Austin Deasy
Ceist:18 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will introduce a pro-rata pension for the widows of self-employed contributors who failed to qualify prior to the qualification date in 1991. [6192/95]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
Self-employed persons became insured under the social insurance system with effect from 6 April 1988, the commencement of the 1988-89 contribution year. Contributions at the Class S rate are payable by this group and provide cover for old age contributory and survivor's contributory pension and orphans contributory allowance.
One of the conditions to qualify for a survivor's contributory pension is that contributions must have been paid in respect of at least 156 contribution weeks — three years — between the date of entry into insurance and the date of death. Entitlement is based on either the applicant's own or their late spouse's social insurance record. This condition applies to all persons insured for survivor's contributory pension. Employee contributions reckonable for survivor's contributory pension purposes may be combined with self-employment contributions when determining entitlement to pension.
It is considered reasonable that, to qualify for a survivor's contributory pension, a person would have paid 156 social insurance contributions and I have no plans to introduce apro rata pension for survivors who fail to satisfy this condition. A widow who fails to qualify for a survivor's contributory pension can, of course, qualify for a widow's non-contributory pension which is payable subject to a means test.
Mary Harney
Ceist:19 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that single pregnant girls who are out of home as a result of their pregnancies and who continue to attend full-time education are disbarred from receiving supplementary welfare allowance and other social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6193/95]
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the eight regional health boards. Under the legislation governing the scheme the determination of entitlement is a matter for the chief executive officer of the board. Under section 172 (1) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 people attending a full time day course of study at an institution of education are excluded from entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance; however, in exceptional circumstances, section 172 (3) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 allows a health board to make a payment when it considers this to be justified. Each application for assistance is decided on its own merits by the health boards.
In relation to other social welfare payments, a single person facing single parenthood may qualify for lone parent's allowance which is a means-tested payment following the birth of the child. Lone parents can continue to receive this allowance while studying on a full time basis.
My Department has introduced a number of educational incentives for lone parents and the long term unemployed. Participants in "second chance" educational schemes, such as the vocational training opportunities scheme and the third level allowance scheme, may continue to receive their full social welfare payment and retain a range of secondary benefits, such as rent supplements, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme for the duration of their course. These participants are required to have been in receipt of a social welfare payment for at least one year and to be aged 23 years of age or over.
At present, the total number of lone parents participating on the vocational training opportunities scheme and the third level allowance scheme is approximately 500 and 90 respectively.