Helen Keogh
Ceist:150 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Social Welfare the comparative levels of social welfare payments available to unemployed persons in this State and in Northern Ireland. [2376/97]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following tabular statement:
Comparison between UK and Ireland
Unemployment Benefit, Unemployment Assistance, One Parent Family Payment
|
UK |
Ireland |
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|
October 1996 |
(April 1997) |
July 1996 |
(June 1997) |
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|
£ |
£ |
IR£ |
IR£ |
||
|
1. Contribution-based |
1. Unemployment Benefit |
||||
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
|||||
|
(Maximum duration 182 days) |
(Maximum duration 390 days) |
||||
|
Max. Personal Rate — depending on age |
28.85 — 47.90 |
29.60 — 49.15 |
Max. Personal Rate |
64.50 |
67.50 |
|
*Adult Dependant Increase — depending on age |
None |
None |
Max. Personal Rate |
38.50 |
40.00 |
|
*Child Dependant Increase |
None |
None |
Child Dependant Increase |
13.20 |
13.20 |
|
*Note: A person with an adult dependent/child dependent(s) may apply for income based on Jobseeker's allowance for his dependents. (See point 2.) In the case of a couple with dependent children, the total amount payable cannot exceed the amount of Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance for their family size. |
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|
2. Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance |
2. Unemployment Assistance |
||||
|
Personal Rate — depending on age |
28.85 — 47.90 |
29.60 — 49.15 |
(a) Short-term Max. |
62.40 |
65.40 |
|
Adult Dependant Increase |
See below |
See below |
Adult Dependant Increase |
38.50 |
40.00 |
|
Child Dependant Increase |
See below |
See below |
Child Dependant Increase |
13.20 |
13.20 |
|
Couple — depending on age |
28.85 — 75.20 |
29.60 — 77.15 |
(b) Long-term Max. |
64.50 |
67-50 |
|
Adult Dependant Increase |
38.50 |
40.00 |
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|
Child Dependant Increase — depending on age and subject to child not being a claimant |
16.45 — 37.90 |
16.60 — 38.90 |
Child Dependant Increase |
13.20 |
13.20 |
|
3. Lone Parents (Income Support)† |
3. Lone Parents (One Parent Family Payment) |
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|
Max. Personal Rate — depending on age |
28.85 — 47.90 |
29.60 — 49.15 |
Max. Personal Rate |
64.50 |
67.50 |
|
Child Dependant Increase — depending on age and subject to child not being a claimant |
16.45 — 37.90 |
16.90 — 38.90 |
Child Dependant Increase |
15.20 |
15.20 |
|
†Note: |
†Note: Lone Parents who are entitled to Unemployment Benefit (UB) receive half the personal rate in addition to One Parent Family Payment. Where the lone Parent is on a reduced One Parent Family Payment, this UB rate (i.e. half personal rate) may be increased by an amount equal to that by which the One Parent Family Payment is reduced. This increase may not exceed the maximum amount of unemployment benefit payable to an unemployed person with the same number of child dependants. |
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|
(i) Lone Parents who opt to sign on have to claim Jobseeker's Allowance rather than income support. |
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|
(ii) The Income Support and income based Jobseeker's Allowance schemes outlined above are also paid with premiums based on personal (e.g disability) or family circumstances. e.g.: |
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|
Family Premium: at least one member is a child or young person |
10.55 |
10.80 |
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|
Standard Rate |
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|
Lone Parent Rate |
15.75 |
15.75 |
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|
Disability Premium: if one member is disabled |
20.40 |
20.95 |