Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a decision not to award the household benefits package may be appealed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26291/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Deserted wife's benefit is a payment made to a woman deserted by her husband. Entitlement to payment is based on social insurance contributions paid by the wife or her husband. The deserted wife's benefit scheme was closed to new applications with effect from 2 January 1997, when the one-parent family payment was introduced.

The purpose of the household benefits package is to facilitate older people, people with disabilities living alone and carers to participate more fully in society. In general, people under 66 who do not have a disability related payment are not entitled to household benefits. Deserted wife's benefit is therefore not a qualifying payment. Likewise, one parent family payment, which replaced deserted wife's benefit in 1997 for new applicants, is not a qualifying payment. A person in receipt of deserted wife's benefit who is over 66 may be eligible for household benefits.

As the household benefits are non-statutory, it is not possible to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.