Report highlights savings for taxpayers in downturn
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THE report from An Bord Snip Nua, which will be published today, recommends huge savings of more than €1.5bn in the social welfare area from a raft of cuts. It specifically recommends cutbacks which will affect thousands of people currently receiving double social welfare payments.
The areas that could be affected, if the report's recommendations are implemented, include:
Half-rate Carer's Allowance
This was a new measure introduced by then Finance Minister Brian Cowen in Budget 2007. It allowed full-time carers receiving a social welfare payment (other than Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance) to also get a weekly allowance of €110. There are around 16,000 people now receiving this payment on top of their other social welfare payments.
The Carers' Association has already signalled it strongly opposes scrapping the allowance.
Deserted Wife's benefit
This is a payment of up to €230 per week made to wives who were deserted by their husbands. It was closed off to new claimants in 1997 and replaced by the One-Parent Family payment.
But there are around 9,000 women still getting it. In some cases, they can also claim a half-rate Jobseeker Benefit (€98 maximum) for a maximum of 12 months if they made PRSI contributions while working.
One-Parent Family Payment
This is a payment for lone parents who earn less than €425 a week. They can claim up to €204 per week, plus €26 for each dependent child. They can also claim half-rate Jobseeker's Benefit (€98 maximum) for a maximum of 12 months if they made PRSI contributions while working
Widow(er)'s Contributory / Non-Contributory Pensions
This is a weekly payment made to the husband or wife of a deceased person. It ranges from €209 per week for those under 66, to €280 per week for those over 80, and there is a payment of €26 per week extra per child dependent. If they satisfy certain conditions, they can also claim social welfare payments.
- Michael Brennan Political Correspondent
