S.I. No. 313/1977 - Social Welfare (Variation of Rates of Payments) Regulations, 1977.

S.I. No. 313 of 1977.

SOCIAL WELFARE (VARIATION OF RATES OF PAYMENTS) 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) and section 16 of the Social Welfare Act, 1975 (No. 1 of 1975), hereby makes the following Regulations:—

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Social Welfare (Variation of Rates of Payments) Regulations, 1977.

2. In these Regulations—

"the Act of 1933" means the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933 (No. 46 of 1933);

"the Act of 1935" means the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Act, 1935 (No. 29 of 1935);

"the Act of 1952" means the Social Welfare Act, 1952 ;

"the Act of 1966" means the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) Act, 1966 (No. 16 of 1966);

"the Act of 1967" means the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1967 (No. 18 of 1967);

"the Act of 1969" means the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1969 (No. 19 of 1969);

"the Act of 1970" means the Social Welfare Act, 1970 (No. 12 of 1970)

"the Act of 1973" means the Social Welfare Act, 1973 (No. 10 of 1973);

"the Act of 1974" means the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 1974 (No. 14 of 1974);

"the Act of 1977" means the Social Welfare Act, 1977 (No. 3 of 1977);

"old-age (non-contributory) pension" means a pension payable under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1977;

"unemployment assistance" means assistance payable under the Unemployment Assistance Acts, 1933 to 1977;

"widow's (non-contributory) pension" or "orphan's (non-contributory) pension" means, as the context requires, a pension payable under the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts, 1935 to 1977;

"single woman's allowance" means an allowance payable under section 8 of the Act of 1974;

"old age (care) allowance" means an allowance payable under section 21 of the Act of 1970;

"occupational injuries benefits" means benefits payable under the Act of 1966.

3. The rates of old age (non-contributory) pension are hereby varied with effect on and from the 7th day of October, 1977, by—

( a ) the substitution for the rates set out in Tables A and B to subsection (2) (inserted by the Act of 1977) of section 77 of the Act of 1952 of the rates set out in the following Tables:

TABLE A.

RATE OF PENSION.

Means of claimant or pensioner	Weekly rate
Claimant or pensioner, no qualified child	Claimant or pensioner, one qualified child	Claimant or pensioner, two or more qualified children
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
	£	£		£
Where the weekly means of the claimant or pensioner—
do not exceed £6 .. .. .. exceed £6 but do not exceed £7 .. exceed £7 but do not exceed £8 .. exceed £8 but do not exceed £9 .. exceed £9 but do not exceed £10 .. exceed £10 but do not exceed £11 .. exceed £11 but do not exceed £12 .. exceed £12 but do not exceed £13 .. exceed £13 but do not exceed £14 .. exceed £14 but do not exceed £15 .. exceed £15 but do not exceed £16 ..	12·35 11·05 9·75 8·45 7·15 5·85 4·55 3·25 1·95 0·65 no pension	15·65 14·35 13·05 11·75 10·45 9·15 7·85 6·55 5·25 3·95 2·65	18·95 17·65 16·35 15·05 13·75 12·45 11·15 9·85 8·55 7·25 5·95		Plus, where there are more than two qualified Children, £2·50 for each qualified child in excess of two.

TABLE B.

INCREASE FOR AN ADULT DEPENDANT.

Means of claimant or pensioner	Weekly rate of increase
Where the weekly means of the claimant or pensioner—	£
do not exceed £6	6·15
exceed £6 but do not exceed £7	5·45
exceed £7 but do not exceed £8	4·85
exceed £8 but do not exceed £9	4·15
exceed £9 but do not exceed £10	3·45
exceed £10 but do not exceed £11	2·85
exceed £11 but do not exceed £12	2·15
exceed £12 but do not exceed £13	1·50
exceed £13 but do not exceed £14	0·85
exceed £14	Nil

(b) the increase of the sum of £1·25 referred to in paragraph (a) (ii) of subsection (2) (inserted by the Act of 1977) of section 77 of the Act of 1952 to the sum of £1·30;

(c) the increase of the sum of 90 new pence referred to in paragraph (a) (iii) of subsection (2) (inserted by the Act of 1977) of section 77 of the Act of 1952 to the sum of 95 new pence; and

(d) the increase of the sum of six pounds, fifty-five new pence (inserted by the Act of 1977) referred to in subsection (5) (inserted by the Act of 1969) of section 77 of the Act of 1952 to the sum of six pounds, ninety new pence.

