Vol. 532 No. 1
267 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will increase the amount non-contributory old age pensioners can have as means to £20 per week, rather than £6, before it is assessed against them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6809/01]
The £6 weekly means disregard which applies in the case of non-contributory pensions and certain other social assistance allowances was originally introduced at a time when almost all income and capital was assessed for means test purposes. However, over the years various income-earnings disregards have been introduced for many of these payments. For instance, under the carer's allowance scheme, there is a weekly income disregard of £75 for a single person and £150 in the case of a couple. These disregards are increasing to £125 and £250 respectively, from April. In addition, in the case of the old age – non-contributory – pensioner couples, all means are assessed at 50%.
Significant improvements have also been introduced in the operation of the arrangements for assessing capital, including the introduction of a substantial £10,000 disregard – £20,000 in the case of old age pensioner couples – of capital for means test purposes from October last year. In the light of these improvements, there is little justification in increasing the separate means disregard. I would see the further enhancement of the various income/earnings disregards as the best approach to improving the operation of the means test in the future.
