Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
610 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation pertaining to widowers who seek disability benefit; if, to have disability benefit restored, a further 13 weeks of insurable employment is necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8387/04]
View answerThe social welfare system is primarily a contingency based system, with entitlement based on pre-defined contingencies such as sickness or unemployment. A person may experience more than one contingency at the same time. For example, an unemployed person may become sick. However, a general principle usually applies whereby even if a person experiences more than one of the contingencies at a time, they only receive one payment. This principle is common to social security systems across the world.
Under the Irish social welfare system there have been a limited number of exceptions to this general principle. In the past these included recipients of widow's or widower's pension who could, at the same time, receive short-term social insurance benefits such as disability benefit or unemployment benefit, at half rate if the contingency arose. However, entitlement to such half rate disability benefit was limited in duration to 15 months. Where a widow or widower subsequently paid a further 13 PRSI contributions payment of half rate disability benefit could be made for a further 15 months.
In the context of preparation of the spending Estimates for 2004, this entitlement to concurrent half rate payment of a number of benefits was discontinued for new claimants with effect from 19 January. Existing recipients were not affected by this measure for the duration of their claim. In the circumstances, the question of requalification for half rate disability benefit does not arise in the case of recipients of widow or widowers pensions.
The measure to discontinue entitlement to concurrent half rate benefits was introduced in response to the pressure on Government spending and in order to provide scope for other improvements in social welfare provision in the budget. I intend to keep the operation of this and other measures under review and any necessary adjustments will be made in the light of it.
612 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on whether those in receipt of a widow’s pension at a young age, for example, those under 50, should be entitled to avail of unemployment assistance or unemployment benefits. [8484/04]
View answerIn general, a person cannot receive two primary social welfare payments simultaneously. For example, a person on retirement pension cannot claim disability benefit as well if they become ill.
Social welfare legislation provides that a person, irrespective of age, in receipt of the full rate of widow's pension cannot receive unemployment benefit or assistance at the same time. Where a person is on a reduced rate of widow's pension she is entitled to unemployment benefit at a top-up rate of the difference between the rate of widow's pension she receives and the full rate of pension subject to satisfying the qualifying conditions for receipt of unemployment benefit. There are no provisions whereby a person who continues to be in receipt of a reduced rate of widow's pension can receive
unemployment assistance at the same time.
A widow may, at any time, have her entitlement to unemployment benefit or assistance assessed. She can relinquish her entitlement to widow's pension and claim unemployment benefit or assistance instead if her family would benefit financially.
613 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of single persons in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance; and the cost of this to the State. [8498/04]
View answer614 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons under 27 years of age in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance; and the cost of this to the State. [8499/04]
View answer615 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons under 27 years of age in receipt of rent supplement; and the cost to the State. [8500/04]
View answer616 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of lone parents under 27 years of age who receive rent supplement; and the cost to the State. [8501/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 613 to 616, inclusive, together.
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards. Its objective is to provide assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their basic needs.
In addition to a basic weekly allowance, assistance may be provided in the form of supplements that may be paid in respect of such needs as rent, mortgage interest, diet or heating. Payments may also be made in respect of exceptional or urgent needs where, in the opinion of the health board, the circumstances of a case so warrant.
The number of recipients in the following tabular statement refers to the position at 19 March. Some recipients may be in receipt of a combination of payments such as basic payment and various supplements.
As many as 1,669 payments of an exceptional or urgent need were made to single persons during the week ending 19 March at a cost of €386,644. As many as 818 payments of an exceptional or urgent need were made to persons under 27 years during the week ending 19 March at a cost of €178,657
Details of the current numbers of recipients and the estimated annual cost of categories identified by the Deputy are as follows:
|
Recipients |
Estimated Annual Cost |
|
|
€ million |
||
|
Recipients of SWA who are single |
||
|
Basic SWA |
16,225 |
101.72 |
|
Rent Supplement |
14,363 |
89.45 |
|
Mortgage Interest Supplements |
849 |
1.68 |
|
Diet Supplement |
3,716 |
2.13 |
|
Heat Supplement |
820 |
0.45 |
|
Other Supplements * |
2,965 |
3.93 |
|
Recipients of SWA who are Under 27 |
||
|
Basic SWA |
10,223 |
66.96 |
|
Rent Supplement |
16,497 |
106.99 |
|
Mortgage Interest Supplements |
63 |
0.18 |
|
Diet Supplement |
518 |
0.35 |
|
Heat Supplement |
61 |
0.37 |
|
Other Supplements * |
1,518 |
2.02 |
|
Recipients of rent supplement who are under 27 and in receipt of One-parent family payment |
6,230 |
49.13 |
*Includes crèche, MARS, travel, etc.
617 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will consider introducing flexibility into the PRSI arrangements for persons who are self-employed to allow them to pay contributions that would qualify them for dental treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8538/04]
View answerWorkers are generally insurable under the Social Welfare Act either as employed or self-employed contributors. The nature of an employment determines the PRSI contribution due and the range of benefits and pensions contributors can receive.
The majority of insured workers pay PRSI class A contributions. Over a period they can build up an entitlement to a range of benefits and pensions, including dental benefit.
PRSI for the self-employed was introduced in 1988 and they are compulsorily insured since. They are eligible for the following benefits and pensions: widow or widowers' contributory pension; orphans contributory pension; old age contributory pension; maternity benefit; adoptive benefit and bereavement grant.
To extend the range of benefits for self-employed contributors would necessitate an appropriate increase in the rate of PRSI class S contribution. At present there are no plans to extend any of the short-term benefits to the self-employed population of insured workers. Any such measures would have significant financial implications and would have to be considered in the wider budgetary context.
