John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the living alone allowance was last increased; the amount of the payment now; if it has been raised in line with inflation since the date of the last increase; if she will undertake to increase same to at least compensate for inflation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21823/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, 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 receiving payments under one of a number of invalidity type schemes. The payment was last increased in 1996.

The policy in relation to support for older people has been, for many years, to give priority to increasing the personal rates of pension in addition to enhancing the Household Benefits Package which includes TV Licence, Telephone, Electricity/Gas and the Fuel Allowance rather than supplements like the living alone increase. The objective is to use resources to improve the position of all pensioners to the fullest extent possible rather than focusing on particular groups. Under this policy the rate of contributory pension has increased from €95.23 per week in 1996 to €223.30 per week in 2008 and the non-contributory pension has increased from €81.90 per week to €212.00 per week.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was assessed for disability allowance; if she will provide a full and total breakdown of all the income for the household; if there is anything that was not taken into consideration which would allow them to be approved even a nominal payment. [22049/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned originally applied for Disability Allowance on 19 February 2008. She was assessed with weekly means of €383.28 based on her spouse's earnings, derived as follows: Gross weekly pay year to date (per payslip): €744.33; less PRSI, Union & Superannuation — €45.51; insurable Employment Disregard — €60.00; total — €638.82; weekly Means @€0.60 per €1 — €383.28. As this exceeded the statutory limit of €377.10 per week for payment of Disability Allowance, her claim was refused.

The provisions governing the assessment of means for Disability Allowance purposes are contained in Part 1 & 2 of Schedule 3 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and Articles 141 to 158 of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations, 2007 S.I. No. 142 of 2007, as amended. Means are assessed on the claimant's own means and that of their spouse/partner subject to certain exceptions laid down in legislation. A letter issued to the person concerned on 19 May 2008 notifying her of this decision and giving her the option of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days. Should her financial circumstances change in the future, the person concerned can notify Disability Allowance Section and her entitlement will be re-assessed.