Vol. 561 No. 4
475 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, under legislation, money from a private loan from family members, which must be repaid can be assessed as income for unemployment assistance purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4382/03]
Social welfare legislation provides that in order to be entitled to unemployment assistance a person must satisfy a means test.
In assessing the means, account is taken of the income a person may have, together with the value of any capital or property held. Money provided by family members by way of a private loan, which must be repaid, is assessed and treated as a capital lump sum for assessment purposes.
In the assessment of capital the first €12,697 is disregarded and only amounts over that figure are assessable. Where part or all of the moneys received by way of a private loan are disposed of the value of that amount is excluded from the capital assessment.
In a situation where a person receives regular cash contributions from any source as a way of supplementing his or her income the full amount of the contributions is assessed.
476 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the means assessment of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who had an unemployment assistance appeal; the reason the appeals officer did not clarify the point of legislative query, as promised, which arose at this oral hearing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4383/03]
The person concerned applied for unemployment assistance in July 2002. She was awarded payment at a reduced rate based on a weekly means of €89 derived from income from her husband's self-employment.
She appealed this decision to the social welfare appeals office and an oral hearing was held on 4 November 2002. After the hearing the appeals officer deferred his decision to enable the person to furnish additional evidence in support of her appeal. Nothing further was submitted. On 3 January the appeals officer determined that €89 per week is the appropriate rate. This entitles the person to a weekly unemployment assistance rate of €80.80.
Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
477 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a bus pass is made available generally to asylum seekers. [4413/03]
The free travel scheme is available to all people permanently living, on an all year round basis, in the State aged 66 years or over, to all carers in receipt of carer's allowance and to carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance. It is also available to certain people with disabilities and people who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
Where persons meet the above conditions they will be entitled to a free travel pass.
478 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which the Christmas bonus system works; the Department which pays the bonus; if a bonus is paid by her Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; the way in which this happens or can happen; if a double bonus is paid; and if changes can be made in procedures before Christmas 2003. [4415/03]
For the past three years the Christmas bonus amount has been set at 100% of the recipient's normal weekly payment. In 2000 and 2001, the minimum amount payable was £20, equivalent to €25.40, and in 2002 the minimum payment was increased to €30.
The bonus is intended for long-term welfare payment recipients, including recipients of retirement, old age contributory and non-contributory, widow's, widower's and invalidity pensions, one parent family payment, carer's allowance, disability allowance, long-term unemployment assistance, farm assist and employment support payments. Recipients are only entitled to one such bonus.
In addition to recipients of long-term social welfare payments, the bonus is also paid to persons participating in FÁS, VTOS, Job Initiative and community employment schemes, and to recipients of certain health board payments such as domiciliary care allowance, blind welfare allowance and mobility allowance.
In general a person cannot receive more than one payment and the question of double payment of bonus would only arise in limited circumstances where a person is in receipt of a social welfare payment and payment also under an employment support scheme.
The total cost of the Christmas bonus in 2002 was an estimated €103.3 million. It benefited some 792,000 recipients and an estimated 413,000 dependants.
Expenditure on the bonus payment to recipients of non-social welfare employment and income supports as outlined above, is provided for in the Votes of the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Education and Science, and Health and Children.
