asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a ceiling level of £85 has been set for the family income from social welfare for a married man, his wife and two children under the Equality Directive not taking into account children's allowances; if instructions have been issued by her Department on this matter to other Departments such as Health; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Equality Directive.
127.
The rates of social welfare payments for a married man with a dependent wife and children are not affected by the equality provisions. Under those provisions, however, a wife is no longer regarded as a dependant if she is either in receipt of benefit herself or is employed or self-employed and is earning over £50 a week.
Where a husband and wife both claim a social insurance payment each will be entitled to the standard personal rate of benefit plus half of the rate of increase of benefit for any child dependants they may have.
Under the equality provisions married women are entitled to claim unemployment assistance on the same basis as other claimants. Where both spouses claim unemployment assistance, however, the total amount payable cannot exceed the rate which would be payable if only one spouse claimed unemployment assistance and claimed the other as an adult dependant. Where one spouse claims unemployment assistance and the other is in receipt of a different benefit or pension the total amount payable cannot exceed the amount which would be payable if the person on benefit or pension was the only claimant and claimed an increase in payment in respect of his or her spouse as an adult dependant.
These provisions do not affect payments from other Government Departments and no instructions of the kind referred to have been issued.