Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:207 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will consider extending the free schemes to younger widows or widowers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28464/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 10 November 2004
Ceisteanna (154)
Freagraí scríofa
The household benefits package of schemes, which comprises the electricity, gas allowances, telephone allowance and television licence schemes, is generally available to people living permanently in the State, aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who fulfil a means test.
The package is also available to carers and people with disabilities under the age of 66 years who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments such as invalidity pension and disability allowance. People aged over 70 years of age can qualify regardless of their income or household composition. The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years, or over, to all carers in receipt of carer's allowance and to carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance. It is also available to certain people with disabilities.
Widows and widowers aged from 60 to 65 years whose late spouses had been in receipt of the household benefit package or free travel retain that entitlement to ensure that those households do not suffer a loss of entitlements following the death of the spouse. A range of proposals, including that of the Deputy, has been made to extend the free schemes to other groups. These are kept under review in the context of the objectives of the scheme and budgetary resources.