Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the policy criteria and rationale underlying her decision to pay certain social welfare benefits (details supplied) at different weekly rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4883/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The payment rates for long-term social insurance-based payments such as invalidity pension, widow/widower's contributory pension and state pension (contributory) are normally higher than the analogous social assistance based payments such as disability allowance. The higher rates reflect the fact that entitlement to long-term social insurance payments is based on PRSI contributions made by employees/employers and the self-employed.