Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2011
165 Deputy Beverley Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if a recipient of farm assist is offered casual employment lasting four days which will result in a net payment to them of €300 after expenses, the effect this will have on their farm assist payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2986/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraFarm assist is a means-assessed payment. Assessable income for means purposes is gross earnings less deductions for PRSI, superannuation (including AVCs and PRSAs), the pension levy and union dues. The person's net average assessable weekly earnings are assessed by reference to the previous 13 weeks (or another period if this is more representative of the person's normal working pattern).
Earnings from insurable employment are assessed as means using the following method: a disregard of €20 a day for each day worked by the customer up to a maximum of 3 days each week applies (maximum €60 a week) and the balance of the earnings is assessed at 60%. Should the person be offered casual employment lasting a total of four days only, earnings are assessed for that week using the formula above. If the means are in excess of the family rate for that week, then no entitlement exists for that week.
