Social welfare legislation provides for the payment of increases in respect of child dependants to people who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. Such increases are normally payable in respect of each dependant child up to age 18. However, in the case of child dependants who continue in full-time education, the legislation specifies that payment of the allowance may be continued until the child reaches 21 years of age. This special extension of the age limit from 18 years was introduced by me in 1989 for lone parents and certain other groups and is now the standard upper age limit for payment of child dependant allowance across all long term social welfare schemes.
The person concerned was in receipt of a lone parent's allowance at the reduced rate of £63 per week inclusive of child dependant allowance increases in respect of two of her children who were in full-time education. However, when one of the children reached age 21 in February 1994, the allowance payable to her for that child had to be discontinued. Accordingly, her lone parent's allowance was reduced to £42.10 per week with effect from 17 February 1994.
The legislation does not allow my Department to extend payment of the allowance beyond the upper age limit in any particular case. Any proposal to extend payment of child dependant allowances beyond age 21 would have significant budgetary implications.
If the person concerned is experiencing particular difficulties she should apply to the community welfare officer at her nearest health centre for additional support through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.