Vol. 399 No. 3
30 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will indicate the provisions of the supplementary welfare code which can be applied to make payments to a couple where one spouse is working; and whether, in view of rising interst rates, he will reconsider the particular exclusion from payment of a mortgage interest supplement to families where one spouse is working.
Under section 202 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981, persons in full-time employment are not, in general, entitled to assistance under the supplementary welfare allowances scheme. The spouse of a person in full-time employment may apply for an allowance under the scheme. In such a case, however, the health board is required, under sections 207 and 210 of the Act, to take account of the earnings of the working spouse in determining entitlement to assistance under the scheme.
Section 209 of the Act and the Social Welfare (Supplementary Welfare Allowances) Regulations, 1977 (S.I. No. 168 of 1977), provide for the payment of weekly supplements, including supplements in respect of mortgage interest. Applicants for assistance towards mortgage interest are required to meet the first £3.20 of interest themselves and in determining the amount of supplement to be paid, the general practice is to leave the client with an income, after payment of mortgage interest, equivalent to the basic supplementary welfare allowance rate appropriate to his family circumstances less £3.20. The question as to whether assistance with mortgage interest can be given in any particular case would depend on whether the income of the couple, after payment of mortgage interest, exceeds this target figure.
