Written answers

Thursday, 30 June 2005

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

8:00 pm

Photo of John CreganJohn Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the living alone allowance was first introduced; the rate of same when introduced; when it was last increased; the level to which it was increased; if he will consider an increase in the allowance; and if it will be increased to all persons over 66 years living alone whether receiving a social welfare pension or not. [23990/05]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus 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 available to people under 66 years of age who are living alone and are receiving payments under one of a number of invalidity type schemes. The allowance was first introduced in 1977 and the payment rate at the time was £1 per week. The allowance is not a payment in its own right but a supplement to an Irish social welfare pension or other payment. As such, it cannot be paid to people without a social welfare entitlement or those whose pension payments are made under the social security regimes of other countries.

The allowance was last increased in 1996. The policy with regard to support for pensioners since then has been to commit resources to improving the personal pension rates for all pensioners, rather than supplementary payments such as the living alone allowance. This approach ensures that the position of all our pensioners is improved.

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