asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will change present regulations to allow health boards to pay supplementary welfare allowances in respect of children aged 18 and over, who are in full time second level education, and whose parents are in receipt of unemployment assistance.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
99.
Increases in unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance in respect of child dependants are payable up to age 18. The question of extending the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to provide for payments in respect of children over age 18 who are in second level education would have implications for other social welfare schemes. There are no plans for such an extension at present.
100.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is currently on a reduced rate of non-contributory old age pension.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of an old age pension at the weekly rate of £41.10. This is the rate of pension payable to a person whose weekly means are over £10 and up to £12. In this case the means, derived from a holding, were assessed at £11.53 a week.
If the pensioner's circumstances have changed, it is open to him to apply for an increase in his pension by writing to the Department setting out the grounds on which he considers he is entitled to an increase.