Vol. 427 No. 2
79 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will introduce legislation to protect unemployed persons against court orders for maintenance which would bring their income below the national minimum amount of £53; and if he will ensure that community welfare officers are empowered to assist in these circumstances.
It is open to a person who is dissatisfied with the terms of a court order for maintenance, to apply to the courts for variation or discharge of the order.
Where a person's income has been brought below the appropriate level of supplementary welfare allowance, as a result of such an order, a health board may restore the person's income to that level. However, in general, the person would be advised by the health board to seek to have the order adjusted by the court to take account of his or her financial circumstances.
