Michael Ring
Ceist:172 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is receiving the over-80s allowance in her pension; and if not, when this payment will be made. [10873/02]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The person concerned is in receipt of a widow's contributory pension at the maximum weekly rate of €151.20, including an over 80's allowance of €6.40.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:173 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is having her one parent family allowance cut in view of the fact that her average weekly earnings are ?220 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10876/02]
The person concerned was in receipt of one-parent family payment at the rate of €95.60. A review of her earnings in 2001 based on her P60 for this year, indicated that her average weekly earnings of €342.80, £270.00, exceeded the statutory weekly limit of €293.00, £230.76. Therefore, she would not be entitled to payment but would be entitled to a transitional payment at the rate of €47.80. She was asked to return her book so that the necessary revision could be made. The person concerned is now being asked to supply more recent evidence of her earnings to establish if there has been any change in her current earnings. On receipt of this information her entitlement will be further reviewed by the deciding officer.
Under social welfare legislation decisions on claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
Noel Ahern
Ceist:174 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason the pre-1953 pension and the QAA is based on 50% of relevant pension; the way in which this was arrived at as, in all other reduced or full pensions, the QAA is at a much higher level; if he will clarify this situation in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10883/02]
The special pre-1953 pension was introduced from May 2000. The pension is paid at 50% of the maximum rate, with payments for dependants also made at 50% of the appropriate rates where applicable. The payment was modelled, both in terms of qualifying conditions and rates of payment, on the special self-employed pension which was introduced from April 1999.
In general, a qualified adult allowance is paid at a lower rate than the personal rate. However, in reduced rate pensions the treatment of these allowances was somewhat uneven. In pro rata pension cases and the special pre-1953 and special self employed pensions the qualified adult allowance reflected the rate at which the personal rate was paid. In some standard reduced rate cases the qualified adult allowance exceeded the rate being received by the pensioner.
In budget 2001, the Government made a commitment to increase the qualified adult allowance rate for those over 66 years of age to the maximum of the old age non-contributory pension over a number of years. In the context of this commitment it was also decided to standardise the treatment of qualified adult allowance payments on reduced rate pensions. From April 2001 the qualified adult allowance payments in all new cases reflect the rate at which pensions are awarded. For instance, if a person is awarded a pension at half the full personal rate the qualified adult will also be paid at half the full qualified adult allowance rate. Special arrangements were put in place for those cases where the qualified adult allowance payments already exceeded the personal rate.