Vol. 470 No. 2
59 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to change the regulations in order to resolve the problem whereby a beneficiary loses entitlement to an adult dependant allowance and half the increases payable for dependent children, where the income of the spouse or partner exceeds the income limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18553/96]
Under existing provisions, an adult dependant allowance and the full rate of child dependant allowance is payable to a social welfare recipient in respect of a spouse or partner and each qualified child where the spouse or partner is not in receipt of a social welfare payment in his or her own right and does not have income in excess of £60 per week. Various options for alleviating the problems associated with the current situation, whereby a beneficiary loses entitlement to the adult dependant allowance and half of any increase payable in respect of dependent children when the earnings of the spouse or partner exceed the present income limit of £60 are being examined by my Department. One such option is to introduce a more gradual withdrawal of the adult dependant allowance where the income of the spouse or partner is within specified income limits. Any changes along these lines would have substantial cost implications, however, and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
