Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan in receipt of farm assist has had payment reduced from €15.90 to €2.10; her views on whether this is a serious income reduction for someone on such a low income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1524/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Arising from the changes made in the Social Welfare Act 2010 the rates of payment for both jobseeker's allowance and farm assist payments were reduced. Accordingly, the farm assist payment of the person concerned was reduced in line with these provisions with effect from 1 January 2010.

The person concerned applied for and was awarded farm assist with effect from 19 November 2008. In such cases, a social welfare inspector interviews the claimant and makes such inquiries as are necessary to ascertain his or her means. The person's means were assessed at €324 per week, derived from his spouse's income from employment and farm income.

Where a person's situation changes after making an initial claim for farm assist, he or she can apply to have his or her means reviewed. In addition, it is open to the individual, if he or she is dissatisfied with the means assessed, to make an appeal to the social welfare appeals office.

The person concerned requested a review of his means in November 2009 and a social welfare investigator duly reviewed his circumstances. However, based on the information provided by the claimant, there was no material change in the means derived from his farming enterprise and his wife's income from employment remained unchanged. Accordingly there was no change in his means. He was notified of this decision and of his right to appeal to the social welfare appeals office.

The Deputy will be aware that in light of the changed economic environment the basis for assessing means in cases where self-employment is involved was reviewed by my Department, which issued circulars in May 2008 and December 2009 advising inspectors and deciding officers of the changed economic circumstances and the need to recognise that, in general, claimants' self-employed income potential has reduced. Inspectors were advised that each case should be examined on its respective merits and that they should apply their knowledge of local conditions to arrive at a fair assessment of the income from self-employment in the coming 12 months.

I appreciate the need to ensure that claimants who have farm income and whose income is significantly affected by the economic downturn receive their full and fair entitlements having regard to the legislative provisions and means test that apply.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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This man's wife earns a low income by working in retail four days per week and he owns a farm comprising 14 acres. I hope his application will be reassessed in order to take account of his actual income because the decision as it stands is extremely unfair.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Difficulties arise where the wife is also working because her income is also taken into account. We accept that somebody might need farm assist but the household income must be considered. This is a social issue because in the past the man was the main breadwinner but the roles have now reversed and men are being refused social welfare assistance because their household income is being earned by their spouses.