Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004
81 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the policy reasons behind the decision that involvement in the special saving investment accounts will be counted as means against any future social welfare payments. [28168/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have recently asked my Department to carry out a comprehensive examination of the current arrangements for assessment of capital, particularly in so far as they apply to SSIAs, and I will consider what action needs to be taken on foot of it. I expect that this examination will be concluded in the near future.
Overall, in assessing means for social assistance purposes, account is taken of any cash income the person may have, together with the value of capital and property. Capital may include the following: stocks and shares of every description, which are assessed according to their current market value; savings certificates, bonds, national instalment savings, which are assessed according to their current market value; money invested in a bank, building society and so forth. Under current arrangements amounts held in SSIA accounts are treated in the same manner as other capital outlined above and no specific decision has been made about them.
In assessing the value of capital, however, significant disregards are applied. The first €12,697.38 of capital is disregarded and the assessment is on a sliding scale for amounts above this. In the case of old age pension, for example, a single pensioner with capital of up to €20,315.80 qualifies for a full pension while a single pensioner with capital of up to €68,565.84 qualifies for a minimum pension. These amounts are doubled in the case of married pensioners.
