I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 24 together.
There are eleven social assistance payment schemes operated by my Department, entitlement to which depends on a means test. A number of these schemes, for example, widow's non-contributory pension and deserted wife's allowance apply a similar means test. In some cases entitlement under one scheme carries with it entitlement to additional benefits, for example, fuel allowance in the case of certain recipients of long-term social assistance payments.
Means testing for schemes administered by my Department is carried out by 235 social welfare officers attached to the Department's inspection branch. The number of social assistance claims referred to that branch in the last three years was as follows: 1986 219,856; 1987 227,249 and 1988 234,084. These would include referrals of new claims for means investigation and of existing claims for review of means. They would also include referrals of claim for review of conditions other than means and it is not possible to say what proportion of the referrals in each year related only to means.
It has generally been the practice to have means investigations for all claims carried out at the home of the claimant and this has advantages from the point of view of verifying the circumstances of claimants and also of being able to discuss with claimants the different conditions applying to the schemes. In the context of reviewing the means testing arrangements, however, I have identified certain categories where home visits are not necessary and for some unemployment assistance claimants assessments are now carried out at the Department's local office. Furthermore a measure of self-assessment has been introduced under the family income supplement scheme with entitlement being established on the basis of statements from claimants accompanied by appropriate evidence and with investigations by social welfare officers in only a proportion of cases. The question as to whether self-assessment would be appropriate for other schemes where the conditions for entitlement are more complex is under examination. In addition the possibility of using to a greater extent information supplied for the purpose of one scheme to determine entitlement under other schemes is also under examination.