asked the Minister for Defence if he will state in respect of the past twelve months the number of State pensions or allowances payable by his Department which were reduced in amount or stopped because the pensioners won a prize in a football pool, raffle or other like event.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Pensions: Assessability of Competition Prizes.
76.
Mr. Ryan
During the past twelve months, the special allowance under the Army Pensions Acts of one applicant was terminated as the applicant had won a prize of £2,000 in a crossword competition.
Mr. Ryan
In view of the fact that the Department of Finance provides moneys for the payment of pensions doled out by the Minister's Department, would the Minister confirm that even the Revenue Commissioners do not consider such prizes as income?
A special allowance is not a pension. It is an allowance granted to relieve hardship. It consists of an annual sum which when added to the applicant's means must not exceed a prescribed sum, and the value of any capital possessed by an applicant is assessable. This £2,000 was notified to my Department by the social welfare officer and had to be assessed as capital possessed by the applicant.
Mr. Ryan
Would the Minister say if some lucky person succeeded in spending the £2,000 in a couple of months on one glorious binge, would he then be entitled to the assistance he was previously getting?
Means can be reviewed from time to time.