4. The rates of unemployment assistance are hereby varied with effect on and from the 28th day of September, 1977, by the substitution for the rates set out in the Schedule (inserted by the Act of 1977) to the Act of 1933 of the rates set out in the following Schedule:

SCHEDULE.

RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

Classes of persons to whom the rates of unemployment assistance set out in this Schedule are applicable	Weekly rate of unemployment assistance applicable to persons resident in any urban area	Weekly rate of unemployment assistance applicable to persons resident in any other place
	£	£
Person without a dependant	10·70	10·30
Person with an adult dependant	18·45	17·90
Person with an adult dependant and one child dependant	21·75	21·20
Person with an adult dependant and two or more child dependants	25·05	24·50
	plus, where there are more than	plus, where there are more than
	two child dependants, £2·50 for each child dependant in excess of two.	two child dependants, £2·50 for each child dependant in excess of two.
Person with one child dependant	14·15	13·75
Person with two or more child dependants	17·45	17·05
	plus, where there are more than two child dependants, £2·50 for each child dependant in excess of two.	plus, where there are more than two child dependants, £2·50 for each child dependant in excess of two.

5. The rates of widows' (non-contributory) pensions are hereby varied with effect on and from the 7th day of October, 1977, and the rates of deserted wife's allowance, social assistance allowance for unmarried mothers and prisoner's wife's allowance are hereby varied with effect on and from the 6th day of October, 1977, by—

( a ) the substitution for the rates set out in Table B in subsection (1) (inserted by the Act of 1977) of section 20 of the Act of 1935 of the rates set out in the following Table:

TABLE B.

WEEKLY RATES OF WIDOWS' (NON-CONTRIBUTORY) PENSIONS

Means of Widow	Widow, no qualified child	Widow, one qualified child	Widow, two or more qualified children
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
Where the weekly means of the widow—	£	£	£
do not exceed £6	12·35	16·45	20·55
exceed £6 but do not exceed £7 exceed £7 but do not exceed £8 exceed £8 but do not exceed £9 exceed £9 but do not exceed £10 exceed £10 but do not exceed £11 exceed £11 but do not exceed £12 exceed £12 but do not exceed £13 exceed £13 but do not exceed £14 exceed £14 but do not exceed £15 exceed £15 but do not exceed £16	11·05 9·75 8·45 7·15 5·85 4·55 3·25 1·95 0·65 no pension	15·15 13·85 12·55 11·25 9·95 8·65 7·35 6·05 4·75 3·45	19·25 17·95 16·65 15·35 14·05 12·75 11·45 10·15 8·85 7·55	Plus, where there are more than two qualified children, £4·10 for each qualified child in excess of two.

and

( b ) the increase of the sum of £1·25 referred to in paragraph (a) (ii) of subsection (1) (inserted by the Act of 1977) of section 20 of the Act of 1935 to the sum of £1·30.

6. The rates of orphans' (non-contributory) pensions are hereby varied with effect on and from the 7th day of October, 1977, by the substitution for the rates set out in the Table (inserted by the Act of 1977) to subsection (1) of section 25 of the Act of 1935 of the rates set out in the following Table:

TABLE.

WEEKLY RATES OF ORPHANS' (NON-CONTRIBUTORY) PENSIONS.

