Written Answers. - Lone Parents' Allowance.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:
94
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
the total number of payments made to lone parents by his Department in 1995; the total value of these payments in respect of this period; the payments and all other likely benefits that lone parents may be entitled to receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13122/96]
At present, a person parenting alone can qualify for either a widow's/widower's (contributory) pension or deserted wife's benefit — which are based on social insurance contributions — or lone parent's allowance, which is subject to a means test.
The total number of one parent families (i.e. with children) in receipt of payments under those schemes and the attached cost at the end of 1995 is set out in the table below.
|
Payment
|
No. of Recipients with children
|
Estimated Cost
|
|
|
(£m.)
|
|
Lone Parent's Allowance
|
45,779
|
194
|
|
Widow's/Widower's Pension
|
8,996
|
45
|
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit
|
10,063
|
54
|
|
Total
|
64,838
|
293
|
Since 13 June last, when the increases awarded in this year's budget took effect, the current rates of payment for the above schemes are as follows:
Widow's/Widower's Pension/Deserted Wife's Benefit: £68.10 per week with an increase of £17 paid for each qualified child.
Lone Parent's Allowance:£64.50 per week with an increase of £15.20 per week for each qualified child.
As with any person dependent on long-term social welfare, health board payment or similar payment, parents in receipt of payment under the above schemes may also be entitled to a fuel allowance and assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (which would include help with rent/mortgage and back to school clothing and footwear allowance). Both lone parent and two-parent families may also qualify for family income supplement payable where the average weekly family income is below the fixed amount for the size of the family. Lone parent's allowance recipients — along with all persons in receipt of means-tested social assistance payments — also receive butter vouchers (two each month plus an additional two in respect of each qualified child).
From January 1997, the existing lone parent's allowance and deserted wife's payments will be amalgamated into the new one-parent family payment. This new payment will bring about full equality between men and women and will remove the concept of "desertion" from the social welfare system.
The new payment is designed, under the latest proposals, to make employment a more feasible option for lone parents, a process my Department have been pursuing for some years. A parent will be able to have earnings of up to £6,000 a year and still qualify for the full payment.
I am committed to ensuring the parents of one parent families who are at serious risk of poverty can improve their employment prospects and I am confident that the new payment will be successful in this regard. There will be no loss to existing recipients of lone parent's allowance and deserted wife's benefit.
