Vol. 559 No. 3
136 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person who has been four years in receipt of family income supplement due to a very low basic wage is not entitled to the Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26160/02]
The Christmas bonus was paid this year, as in previous years, to recipients of all long-term social welfare payments including retirement and old age pensioners, widow's, widower's and one-parent families, carers, invalidity pension and disability allowance recipients, persons in receipt of long-term unemployment assistance and farm assist and people on employment support payments. Payment was made in early December to some 1.1 million persons, comprising some 740,000 recipients and an estimated 400,000 dependants. The cost of this measure was estimated to be €103.3 million.
Recipients of short-term payments do not qualify for the Christmas bonus. Family income supplement is a short-term payment awarded for a period of 12 months only, after which the recipient must re-apply for a further 12 months. Therefore, it does not qualify for the Christmas bonus, the focus of which is on long-term payment recipients.
137 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo did not receive the full rate of Christmas bonus on their old age non-contributory pension. [26170/02]
The full Christmas bonus due to the person concerned was issued to his local post office for collection on 5 December. This amounted to €144.40 which is the equivalent of 100% of his normal weekly payment.
138 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and granted the pre-retirement allowance. [26171/02]
The person concerned is in receipt of an invalidity pension of €235.30 per week in respect of himself and his wife based on his PRSI contributions from 1981 onwards. He is also in receipt of a €9 fuel allowance. He applied for a retirement pension on 13 November. Inquiries are being made to establish his earlier insurance record, if any, for retirement pension purposes. When these inquiries are completed a decision will be given and he will be notified accordingly. Payment of invalidity pension will continue in the meantime.
Question No. 139 withdrawn.
