Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Brian O'Shea
Question:
143
Mr. O'Shea
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
the proposals he has to carry out a detailed study regarding the financial situation of widows and widowers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19171/01]
The widow(er)'s pension schemes are designed to recognise the articular difficulties that arise following the death of a spouse.
Since April of this year the maximum rate of widow(er)'s contributory pension has been £89.10 per week for those aged under 66 years of age. The corresponding rate of widow(er)'s non-contributory pension is £85.50 per week.
In line with the Government's commitment to pensioners and as announced in Budget 2001, I decided to increase the widow(er)'s contributory pension for recipients aged 66 or over to the full old age contributory pension rate over two budgets. The special increase of £12.90 per week which came into effect in April is the first step in this process. The maximum rate of widow(er)'s con tributory pension is now £102 per week for those aged over 66. The corresponding rate of widow(er)'s non-contributory pension is £95.50.
The increases in the rates of child benefit which came into effect this month are of benefit to widows and widowers with children. Monthly child benefit payments are now £67.50 per month for each of the first and second children and £86 per month for the third and subsequent children.
Widow(er)s are also benefiting from changes in the free schemes which I announced in Budget 2001 and which came into effect in May. Under these new arrangements all persons aged over 70 years of age are entitled to the full range of schemes regardless of their means or household composition.
A working group was established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, to examine the range of issues associated with the benchmarking and indexation of social welfare payments. The level of payments to widow/ers will be examined in the context of that working group.
In addition, the position with regard to social welfare provision for widowed people will be kept under review in the context of overall Budgetary considerations.
Noel Ahern
Question:
144
Mr. N. Ahern
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
if he will clarify the situation regarding entitlements to dental and optical benefits for retired persons over 66 years of age; if they qualify for dental and optical benefits for life if they pay PRSI up to retirement; and if they qualify if they retire early.
[19284/01]
The treatment benefits scheme administered by my Department provides assistance towards the cost of dental, optical and audiology services to people, and their dependent spouses, who satisfy the relevant statutory PRSI conditions. The scheme is a contributory social insurance scheme and the qualifying conditions are set at a level which maintains a reasonable balance between social insurance contributions received and the costs of the benefits concerned.
The PRSI contributions which are reckonable for treatment benefit are classes A, E, H and P.
The PRSI contribution conditions relating to entitlement to treatment benefits vary depending on the age of the insured person. Persons must also have been insurably employed and paid appropriate rates of PRSI for a certain length of time.
In the case of persons aged from 25 to 65 years of age the requirement is that they have at least 260 weeks PRSI paid since first starting work and 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the relevant tax year. However, if a person satisfies the qualifying conditions on reaching age 60 that person will remain qualified for life. Those in the 61 to 65 age group are required to satisfy the requirements as outlined for the 25 to 65 age group above if they do not meet the qualifying conditions at age 60.
However, a person who retires on grounds of ill health, or who is deemed to be unemployed, may apply for disability or unemployment benefit, subject to satisfying the statutory conditions. In addition to any payments that may be due, entitlement to such benefits may also result in the award of credited contributions which can be taken into account to extend coverage for treatment benefits for further periods.
The relevant tax year for persons making claims in the year 2001 is 1999-2000. This would also be the relevant tax year for persons taking early retirement in the year 2001.
For persons aged 66 and over the contribution requirements vary depending on when age 66 was reached. These are for persons aged 66: before 1 October, 1987 156 weeks PRSI paid since first starting work and 26 weeks paid or credited in either of the two complete tax years before age 66; between 1 October 1987 and 6 July 1992 208 weeks PRSI paid since first starting work and 39 weeks paid or credited in either of the last two complete tax years before age 66; after 6 July 1992 260 weeks paid since first starting work and 39 weeks paid or credited in either of the last two complete tax years before age 66.
