Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 977: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs If a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 is entitled to any form of assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28419/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person to whom the Deputy refers is currently in receipt of a Survivor's Contributory Pension at the maximum rate payable to a person under 66 years and has been advised of a possible entitlement to the National Fuel scheme.

There is a general rule in the social welfare code that a person who is entitled to more than one income maintenance payment at any one time may only receive one of these payments. However, there are some exceptions to this rule which includes the treatment of persons in receipt of Survivor's Pension who, if they have sufficient PRSI contributions, may concurrently receive half-rate Disability Benefit up to a maximum period of 390 days. The person in question did concurrently receive Survivor's Pension with half-rate Disability Benefit for the maximum period.

The person is not qualified for Invalidity Pension, a payment for people who are deemed to be permanently incapable of work, based on the required number of paid or credited PRSI contributions. However, as there is a gap in medical certification for particular periods, the person may be entitled to receive credited PRSI contributions. In order to progress this aspect, the person has been notified accordingly and asked to submit necessary medical evidence for the relevant periods.

Qualification for Invalidity Pension may, depending on the person's circumstances, be more advantageous as it would also allow qualification for receipt of the household benefits package (Electricity/Gas Allowance, the Telephone Allowance and the Free Television License) which is not generally available to recipients of Survivor's Pension until after age 66. In cases of exceptional need, assistance is also available under the Supplementary Welfare scheme, administered by the Health Service Executive.

Any changes to existing entitlements would have to be examined in the context of the wider budgetary package.