Written Answers. - Social Welfare Data.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:
158
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
the number of people in receipt of social welfare payments; the age profile of recipients; the daily cost of payments; the likely increase in 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23777/99]
Data on the number of recipients of social welfare payments at 1 December 1998 and September 1999 are contained in Table 1. Data on the age profile of recipients of the principal social welfare schemes are outlined in Table 2 to Table 12.
It is projected that the total cost, excluding administration, in 1999 of all social welfare schemes and services will be £4,743 million, representing expenditure of approximately £13 million per day.
The abridged Estimates for 2000, published earlier this month, provide for expenditure (excluding administration) of £4,904 million on all social welfare schemes and services. This represents expenditure of approximately £13.4 million per day. It should be noted that the abridged Estimates do not provide for any increases in expenditure which might arise as a consequence of budget 2000.
Table 1
Number of Recipients of Weekly Social Welfare Payments by Payment Type and Insurance or Assistance, December 1998 and September, 1999.
Type of Payment
|
Recipients
|
1998
|
September (1)1999
|
Change%
|
Old Age (Contributory) Pension
|
71,706
|
74,729
|
4.2%
|
|
Retirement Pension
|
75,316
|
77,946
|
3.5%
|
|
Widow/er's (Contributory) Pension
|
98,518
|
99,256
|
0.7%
|
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit
|
13,835
|
13,379
|
3.3%
|
|
Maternity Benefit
|
5,453
|
6,105
|
12.0%
|
|
Health and Safety Benefit
|
18
|
32
|
77.8%
|
|
Adoptive Benefit
|
12
|
19
|
58.3%
|
|
Orphan's (Contributory) Allowance
|
886
|
874
|
1.4%
|
|
Disability Benefit
|
43,766
|
46,327
|
5.9%
|
|
Invalidity Pension
|
44,925
|
46,252
|
3.0%
|
|
Injury Benefit
|
746
|
646
|
13.4%
|
|
Interim Disability Benefit
|
439
|
602
|
37.1%
|
|
Disablement Benefit
|
10,182
|
10,453
|
2.7%
|
|
Death Benefit Pension
|
630
|
649
|
3.0%
|
|
Unemployment Benefit
|
63,913
|
57,247
|
10.4%
|
|
Total Social Insurance
|
430,345
|
434,516
|
1.0%
|
|
Type of Payment
|
Recipients
|
1998
|
September (1)1999
|
Change%
|
Old Age (Non-Contributory) Pension
|
95,890
|
93,570
|
2.4%
|
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance
|
13,897
|
13,301
|
4.3%
|
|
Widow/er's (Non-Contributory) Pension
|
18,382
|
18,094
|
1.6%
|
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance
|
1,807
|
1,738
|
3.8%
|
|
Prisoner's Wife's Allowance
|
4
|
4
|
0.0%
|
|
One-Parent Family Payment
|
65,548
|
69,608
|
6.2%
|
|
Orphan's (Non-Contributory) Pension
|
531
|
587
|
10.5%
|
|
Disability Allowance
|
47,126
|
49,524
|
5.1%
|
|
Blind Person's Pension
|
2,358
|
2,306
|
2.2%
|
|
Carer's Allowance
|
11,416
|
13,642
|
19.5%
|
|
Unemployment Assistance
|
129,923
|
112,183
|
13.7%
|
|
Smallholders
|
6,476
|
1,256
|
80.6%
|
|
Farm Assist
|
0
|
6,519
|
|
|
Family Income Supplement
|
13,143
|
14,108
|
7.3%
|
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance
|
16,300
|
20,377
|
25.0%
|
|
Rent Allowance
|
586
|
549
|
6.3%
|
|
Total Social Assistance
|
423,387
|
417,366
|
1.4%
|
|
Grand Total
|
853,732
|
851,882
|
0.2%
|
|
(1) In addition, at the end of September 1999, there were:– (a) 493,196 families in receipt of Child Benefit and (b) 40,475 recipients of Employment Support Services (Back to Work Allowance, Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, Back to Education Allowance and the Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme).
