Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 2

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

215 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the extent to which he proposes to improve or extend payment of pensions to those with various levels of impaired vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20458/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

217 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the extent to which he proposes to increase payment or extend eligibility for payments in respect of disablement, disability, or unemployability payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20460/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 217 together.

Substantial progress has been made in the services and supports available for people with disabilities since this Government took up office, including significant improvements in social welfare payments. For instance, last December's record social welfare budget package provided for a £10 per week increase for people with disabilities and their carers aged 66 years and over and an £8 per week increase for people with disabilities and their carers aged under 66 years. In addition, increases have been paid four weeks earlier than last year, from April 2001, fuel allow ance has been extended by three extra weeks, from the first week in October to late April, an additional £6 per week living alone allowance is being paid to recipients of invalidity pension, disability allowance, unemployability supplement and blind person's pension from April 2001, full rate disability allowance is being paid where the person's partner is in receipt of any other social welfare payment, from April 2001, amounting to weekly increases of between £35 and £46, current exemption of income of up to £150,000 from the sale of a pensioner's residence has been extended to people getting disability allowance and blind person's pension from April 2001, weekly income disregards for carer's allowance have been increased from £75 for single people and £150 for couples to £125 and £250 respectively from April 2001, respite care grant has been increased from £300 to £400 and £800 grant is paid to carers looking after two or more people, access to back to education allowance for all people with disabilities following completion of a community employment scheme and £1 million extra allocated to the comhairle information service.
These measures build on the other improvements which I have introduced and which apply to all people with disabilities regardless of the nature of their impairment. For example, all payments to people with disabilities and their carers have been substantially increased in real terms, a range of measures have been introduced to improve access to disability allowance for people in full-time residential care, various measures have been introduced to facilitate people with disabilities in accessing employment, training and educational opportunities, significant improvements in the assessment of capital for disability allowance and blind person's pension purposes have been introduced leading to a fivefold increase from £2,000 to £10,000 in the amount of capital which is disregarded for means test purposes.
The question of further improvements in social welfare payments for people with disabilities is a matter for consideration in a budgetary context, in the light of available resources and having regard to the Government's other priorities in this area.
Question No. 216 answered with Question No. 210.
Question No. 217 answered with Question No. 215.

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

218 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his Department changed the rule whereby widows and widowers of old aged pensioners who are receiving free schemes do not qualify for a continuation of the free schemes if they had not been living with their spouse at the time of his or her death; and if he will take steps to eliminate this anomaly and discrimination against widows and widowers who were separated from their spouse at the time of the spouse's death. [16360/01]

Free schemes are generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or pass a means test. They are also available to carers and certain people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. They must also satisfy conditions as to household composition.

From October 2000 the schemes were extended to all those over 75 years regardless of income or household composition, and from May 2001 everyone aged over 70 may qualify on this basis. When a person who is in receipt of free scheme benefits dies, the surviving spouse may retain these benefits, provided she or he is aged between 60 and 65. If, however, the couple were separated and living in separate households at the time of death, the surviving spouse would not retain the benefits. Separated couples may each qualify for free schemes in their own right, provided they meet the qualifying conditions of the schemes.

Barr
Roinn