The measures announced in the recent budget, and continued in the Social Welfare Act, 1993, significantly improve the position of those who depend on social welfare for their income. A general increase of 3.5%, which is ahead of the projected rate of inflation for 1993, maintains the real value of payments for some 800,000 recipients and their 700,000 dependants. Those on the lowest payments received a higher increase of 4.9%
Child Benefit was increased to £20 for each of the first three children, and the increases in the upper limits of Family Income Supplement will result in an additional £12 per week for families at work on low pay. A special grant of £200 for mothers on the birth of twins.
Other measures included an increase of 11.7% in the Carer's Allowance and increases in both the minimum and maximum payments of Maternity Benefit, bringing them to £65 and £159 respectively.
I have also improved the situation for unemployed persons who wish to take up part-time work by substantially increasing the amount of earnings which can be disregarded in assessing means for Unemployment Assistance purposes to the equivalent of the normal daily rate of Unemployment Assistance plus an additional £15 per day. A married man with two children can earn up to £34.42 per day for each day worked without affecting the rate of Unemployment Assistance payable for other days in the week.