Vol. 487 No. 4
162 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will review the pension entitlement of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly in view of the fact that her spouse is also on a social welfare pension. [4388/98]
The person concerned is in receipt of an old age non-contributory pension at the maximum personal rate of £67.50 per week.
Her spouse is in receipt of an old age contributory pension at the weekly rate of £80.90. This is the appropriate personal rate payable based on his age and on his yearly average of 42 social insurance contributions over the 28 year period from 1953 to 1981 inclusive. To receive the maximum rate, he would have required a yearly average of 48 contributions.
The spouse is in receipt of free electricity allowance, free television licence, free telephone rental allowance and fuel allowance of £5 per week in the winter heating season. Only one of each of these allowances is payable per household. The couple each have a free travel pass.
They are, therefore, receiving their full entitlement from my Department.