Table 2
Number of Recipients of Old Age Pensions by Type of Pension, Age and Sex, 1998 (Estimated)
Age Group
|
Old Age(Contributory)Pension
|
|
|
RetirementPension
|
|
|
Old Age(Non-Contributory)Pension
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
Males
|
Females
|
Males
|
Females
|
Males
|
Females
|
Males
|
Females
|
|
|
|
|
Under 70
|
11,140
|
5,356
|
25,292
|
8,381
|
7,686
|
9,560
|
44,118
|
23,297
|
|
|
|
|
70 under 75
|
12,324
|
6,633
|
16,638
|
5,605
|
11,136
|
13,208
|
40,098
|
25,446
|
|
|
|
|
75 under 80
|
10,976
|
6,729
|
9,242
|
2,898
|
10,521
|
12,336
|
30,739
|
21,963
|
|
|
|
|
80 under 85
|
7,050
|
4,669
|
3,235
|
1,188
|
7,079
|
9,275
|
17,364
|
15,132
|
|
|
|
|
85 and over
|
3,479
|
3,350
|
1,805
|
1,032
|
4,796
|
10,293
|
10,080
|
14,675
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
44,969
|
26,737
|
56,212
|
19,104
|
41,218
|
54,672
|
142,399
|
100,513
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Overall Total
|
71,706
|
|
|
75,316
|
|
|
95,890
|
|
|
242,912
|
|
|
Table 3
Number of Recipients of Pre-Retirement Allowance by Age and Sex, 1998 (Estimated)
Age
|
Male
|
Female
|
Total
|
55
|
526
|
132
|
658
|
56
|
814
|
193
|
1,007
|
57
|
949
|
166
|
1,115
|
58
|
997
|
199
|
1,196
|
59
|
1,030
|
191
|
1,221
|
60
|
1,095
|
235
|
1,330
|
61
|
1,256
|
239
|
1,495
|
62
|
1,343
|
290
|
1,633
|
63
|
1,368
|
295
|
1,663
|
64
|
1,294
|
302
|
1,596
|
65
|
780
|
203
|
983
|
Total
|
11,452
|
2,445
|
13,897
|
Table 4
Number of Recipients of Widow/er's Pensions by Age and Sex, 1998 (Estimated)
Age
|
Contributory Pensions
|
Widows
|
Widowers
|
Total
|
Non-Contributory Pensions
|
Widows
|
Widowers
|
Total
|
OverallTotal
|
Under 25 years
|
7
|
1
|
8
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
8
|
|
|
25 to 29 years
|
65
|
6
|
71
|
3
|
–
|
3
|
74
|
|
|
30 to 34 years
|
253
|
61
|
314
|
2
|
–
|
2
|
316
|
|
|
35 to 39 years
|
722
|
181
|
903
|
15
|
2
|
17
|
920
|
|
|
40 to 44 years
|
1,269
|
382
|
1,650
|
24
|
4
|
28
|
1,678
|
|
|
45 to 49 years
|
2,270
|
662
|
2,933
|
104
|
5
|
109
|
3,042
|
|
|
50 to 54 years
|
4,207
|
1,162
|
5,369
|
362
|
14
|
376
|
5,745
|
|
|
55 to 59 years
|
6,189
|
1,436
|
7,625
|
737
|
17
|
754
|
8,379
|
|
|
60 to 64 years
|
9,914
|
1,900
|
11,814
|
1,609
|
19
|
1,628
|
13,442
|
|
|
65 to 69 years
|
12,395
|
1,007
|
13,401
|
2,874
|
20
|
2,894
|
16,295
|
|
|
70 to 74 years
|
15,474
|
557
|
16,031
|
3,962
|
5
|
3,967
|
19,998
|
|
|
75 to 79 years
|
16,402
|
506
|
16,908
|
4,204
|
2
|
4,206
|
21,114
|
|
|
80 years and over
|
20,914
|
577
|
21,491
|
4,394
|
4
|
4,398
|
25,889
|
|
|
Total
|
90,080
|
8,438
|
98,518
|
18,290
|
92
|
18,382
|
116,900
|
|
|
Table 5
Number of Recipients of Deserted Wife's Benefit, Deserted Wife's Allowance and Prisoner's Wife's Allowance, by Age, 1998 (Estimated)
Age
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance
|
Prisoner's Wife's Allowance
|
Under 25 years
|
4
