asked the Minister for Social Welfare if annuities or payments of such a nature by a farmer to the Land Commission division of the Department of Agriculture and Food in respect of an allocation of land constitute an expense fully allowable in such a farmer's claim for unemployment assistance, farmer's dole.
Written Answers. - Farm Annuities Assessment.
155.
The legislative basis for the assessment of means in unemployment assistance cases is provided for in section 146 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981, as amended by section 13 of the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 1985.
Income from farming for unemployment assistance purpose is assessed under the legislation as the yearly value of the advantage accruing from the holding. The calculation is done on an income and expenditure basis and represents the income from farming less the expenses actually and necessarily incurred in earning that income. Annuities made by the farmer to the Land Commission division of the Department of Agriculture and Food constitute an expense and are allowed in full when determining the net income from the farm.