Means of Orphan	Weekly Rates
Where the weekly means of the orphan—	£
do not exceed £1	8·05
exceed £1 but do not exceed £2	6·70
exceed £2 but do not exceed £3	5·35
exceed £3 but do not exceed £4	4·05
exceed £4 but do not exceed £5	2·70
exceed £5 but do not exceed £6	1·35
exceed £6	no pension

7. The rate of single woman's allowance is hereby varied with effect on and from the 6th day of October, 1977, by the substitution for the rates set out in the Table (inserted by the Act of 1977) to section 8 of the Act of 1974 of the rates set out in the following Table:

TABLE.

RATE OF SINGLE WOMAN'S ALLOWANCE

Means of claimant or beneficiary	Weekly Rate
Where the weekly means of the claimant or beneficiary—	£
do not exceed £1	10·70
exceed £1 but do not exceed £2	9·40
exceed £2 but do not exceed £3	8·10
exceed £3 but do not exceed £4	6·80
exceed £4 but do not exceed £5	5·50
exceed £5 but do not exceed £6	4·20
exceed £6 but do not exceed £7	2·90
exceed £7 but do not exceed £8	1·60
exceed £8	no allowance

8. The rate of old age (care) allowance is hereby varied with effect on and from the 6th day of October, 1977, by the substitution for the rate of £6·55 (inserted by the Act of 1977) in section 21 (1) of the Act of 1970 of the rate of £6·90.

9. The rates of benefits under section 14 and of increases thereof under section 26 and 27 of the Act of 1952 are hereby varied with effect, in so far as they relate to disability benefit, unemployment benefit and maternity allowance, on and from the 3rd day of October, 1977, in so far as they relate to invalidity pension, deserted wife's benefit and retirement pension, on and from the 6th day of October, 1977, and in so far as they relate to widow's (contributory) pension, orphan's (contributory) allowance and old age (contributory) pension, on and from the 7th day of October, 1977, by the substitution—

( a ) for the rates set out in Part I (inserted by the Act of 1977 of the Third Schedule to the Act of 1952 of the following rates):

Description of benefit	Weekly Rate	Increase for adult dependant (where payable)	Increase for qualified child or for each of two qualified children (where payable)	Increase for each qualified child in excess of two (where payable)	Increase for adult dependant under section 26 (4) (where payable)
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)
	£	£	£	£	£
4. Widow's (Contributory) Pension:
(a) in the case of persons under the age of eighty	13·25	—	4·54	4·45	6·90
(b) in any other case	14·30	—	4·45	4·45	6·90
5. Deserted Wife's Benefit	13·25	—	4·45	4·45	6·90
6. Orphan's (Contributory) Allowance	9·65	—	—	—	—
7. Retirement Pension and Old Age (Contributory) Pension:
(a) in the case of persons under the age of eighty	14·60	9·30	3·75	3·10	6·90
(b) in any other case	15·50	9·30	3·75	3·10	6·90
(c) additional increase for an adult deendant who has attained pesionable age	—	1·70	—	—	—

and

( b ) for the rates set out in the Table (inserted by the Act of 1977) to subsection (2) of section 5 of the Act of 1967 of the rates set out in the following Table:

TABLE.

Class of Person	Weekly Rate	Increase for adult dependant (where payable)	Increase for qualified child or for each of two qualified children (where payable)	Increase for each qualified child in excess of two (where payable)
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
	£	£	£	£
Person entitled to an increase in respect of a qualified child but not entitled to an increase in respect of an adult dependant	10·85	—	3·30	2·50
Any other person	10·70	7·75	3·30	2·50

