John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the living alone allowance might be extended to those not in receipt of a social welfare pension, but whose existence is known and recognised by the granting of the free schemes. [21430/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The living alone allowance is an additional payment of €7.70 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare type payments and who are living alone. It is also paid to people under 66 years of age who are living alone and are receiving one of a number of invalidity type schemes.

It is not a payment in its own right but an allowance which can only be paid as a supplement to a social welfare payment. As such, it cannot be paid to people without a social welfare entitlement or to those whose pension payments are made under the social security regimes of other countries.