Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 September 2014

Thursday, 25 September 2014

Questions (59)

John Halligan

Question:

59. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on whether in certain circumstances where an applicant is marginally in excess of the income guidelines it may be unfair for the means assessed against them to be applied across the board to each application in isolation resulting in the applicant not being entitled to any of the payments whereas a person marginally below the income guidelines where the same criteria are applied would be entitled to all forms of assistance; her views on whether it is time to review the means assessment guidelines with a view to assessing an applicant's overall social welfare requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36433/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Department operates a range of means tested schemes where, in order to qualify for the social assistance payment, the claimant must satisfy a means test.

With social assistance payments, the maximum rate of entitlement is payable where a claimant’s means are nil. Where a claimant has means, the maximum rate of entitlement is reduced by reference to the means in any given case and scheme. It is in the nature of means tested schemes that where means exceed a certain amount, no entitlement exists. It should be noted that the means tests for social assistance schemes operated by the Department are not always identical (for example, the means test for Carer’s Allowance is more generous than that for other schemes) and that, therefore, the income/asset thresholds at which entitlement ceases can vary across schemes. In addition, certain other organisations operate income/means tested schemes and services and eligibility is a matter for the relevant organisations.

Any changes to means assessment would have to be considered in a Budgetary context.