Financial Resolutions, 1978: Financial Statement, Budget, 1978. - Increased weekly payments
Weekly social welfare payments generally were last revised in October 1977 to take account of cost-of-living movements from the previous increase in April 1977. The Government are satisfied that social welfare recipients should participate in the prospective growth in the wealth of the community generally. They have decided, there-fore, that weekly social welfare payments, including health allowances, should be increased by 10 per cent from April next. However, in view of the continuing growth in farm incomes, unemployment assistance rates for smallholders whose means are assessed notionally and whose net land valuation exceeds £15 but not £20, are to be excluded from this increase. The 10 per cent increase represents a substantial improvement in real terms for social welfare recipients. Those fortunate enough not to have to rely on the social welfare services for their main source of income will not cavil at this increase for the less well-off. It will mean an increase of £2.55 a week in the maximum contributory old age pension for a married couple both of pension age and under 80. Their new rate of pension will be £28.15 a week. In the case of a married man with three children receiving unemployment benefit, the increase will be £3.25 giving a total of £35.40 a week. A contributory widow pensioner with two children will receive an increase of £2.25, bringing her pension to £24.40 a week.