asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the circumstances, if any, in which emigrants' or migrants' remittances may be treated as means for the purpose of means assessments relating to old age pensions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensions Means Test.
9.
The method of assessment of means for old age pension purposes is set out in the Seventh Schedule to the Social Welfare Act, 1952. Account is taken of all income in cash, subject to certain specified exclusions, such as income arising from voluntary or gratuitous payments, which is assessed only in so far as it exceeds £52 5s. per annum. Where remittances of the type mentioned by the Deputy are voluntary or gratuitous, any amount in excess of £52 5s. a year is, therefore, treated as means for the purpose of assessment.
In the event of an accumulated amount of such gratuitous payments being in a post office, is that taken into consideration?
All I could say about that is that all income, whether it is inside the State or outside the State, is taken into account in the assessment of means in claims for old age pensions.
Is a remittance an income?
Yes.
That is astonishing.
That is the first time we have had that.
Now we know.
Indeed you do.