|
–
|
–
|
25 to 29 years
|
134
|
–
|
–
|
30 to 34 years
|
878
|
–
|
–
|
35 to 39 years
|
2,108
|
–
|
–
|
40 to 44 years
|
2,793
|
40
|
–
|
45 to 49 years
|
2,931
|
168
|
1
|
50 to 54 years
|
2,307
|
345
|
2
|
55 to 59 years
|
1,396
|
428
|
|
60 to 64 years
|
766
|
356
|
1
|
65 years and over
|
518
|
470
|
|
Total
|
13,835
|
1,807
|
4
|
Table 6
Number of Recipients of One-Parent Family Payment by Status of Parent, Age and Sex, 1998 (Estimated)
Age Group
|
Unmarried Parent,Separated Parent,Prisoner's Spouse
|
|
|
WidowedPerson
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
Males
|
Females
|
Males
|
Females
|
Males
|
Females
|
|
|
|
Under 20 years
|
32
|
3,015
|
–
|
–
|
32
|
3,015
|
|
|
|
20 to 24 years
|
72
|
15,706
|
–
|
8
|
72
|
15,714
|
|
|
|
25 to 29 years
|
88
|
16,062
|
4
|
35
|
92
|
16,097
|
|
|
|
30 to 34 years
|
183
|
10,858
|
12
|
88
|
195
|
10,946
|
|
|
|
35 to 39 years
|
376
|
7,387
|
17
|
122
|
393
|
7,509
|
|
|
|
40 to 44 years
|
361
|
4,885
|
57
|
184
|
418
|
5,069
|
|
|
|
45 to 49 years
|
235
|
2,840
|
70
|
248
|
305
|
3,088
|
|
|
|
50 to 54 years
|
90
|
1,251
|
67
|
293
|
157
|
1,544
|
|
|
|
55 to 59 years
|
39
|
306
|
49
|
221
|
88
|
527
|
|
|
|
60 to 64 years
|
16
|
57
|
28
|
121
|
44
|
178
|
|
|
|
65 years and over
|
2
|
4
|
20
|
39
|
22
|
43
|
|
|
|
Total
|
1,494
|
62,371
|
324
|
1,359
|
1,818
|
63,730
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Overall Total
|
63,865
|
|
|
1,683
|
|
|
65,548
|
|
|
Table 7
Number of Recipients of Disability Benefit by Age and Sex, 1998 (Estimated)
Age
|
Males
|
Females
|
Total
|
Under 25 years
|
1,053
|
1,141
|
2,194
|
25 to 29 years
|
965
|
2,320
|
3,285
|
30 to 34 years
|
1,098
|
4,058
|
5,156
|
35 to 39 years
|
1,509
|
4,168
|
5,677
|
40 to 44 years
|
1,968
|
3,658
|
5,626
|
45 to 49 years
|
2,189
|
3,169
|
5,358
|
50 to 54 years
|
2,552
|
2,986
|
5,538
|
55 to 59 years
|
2,732
|
2,521
|
5,253
|
60 to 64 years
|
3,304
|
1,987
|
5,291
|
65 years and over
|
194
|
194
|
388
|
Total
|
17,564
|
26,202
|
43,766
|
Table 8
Number of Recipients of Invalidity Pension by Age, Marital Status and Sex, 1998 (Estimated)
Sex and Age
|
Single
|
Married
|
Widowed and Others
|
Total
|
Males:
|
|
|
|
|
Under 66 years
|
5,626
|
17,899
|
1,749
|
25,274
|
66 years and over
|
342
|
828
|
136
|
1,306
|
Total Males
|
5,968
|
18,727
|
1,885
|
26,580
|
|
|
|
|
|
Females:
|
|
|
|
|
Under 66 years
|
3,547
|
12,476
|
1,106
|
17,129
|
66 years and over
|
248
|
761
|
207
|
1,216
|
Total Females
|
3,795
|
13,237
|
1,313
|
18,345
|
Grand Total
|
9,763
|
31,964
|
3,198
|
44,925
|
Table 9
Number of Recipients of Carer's Allowance by Age and Sex, 1998 (Estimated)
Age
|
Male
|
Female
|
Total
|
Under 25 years
|
41
|
107
|
148
|
25 to 29 years
|
64
|
189
|
253
|
30 to 34 years
|
135
|
375
|
510
|
35 to 39 years
|
255
|
622
|
877
|
40 to 44 years
|
391
|
1,010
|
1,401
|
45 to 49 years
|
498
|
1,364
|
1,862
|
50 to 54 years