RATES OF PERIODICAL BENEFITS AND OF INCREASES THEREOF

Description of benefit	Weekly Rate	Increase for adult dependant (where payable)	Increase for qualified child or for each of two qualified children (where payable)	Increase for each qualified child in excess of two (where payable)	Increase for adult dependant under section 26(4) (where payable)
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)
	£	£	£	£	£
1. Disability Benefit and Unemployment Benefit: (a) in the case of persons over the age of eighteen
(i) for a man, single woman or widow, married woman living apart from and unable to obtain any financial assistance from her husband or married woman entitled to an increase for a qualified child or qualified children or for a husband	13·05	8·50	3·75	3·10	—
(ii) for any other married woman	11·35	—	—	—	—
(b) in the case of persons under the age of eighteen—
(i) where the person is entitled to an increase for a qualified child or qualified children or for an adult dependant	13·05	8·50	3·75	3·10	—
(ii) where the person is not so entitled	11·35	—	—	—	—
2. Invalidity Pension:
(a) for a man, single woman or widow, married woman living apart from and unable to obtain any financial assistance from her husband or married woman entitled to an increase for a qualified child or qualified children or for a husband	13·05	8·50	3·75	3·10	6·90
(b) for any other married woman	11·35	—	—	—	6·90
3. Maternity Allowance	13·05	—	—	—	—

10. (1) This article shall have effect on and from the 3rd day of October, 1977, save that in so far as it relates to benefits under sections 17(2), 18(2), 19, 20 and 21(2) of the Act of 1966 it shall have effect on and from the 7th day of October, 1977.

(2) The rates of occupational injuries benefits in the Act of 1966 (as substituted by the Act of 1977) mentioned in column (1) of the Table hereto are hereby varied by the substitution for the said rates of the rates set out in column (2) of the said Table opposite that mentioned in column (1):

TABLE.

Rate of occupational injuries benefit in the Act of 1966 (1)	Rate as varied (2)
£13·60 in section 8(3) (a)	£14·30
£17·40 in section 8(3) (b)	£18·30
£1,200 in section 9(7) (a)	£l,260
£l7·40 in Table I to section 9(8)	£18·30
£15·66 " " "	£16·47
£13·92 " " "	£14·64
£12·l8" " "	£12·81
£10·44 " " "	£10·98
£8·70 " " "	£9·15
£6·96 " " "	£7·32
£5·22 " " "	£5·49
£3·48 " " "	£3·66
£13·60 in Table II to section 9(8)	£14·30
£12·24" " "	£12·87
£10·88" " "	£11·44
£9·52 " " "	£10·01
£8·16 " " "	£8·58
£6·80 " " "	£7·15
£5·44 " " "	£5·72
£4·08 " " "	£4·29
£2·72 " " "	£2·86
£3·48 in section 9(9) (b) (ii)	£3·66
£2·72" " "	£2·86
£8·10 in section 10(1)	£8·50
£3·55" " 11(1)	£3·75
£2·95" " "	£3·10
£10·85 " " 12(1) (a)	£11·35
£12·45 " " 12(1) (b)	£13·05
£6·55" " 13(1)	£6·90
£13·10 " " "	£13·80
£13·60 " " 15(1) (a) (i)	£14·30
£17·40 in section 15 (1) (a) (ii)	£18·30
£16·30 in sections 17 (2) and 18 (2)	£17·15
£850 in section 18 (3)	£893
£4·25 " " 19 in each place where it occurs	£4·45
£7·25 " " 20 " "	£7·60
£16·30 " " " " "	£17·15
£9·80 " " 21(2)	£10·30
£2·72 " " 25(3) (a)	£2·86
£3·48 " " 25(3) (b)	£3·66

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Social Welfare this 5th day of October 1977.

CHARLES J. HAUGHEY,

Minister for Social Welfare.

The Minister for Finance hereby consents to the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Finance this 5th day of October 1977.

SEOIRSE Ó COLLA,

Minister for Finance.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations provide for increases in the existing statutory rates of old age contributory and non-contributory pensions, disability benefit, unemployment benefit and assistance, widows' and orphans' contributory and non-contributory pensions, deserted wife's-benefit, invalidity and retirement pensions, occupational injuries benefits and social assistance allowances for deserted wives, unmarried mothers, prisoners' wives and elderly single women, the new rates being payable from appropriate dates in September and October 1977.