S.I. No. 98/1977 - Social Welfare (Old Age and Widows' and Orphans' (Contributory) Pensions, Retirement Pension and Deserted Wife's Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations, 1977.

S.I. No. 98 of 1977.

SOCIAL WELFARE (OLD AGE AND WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' (CONTRIBUTORY) PENSIONS, RETIREMENT PENSION AND DESERTED WIFE'S BENEFIT) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1977.

The Minister for Social Welfare, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 3 of the Social Welfare Act, 1952 (No. 11 of 1952 ) section 28A of the said Act (inserted therein by section 10 of the Social Welfare (Amendment) Act, 1960 (No. 25 of 1960) and amended by section 6 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1966 (No. 24 of 1966)) section 28B of the said Act (inserted therein by section 10 of the Social Welfare Act, 1970 (No. 12 of 1970)) and section 28C of the said Act (inserted therein by section 17 of the Social Welfare Act, 1973 (No. 10 of 1973)), hereby makes the following Regulations:—

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Social Welfare (Old Age and Widows' and Orphans' (Contributory) Pensions, Retirement Pension and Deserted Wife's Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations, 1977.

2. Articles 3 and 4 of these Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of April, 1977 and articles 5 and 6 on the 31st day of March, 1977.

3. The following Schedule shall be substituted for the Schedule to the Social Welfare (Old Age (Contributory) Pension) Regulations, 1960 ( S.I. No. 274 of 1960 ).

SCHEDULE.

Reduced rates of old age (contributory) pensions where contribution conditions are partially satisfied.

Average number of contributions paid or credited per contribution year in the relevant period.	Weekly Rate.
	Pensioner aged under 80 years.	Pensioner aged 80 years or over.
£	£
42 to 47	13.65	14.50
36 to 41	13.40	14.25
30 to 35	13.15	14.00
24 to 29	12.90	13.75
20 to 23	12.60	13.45

4. The following Schedule shall be substituted for the Schedule to the Social Welfare (Widows' and Orphans' (Contributory) Pensions) Regulations, 1966 ( S.I. No. 235 of 1966 ).

SCHEDULE.

Reduced rates of widows' (contributory) pensions where contribution conditions are partially satisfied.

Average number of contributions paid or credited per contribution year in the relevant period.	Weekly Rate.
	Widow aged under 80 years.	Widow aged 80 years or over
£	£
42 to 47	12.40	13.35
36 to 41	12.20	13.15
30 to 35	12.00	12.95
24 to 29	11.80	12.75

5. The following Schedule shall be substituted for the Schedule to the Social Welfare (Retirement Pension) Regulations, 1970 ( S.I. No. 225 of 1970 ).

SCHEDULE.

Reduced rates of retirement pensions where contribution conditions are partially satisfied.

Average number of contributions paid or credited per contribution year in the relevant period.	Weekly Rate.
	Pensioner aged under 80 years.	Pensioner aged 80 years or over
	£	£
42 to 47	13.65	14.50
36 to 41	13.40	14.25
30 to 35	13.15	14.00
24 to 29	12.90	13.75

6. The following Schedule shall be substituted for the Schedule to the Social Welfare (Deserted Wife's Benefit) Regulations, 1973 ( S.I. No. 202 of 1973 ).

SCHEDULE.

Reduced rates of deserted wife's benefit where contribution conditions are partially satisfied.

Average number of contributions paid or credited per contribution year in the relevant period.	Weekly Rate.
	£
42 to 47	12.40
36 to 41	12.20
30 to 35	12.00
24 to 29	11.80

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Social Welfare this 31st day of March, 1977.

BRENDAN CORISH,

Minister for Social Welfare.

The Minister for Finance hereby sanctions the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Finance this 31st day of March, 1977.

RICHIE RYAN,

Minister for Finance.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The Social Welfare Act, 1977 (S.I. 99 of 1977) provides, inter alia, for increases in the maximum rates of old age (contributory), widow's (contributory) and retirement pensions and deserted wife's benefit.

The effect of these Regulations is to provide for increases in the reduced rates of pensions or benefits payable where the contribution conditions are partially satisfied.

The improvements take effect from 1st April, 1977, in the case of old age (contributory) and widow's (contributory) pensions and from 31st March, 1977 in the case of retirement pension and deserted wife's benefit.