Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 14 Oct 1992

Vol. 423 No. 5

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Jim Mitchell

Ceist:

13 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the weekly pension payable to a widow living alone; the way in which this compares to an old age pensioner living alone; if, in respect of such a widow with no other income he accepts that she is at a severe financial disadvantage compared to those aged 66 and over; whether he has any plans to extend the living alone allowance, the free travel allowance, the free electricity allowance, the free television licence and the free telephone rental allowance to widows in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy):

The higher rates of entitlements for old age pensioners where they arise and the various free schemes are in recognition of the special needs of the elderly. We as a society have always given special recognition to the position of the elderly and the social welfare system reflects this approach. Old age pensioners generally receive the highest rates of basic payments, additional supports where they are living alone and allowances in respect of heating, transport, and other needs. We can be proud of our achievement as a country in this regard.

Widows have also been afforded special recognition in our social welfare system. The rates of payment for widows compare favourably with the payments to old age pensioners and increases for dependent children in their case are at the highest rates. Furthermore the contribution conditions to qualify for a Widows (Contributory) Pension are quite easy in that a widow can qualify for a pension on the basis of three years insurance on either her own or her husband's insurance record.

A widow with no means who is not eligible for Contributory Widow's Pension can be entitled to a non-contributory widows pension of £57.20 for herself plus additions for children.

This pension is at the same rate as the non-contributory old age pension and attracts the same allowances of £4.50 for persons aged 66 living alone and of £4.40 for those aged 80 or over. The increases for children at £14.60 where payable are somewhat higher than those payable with the Old Age Pension which are £12.50 a week.

The maximum weekly personal rate for Widow's Contributory Pension for a widow under 66 years of age is £60.50 as compared with a maximum rate of £66.60 for Old Age (Contributory) Pension. Again in each case the Living Alone Allowance and over 80 allowances are payable where appropriate.

A widow, on reaching the age of 66 and provided she can satisfy the qualifying criteria, can switch from widow's contributory to old age contributory pension.

People aged 66 and over are eligible for the free schemes and the living alone allowance, subject to satisfying the relevant qualifying criteria. Extension of these schemes to people generally under 66 years of age, or in particular to groups such as widows, would have substantial cost implications which would have to be considered in a budgetary context. I am very conscious of the particular needs associated with widowhood and will bear this in mind in the context of further developments in the social welfare system in the future.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

14 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the new regulations, if any, which he has introduced governing the eligibility for disability benefit of applicants who are on unemployment assistance; and the options, if any, which are open to persons on long term unemployment assistance.

Dick Spring

Ceist:

47 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for his recent decision to effectively disqualify the long term unemployed from disability benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 47 together.

Social insurance benefits, such as disability benefit, are intended to provide a source of income for people normally in employment who are temporarily unable to work for reasons such as illness. Until recently, people who had left the workforce for some considerable time were still able to claim such benefits, based on contributions made years previously. The contribution conditions were changed with effect from July to this year to ensure that only those with a fairly recent attachment to the workforce would be entitled to benefit. In order to qualify for disability benefit, a claimant must now have paid at least 13 social insurance contributions in the relevant contribution year, or in either of the two contribution years preceding the relevant contribution year, or in a subsequent year. People on unemployment assistance who meet the new contribution requirements can apply for disability benefit, as before. Those who do not meet the contribution conditions for disability benefit can apply for supplementary welfare allowance during periods of illness or for disabled persons maintenance allowance from their local health board where they are seriously incapacitated.

I do not believe that people who are no longer contributing to social insurance should be able to retain an entitlement to short term social insurance payments indefinitely. If the idea of social insurance cover for short term incapacity for work is to have any meaning the incapacity must relate to a recent period of work. I think that the new condition provides a reasonable level of insurance cover for sickness having regard to the nature of social insurance and to the capacity of the Social Insurance Fund to meet its ongoing commitments.