Written answers

Tuesday, 14 November 2006

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Benefits

9:00 am

Photo of Arthur MorganArthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 115: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there are proposals to increase the living alone allowance for pensioners. [37651/06]

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 390: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost of doubling the living alone allowance to €15.40. [37430/06]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 390 together.

The living alone increase 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 payments and who are living alone. It is also available to people who are under 66 years of age who are living alone and who receive payments under one of a number of invalidity type schemes. The increase is intended as a contribution towards the additional costs people face when they live alone.

The additional payment is primarily designed to target the increased risk of poverty that older people face if living alone though, as already indicated, it is also payable to those receiving long-term invalidity type payments in recognition of the particular difficulties faced by that group.

At present just over 150,000 people are in receipt of this additional payment. The estimated cost of doubling the payment to €15.40 per week is €61.5 million per annum.

The policy in relation to support for pensioners has been, for many years, to give priority to increasing the personal rates of pension rather than focusing on payments such as the living alone increase. This approach ensures that resources are used to improve the position of all pensioners. Any increases in the payment would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 116: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on linking the rate of carer's benefit payable to a percentage of former salary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37634/06]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Supporting and recognising carers in our society is and has been a priority of the Government since 1997. Over that period, weekly payment rates to carers have been greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care grant have been introduced and extended.

Carer's Benefit is a weekly income support payment intended to support people who leave the workforce temporarily to care for someone who is in need of full-time care and attention. As the payment is not intended as an income replacement, it is not paid with reference to the recipient's previous earnings. This is in line with the practice generally for other social welfare payments.

In Budget 2006, I announced the biggest ever increases in the weekly rates of payments to carers. In particular, I increased the rate of carer's benefit to €180.70 per week for people who are caring for one person. People who are caring for more than one person are paid at 150% of the standard rate. I also increased the level of the respite care grant from €1,000 to €1,200 per year from June 2006.

I have also made other improvements to the supports available to carers from my Department. From June this year, I increased the number of hours that a carer may work and still receive carer's allowance, carer's benefit or respite care grant from 10 to 15 hours per week. I also extended the duration of the carer's benefit scheme from 15 months to 2 years. The duration of the associated carer's leave scheme has also been extended to 2 years.

Recommendations involving additional expenditure can only be considered in a budgetary context. However, I am always prepared to consider changes to existing arrangements where these are for the benefit of recipients and financially sustainable within the resources available to me. I will continue to bring forward proposals that recognise the valued and valuable contribution of carers in a tangible way.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.