asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he has considered the possibility of home help payments to widowers who are at work and supporting a family.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
81.
The family income supplement scheme provides for the payment of a weekly cash allowance to help families on low incomes and a widower in employment can qualify for this supplement if his income is below the income limit specified for his family size.
There are no other provisions in the social welfare code whereby payments can be made to persons at work in respect of home help. Where a person is out of work and in receipt of a social welfare payment an adult dependant allowance is payable in respect of a person other than a spouse, having the care of the person's children.
The question of future social welfare arrangements for widowers and other persons in similar situations will have to be considered in the light of proposals being drawn up at EC level on the application of equal treatment to men and women in areas of social security not covered by the previous directive 79/7/EEC of 19 December 1979.
82.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry against the decision decreasing his unemployment assistance.
Following reinvestigation of the unemployment assistance claim of the person concerned, he was assessed with means of £5.80 weekly derived from the profit from his holding and from self employment. He is, accordingly, in receipt of £30.80 weekly, being the appropriate maximum rate payable in his case of £36.60 less means of £5.80.
He appealed against the assessment on 11 January 1988 and, arising from contentions raised by him in support of his appeal, his papers were referred to the social welfare officer for further inquiries. These inquiries were completed recently and his case has been submitted to an appeals officer for determination as soon as possible. The entitlement of the person concerned to unemployment assistance will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the appeal.