|
471
|
1,542
|
2,013
|
55 to 59 years
|
325
|
1,299
|
1,624
|
60 to 64 years
|
249
|
1,237
|
1,486
|
65 years and over
|
164
|
1,078
|
1,242
|
Total
|
2,593
|
8,823
|
11,416
|
Table 10
Number of Recipients of Blind Person's Pension by Age and Sex, 1998 (Estimated)
Age
|
Male
|
Female
|
Total
|
Under 25 years
|
93
|
79
|
172
|
25 to 29 years
|
90
|
82
|
172
|
30 to 34 years
|
79
|
62
|
141
|
35 to 39 years
|
101
|
82
|
183
|
40 to 44 years
|
80
|
92
|
172
|
45 to 49 years
|
106
|
102
|
208
|
50 to 54 years
|
101
|
90
|
191
|
55 to 59 years
|
112
|
91
|
203
|
60 to 64 years
|
112
|
110
|
222
|
65 years and over
|
306
|
388
|
694
|
Total
|
1,180
|
1,178
|
2,358
|
Table 11
Number of Persons on the Live Register by Age and Sex, 1998 (Estimated)
Age Group
|
Males
|
Number
|
%
|
Females
|
Number
|
%
|
Total
|
Number
|
%
|
Under 20 years
|
4,978
|
3.9
|
4,499
|
5.1
|
9,477
|
4.4
|
|
|
|
20 to 24 years
|
18,711
|
14.8
|
14,378
|
16.2
|
33,089
|
15.3
|
|
|
|
25 to 34 years
|
34,632
|
27.3
|
27,705
|
31.1
|
62,337
|
28.9
|
|
|
|
35 to 44 years
|
29,895
|
23.6
|
22,113
|
24.9
|
52,008
|
24.1
|
|
|
|
45 to 54 years
|
26,839
|
21.2
|
14,063
|
15.8
|
40,902
|
19.0
|
|
|
|
55 to 59 years
|
7,461
|
5.9
|
4,106
|
4.6
|
11,567
|
5.4
|
|
|
|
60 to 64 years
|
4,259
|
3.4
|
2,113
|
2.4
|
6,372
|
3.0
|
|
|
|
Total Live Register
|
126,775
|
100.0
|
88,977
|
100.0
|
215,752
|
100.0
|
|
|
|
Table 12
Number of Families Receiving Family Income Supplement by Age of Recipient and Family Income Group, 1998
Age of Recipient
|
Family Income Group (£s per week)
|
0-100
|
101-140
|
141-170
|
171-200
|
201-230
|
231 or more
|
Total
|
15 to 24
|
29
|
217
|
659
|
597
|
122
|
7
|
1,631
|
|
25 to 34
|
126
|
459
|
1,192
|
1,437
|
727
|
217
|
4,158
|
|
35 to 44
|
172
|
514
|
1,094
|
1,462
|
1,088
|
545
|
4,875
|
|
45 to 60
|
90
|
291
|
639
|
689
|
452
|
211
|
2,372
|
|
60 or more
|
6
|
14
|
25
|
34
|
13
|
15
|
107
|
|
Total
|
423
|
1,495
|
3,609
|
4,219
|
2,402
|
995
|
13,143
|
|
Ivor Callely
Ceist:
159
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
the number of people on reduced entitlements from his Department due to the 1953 rule on contributions and who have contributions prior to 1953; the cost implications if these claimants were to receive full benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23778/99]
The specific information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The final report of the National Pensions Board, 1993 stated that the facility for using pre-1953 contributions will end naturally at the end of the contribution year 2002-03. Some 59,000 people receive reduced rate or pro-rata, e.g. EU-Reciprocal Agreement, pensions under the old age contributory and retirement pensions schemes and all may potentially have some contributions in the pre-1953 era. The estimated full-year cost of extending a maximum rate pension to all of this group is £24 million.