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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 1992

Vol. 416 No. 2

Written Answers. - Means Test Formula.

Brendan Howlin

Brendan Howlin

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

281 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that under the current means test formula for unemployment assistance, an increase in a social welfare payment for one member of a household can result in a reduction in unemployment assistance for another member of the same household; if he will undertake a review of the means test to ensure that a nil valuation on board and lodgings applies where an unemployment assistance applicant resides only with persons who are dependent on social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Charlie McCreevy

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

The assessment of any benefit or privilege such as board and lodging in the family home has been a feature of the unemployment assistance scheme since its inception. Its purpose is to achieve a degree of equity between those claimants who have this benefit and those who have not.

The value of board and lodging to an applicant living at home is assessed by reference to the parent's net income while taking account of the number of non-earning members of the household.

It is understood that the Deputy has in mind the case of a single person whose means, on review, were increased from £17.80 to £22.70 per week arising from the increased rate of retirement pension received by his parents.

Having regard to the special circumstances of this case I arranged for the level of means assessed to be examined again by a deciding officer who, having reviewed the overall situation has determined that the assessment should be reduced to £3.50 per week.

Roinn