Vol. 492 No. 5
56 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if social welfare equality arrears paid to women are being included in assessment for means related social welfare benefit; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a commitment was given that arrears payments would not be treated in this way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14343/98]
Social welfare legislation provides that moneys received in the form of lump sum payments such as those received by married women under the equal treatment arrears are assessable as income for the purposes of entitlement to social assistance payments. However, I understand that my predecessor Deputy De Rossa gave an undertaking in May 1995 that such arrears payments would not be so assessed and I understand that this is the situation.
If the Deputy has a specific case in mind I would be happy to have it investigated if she could provide me with the relevant details.
