Mary Upton
Question:452 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 is receiving a reduced disability allowance payment. [10985/03]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The person in question is in receipt of disability benefit. Under social welfare regulation, the rate of benefit payable depends on a person's level of earnings in the governing contribution year.
Persons whose reckonable earnings in that year are less than €44.44 per week are currently entitled to payment at the rate of €56.10 per week.
In the 2001 tax year which governed her claim to disability benefit, the person concerned was in receipt of carer's allowance. She qualified for credited contributions in respect of her carer's allowance but had no reckonable earnings in 2001. Therefore in her case, under current legislation, the correct rate of disability benefit is €56.10 per week.
In view of the fact that the person concerned qualifies for disability benefit at a reduced rate, she may qualify for supplementary welfare allowance. She should contact her local community welfare officer who will advise her of any entitlement.
Questions Nos. 453 to 455, inclusive, answered with Question No. 445.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:456 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if college students who seek work over the summer months but are unable to obtain same can apply for and obtain unemployment assistance provided they comply with the normal conditions. [11050/03]
Social Welfare legislation provides for a disqualification from receipt of unemployment assistance of students who are attending a full-time day course of study, instruction or train ing. This disqualification which extends over the holiday periods during the academic year including the summer vacation periods, until the completion of the course of study, does not apply to mature students or to those studying under the Department's back to education allowance programme.
Such students may qualify for unemployment assistance during the summer months subject to fulfilling the normal conditions of entitlement to the scheme.