Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 4

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Sean Fleming

Question:

193 Mr. Fleming asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason his Department are seeking additional information from a person (details supplied) in County Laois, in view of the fact that bank accounts and other financial information has been provided; and the additional information required. [18886/00]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

One of the qualifying conditions for entitlement to disability allowance is that a person must satisfy a means assessment, which for the purpose of disability allowance, is calculated in accordance with Part I of the Third Schedule of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993, as amended.

The person concerned was interviewed by his local social welfare inspector in order to determine his means. As a result of the interview the Inspector was not satisfied that he had fully disclosed his means and despite subsequent correspondence he did not provide the details requested.

Accordingly his claim was refused on the grounds that he did not show that his means did not exceed the statutory limit.

If the person concerned wishes to appeal this decision he should request a form for this purpose from the disability allowance section, Social Welfare Services, Ballinalea Road, Longford.

Michael Ring

Question:

194 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of people in receipt of farm assist, on a monthly basis, since January 2000. [18917/00]

Michael Ring

Question:

195 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of people in receipt of the farm assist who have had a reduction in their benefit following submission of their income declaration form; and the number who had an increase in their benefits. [18918/00]

Michael Ring

Question:

197 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of farmers currently in receipt of the farm assist scheme; and the number of these people who had a reduction in their benefit since January 1999, giving details on a county by county basis. [18922/00]

Seymour Crawford

Question:

205 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of farm families receiving farm assist on 31 May 2000; the average amount being received per family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19096/00]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

It is proposed to take Question Nos. 194, 195, 197 and 205 together.

The farm assist scheme, which introduced the special arrangements for farmers on low incomes, was provided for in the Social Welfare Act, 1999, and came into operation with effect from 7 April 1999.

The following table shows the number of people in receipt of farm assist from January 2000 to May 2000.

Month	Number
January	7,361
February	7,536
March	7,568
April	7,540
May	7,570

The income declaration form is issued annually to persons in receipt of farm assist asking them to declare if there has been any change in their circumstances since they were assessed under the scheme. The declaration forms have only issued recently and accordingly many cases are still under investigation. Information on the numbers who are due to have their payments increased or decreased is not yet available.

As stated, the number of people currently in receipt of farm assist is 7,570. While it is not possible to give a 100% accurate breakdown by county because the geographical areas covered by social welfare local offices cut across county boundaries, the attached table is the best estimate available, on a county-by-county basis, of people who had a reduction in their payment since April 1999 mainly arising from a lesser rate of farm assist being applicable on review compared to the smallholders allowance formerly payable in many instances.

County	Number of reducedpayments
Carlow	5
Cavan	42
Clare	47
Cork	88
Donegal	221
Dublin	1
Galway	162
Kerry	174
County	Number of reducedpayments
Kildare	2
Kilkenny	5
Laois	11
Leitrim	22
Limerick	24
Longford	26
Louth	2
Mayo	344
Meath	2
Monaghan	79
Offaly	4
Roscommon	62
Sligo	6
Tipperary	14
Waterford	9
Westmeath	10
Wexford	25
Wicklow	6
Total	1,393

On 31 May 2000, there were 7,570 farm assist claims in payment, receiving on average £79.30 per week.

The Social Welfare Act, 2000, made a number of important changes to the means test for the farm assist scheme. The child-related disregards are being increased from £100 to £200 for the first two children and £200 to £300 for each subsequent qualified child.

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.