Widow/ Widower Pension The widower or widow’s contributory pension is payable to widow or widower satisfying contribution condition. It is a flat rate payment with increases for qualified children.Widowed persons who are divorced may also qualify. Originally men did not qualify for the pension. A widow includes a person who would have been a widow but for the dissolution of marriage. The dissolution must be […]
Overview The Social Welfare Acts provide for two principal state pensions, commonly called the old age pension. The State Contributory pension requires satisfaction of social insurance contributions either paid or credited. The State Non-Contributory pension is means tested. The pensions were formerly, called the old age contributory or non-contributory pension. A person may qualify for the State Non-Contributory pension if he: is 66 years or […]
Old Age Pensions The Social Welfare Acts provide for two principal state pensions, commonly called the old age pension. The State Contributory pension requires satisfaction of social insurance contributions either paid or credited. The State Non-Contributory pension is means-tested. The pensions were formerly called the old age contributory or non-contributory pension. Formerly, the widow’s pension was available to a surviving widow. There was a contributory […]
Overview Persons in receipt of Social Welfare Payments are entitled to an increase in respect of a qualified child, separate from child benefit. The same broad conditions as apply to child benefit are applicable. Child increments are at a flat rate. A half rate increment applies where the spouse or partners is not a qualified adult of the claimant. The increments may be taxable. In […]
Maternity Benefits Maternity benefit is payable to employed and self-employed mothers who satisfy the requisite social insurance contributions. A doctor’s certificate is required to certify the expected date of delivery. Maternity benefit is 80% of the weekly earnings of the woman concerned, subject, however, to a maximum of [€280] or a minimum up to €221.80 or the illness benefit rates. The payment lasts for up […]
Categories Entitled One parent family payments and lone parent family payments are the modern form of the deserted wives benefits and allowances and certain survivors benefits. One parent family payment is payable to a widow, widower separated person, unmarried person spouse of a prisoner, not less than six months duration, surviving civil partner, party who is not living with a civil partner, The person must […]
General Child Benefit (formerly Children’s Allowance) is one of the few universal benefits under the Irish Social Welfare System. It is paid regardless of the means of the children and parents and regardless of social insurance contribution. The rate of payment is uniform but higher rate applies to third and subsequent children. Child Benefit is not taxable. Formerly, tax allowances were also granted on the […]
Tests There are a number of means tests applicable to social welfare benefits. Similar principles underlie the various tests. There are different tests between shorter-term and longer-term payments and supplementary welfare allowance. Each of the means tests is based on an assessment of income and assets. Generally, assets owned by the person and his spouse are considered. Income which the person might reasonably be expected […]
Deemed Income on Capital The deemed income on capital for the purpose of jobseekers’ allowance, pre-retirement allowance or the Farm Assist as follows: €20,000 to €30,000 5.2percent. €20, 000 to €30,000 5.2 percent. €30,000 to €40,000 10.4%. Over €40,000 20.8%. In the case of disability allowance, the permitted amounts of capital which is not assessed is higher €50,000. In the case of supplementary welfare allowance […]
Longer Terms Payments There are separate tests in respect of long-term payments such as widower’s and widow’s non-contributory pensions, guardian’s payments, one parent family payments. The rules and exclusions are broadly similar to those with the state pension. There are particular variations in the exclusions for particular types of payment. The old age pension is now named the state pension. It has its own separate […]
Early 19th Century A series of official and unofficial enquiries in the first decades of the 19th century presented a picture of widespread and severe deprivation. It has been claimed that the conditions in Ireland were the worst in Europe, although this is disputed. There is evidence of higher nutritional standards and well-being, but poorer housing and clothing than in other countries. Prior to 1838, […]
The Famine The famine affected all parts of the country, but the south and west were particularly badly affected. The majority of the population depended on the potato. When the potato blight first appeared, public works were established to provide employment and the addition of food supplies was imported. Relief committees were established under the Central Temporary Relief Commission in 1845. The poor law guardians […]
Medical Dispensaries After the famine, outdoor relief was abolished or reduced to minimum levels. The Poor Law Commissioners and guardians attempted to revert to their pre-famine role. The medical profession sought to limit the expansion of the Commission’s role in medical matters. The Medical Charities Act of 1851 established dispensaries funded by the Poor Law rate and administered by local committees. They comprised poor law […]
Early Twentieth Century The Workman’s Compensation act 1897 required employers to pay compensation to employees injured in the course of work. It applied initially to workplace as hazardous, but the scheme is extended by a 1906 Act to cover all employees engaged in manual labor, whose income did not exceed to £250 per annum. The 1903 Vice-Regal Commission was appointed on Poor Law reforms. A […]
Overview Supplementary welfare allowance is the basic safety net for persons who do not otherwise qualify for social welfare payments and who have little or no income. The scheme includes a regular safety net level together with exceptional need payments together with rent and mortgage interest payments and payments for urgent unexceptional needs. A person who has no income may be entitled to basic supplementary […]
Overview The 2015 Act provides for the Back to Work Family Dividend scheme. The existing scheme for continued payments for qualified children was discontinued. The Scheme was intended to provide a financial incentive to jobseekers and recipients of One-Parent Family Payments who have children who cease claiming their social welfare payment on account of that person or the person’s spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting taking […]
Deductibility Social welfare benefits that compensate for loss of earnings are deductible at common law. This also applies to occupational injuries payments. However, the 1964 Act amends this position. The Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 1964 provided that in assessing damages, in an action for a wrongful act, resulting in personal injury not causing death, account is not to be taken of any sum payable in […]
A Department of Social Welfare An important reform was the establishment of the Departments of Health and Social Welfare in 1947. They recognised these areas as distinct policy areas with separate ministerial responsibilities. Irish society at the time was much more agricultural and rural based than the United Kingdom. The resources available to governments are much lower, and the Irish equivalent of British reform was […]