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Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2015

Thursday, 17 December 2015

Ceisteanna (97)

Seamus Kirk

Ceist:

97. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of changing farm assist means-testing rules so that irrespective of the source of farm income, the first €3,000 will be disregarded and the balance will be means tested at 50%. [46301/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker's allowance. Farm assist recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker's allowance scheme such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2015 Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure of almost €89 million on the farm assist scheme.

Under the existing Farm Assist scheme rules, a claimant can receive a €60 weekly disregard in relation to any off farm income they may earn. This equates to €3,120 per annum. The balance of any earnings is assessed as means at a rate of 60%. Similarly, a qualified adult dependent of a Farm Assist claimant, who has earnings from employment, can also avail of their own weekly earnings disregard of €60.

The assessment of means for the farm assist scheme is designed to reflect the actual net income from farming. Income and expenditure figures for the preceding year are generally used as an indicator of the expected position in the following year. However, farm assist is a flexible payment. Account is taken of any exceptional circumstances so as to ensure that the assessment accurately reflects the current situation. Any farmer experiencing lower levels of income or cash-flow issues can ask their local Intreo office to review the level of means applying to their claim.

It is not possible in the time available to produce a costing of the introduction of a new earnings disregard of €3,000, which would apply to income irrespective of source. Such a costing would have to differentiate between earned income and farm income and would also have to replace the existing earnings disregards, which apply to earned income. This process would require a detailed reassessment of all Farm Assist claims and would be a significant undertaking across all Intreo offices.

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