Noel Dempsey
Ceist:125 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will list the percentage increase in payments under the social welfare benefits and allowances schemes since 1987.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefit.
The information requested by the Deputy is given in the following table. Details are presented relating to single persons, married couples, and married persons with three children where appropriate. In general, payments were kept ahead of inflation with higher increases for those on the lowest payments.
Comparison of Weekly Rates of Payment between July 1987 and July 1991
|
Scheme |
@ July '87 |
@ July '91 |
% Increase in Payments |
|
£ |
£ |
% |
|
|
Long-term Unemployment Assistance —Personal |
37.80 |
55.00 |
45.5 |
|
—Married Couple |
65.00 |
88.00 |
35.4 |
|
—MC + 3 Children |
92.10 |
124.00 |
34.6 |
|
Short-term Unemployment Assistance/ Supplementary Welfare Allowance —Personal |
34.00 |
50.00 |
47.1 |
|
—Married Couple |
58.70 |
83.00 |
41.4 |
|
—MC + 3 Children |
84.20 |
119.00 |
41.3 |
|
Unemployment Benefit/Disability Benefit —Personal |
42.30 |
50.00 |
18.2 |
|
—Married Couple |
69.70 |
83.00 |
19.1 |
|
—MC + 3 Children |
99.20 |
119.00 |
20.0 |
|
Widows Contributory Pension/ Deserted Wifes Benefit —Personal |
49.50 |
58.20 |
17.6 |
|
—+3 Children |
90.50 |
105.00 |
16.0 |
|
Lone Parents Allowance* —Personal |
46.20 |
55.00 |
19.1 |
|
—+3 Children |
83.20 |
97.00 |
16.6 |
|
Old Age Contributory Pension —Personal |
55.10 |
64.00 |
16.2 |
|
—with ADA >66 |
96.20 |
110.00 |
14.4 |
|
Old Age Non-Contributory Pension —Personal |
47.10 |
55.00 |
16.8 |
|
—Married Couple Spouse >66 |
94.20 |
110.00 |
16.8 |
|
Invalidity Pension —Personal |
48.50 |
56.40 |
16.3 |
|
—Married Couple |
80.00 |
93.60 |
17.0 |
|
—MC + 3 Children |
112.40 |
133.60 |
18.9 |
* Lone parents allowance was introduced in November 1990. The figures for 1987 refer to rates of payments for schemes subsequently incorporated into the lone parent allowance scheme.