Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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318. To ask the Minister for Health if he considers there to be a potential unfairness in his recent move to set the over 70s medical card allowance for a couple at less than double that of a single person over 70; if such a move is contrary to established practice in other areas of taxation where couple allowances and rates are set at double the figure for a single person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55070/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The adjustment to the over-70s medical cards, to which the Deputy refers, is not a tax related adjustment and does not relate to any allowance or tax credit.

Assessment for eligibility for an over-70s medical card is based on a gross income basis and there are no standard deductions allowable (for example, for income tax). Pensions, earnings, interest from capital and all other sources of income are included in the means test.

The gross income limits for a single person is currently €600 per week and €1,200 per week, in the case of a couple. Under Budget 2014, it was announced that income limits for the over-70s medical card would be set at €500 per week and €900 per week for a single person and a couple, respectively. In setting the limits, the Government recognises that the living costs of an individual living alone are more than half the living costs of a couple living together and that expenditure does not necessarily diminish relative to the number of people in the household. This is reflected, inter alia, through the provision of the Living Alone Increase and differential income limits for medical cards for persons aged under 70 years between individuals and couples. Furthermore, in the assessment for Supplementary Welfare Allowance, a differential applies whereby the rate for a dependent qualified adult is not half the personal rate of the applicant.

In that context, the over-70s income limit for a single person has been reduced proportionately less than the income limit for a couple.