Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 447: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the living alone allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not increased from €7.70 for a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12756/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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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 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 and is subject to regular review. It was decided in the context of Budget 2007 to continue this policy with maximum increases of €16 and €18 per week granted on personal rates giving a maximum rate of the state pension (contributory) of €209.30 per week and a maximum non-contributory pension of €200 per week. Taking account of the increases in the Budget, since 1996 pensions have increased by almost 119% or about 57% in real terms. The person concerned is in receipt of State pension (contributory) at the maximum rate along with the living alone increase and has received the full benefit of the Budget increases.