at the larger families, who are at greater risk of poverty, through the existence of a higher rate of payment in respect of the third and subsequent qualified children. The rate of payment is currently £34.50 per month for each of the first two qualified children and £46.00 per month in respect of the third and subsequent qualified children.
The rate of child benefit payable is determined solely on the basis of the number of eligible children in the family. It is not determined on the basis of the place of each individual child within the family. Accordingly, where one of a family is no longer a qualified child for child benefit purposes, the overall rate of benefit payable is adjusted in accordance with the number of remaining qualified children. I consider that this approach is reasonable.
The value of child benefit as a means of channelling child income support is reflected in the very substantial investment which the Government makes in the scheme. Most notably, the 2000 budget provides for a full-year investment of almost £106 million, bringing the total investment in the scheme up to some £575 million in a full year.
It is my intention that the value of the child benefit scheme will continue to be exploited to the greatest possible extent. In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness includes a commitment that child benefit will be substantially increased over the period of the programme, with a priority focus towards £100 per month for the third and subsequent qualified children.
63 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of cases, if any, which have been brought to his attention where a person is claiming rental subsidy from the Eastern Health Board while also in receipt of social welfare payments, and where that person is found to be living with a partner or friend and where the total income in the household is greater than the maximum allowable for social welfare support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14145/00]
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme a weekly supplement may be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest to certain people in receipt of social welfare or health board payments. The SWA scheme is administered by the health boards on behalf of my Department. The investigation of the type of case outlined by the Deputy is a matter for the relevant health board and my Department would not normally be involved or notified of such instances.
Entitlement to a rent supplement is determined by the health boards and supplements are normally calculated to ensure that the person, after payment of rent or mortgage interest, has an income equal to the rate of SWA appropriate to the family circumstances, less £6.
This £6 represents the minimum contribution which clients are required to pay from their own resources towards their accommodation costs. Any increase in income over and above the SWA rate will result in a decrease of that amount in the rent supplement rate payable.
The purpose of rent supplements is to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible persons living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources and who do not have accommodation available to them from another source.
The conditions for entitlement include that the applicant is in need of accommodation, the residence is reasonably suited to the residential and other needs of the claimant and that the rent payable by the claimant is just and proper having regard to the nature, character and location of the residence.
When an application is made the community welfare officer will ensure that the applicant satisfies the conditions of the scheme before granting the rent supplement. The CWO will access my Department's registration and payments database to check on the circumstances of the claimant. The CWO will also visit the accommodation before the supplement is awarded or shortly afterwards to satisfy themselves that all the conditions are satisfied.
This will be followed up by regular reviews of the case, including periodic visits to the residence, to ensure continued entitlement to the rent supplement.
All claimants are advised that failure to disclose details which would affect their entitlement to rent supplement, such as income derived from a partner's employment or otherwise, is an offence and could lead to legal action being taken.
