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5 1992

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1992

PART II

Increases

Social insurance benefits (new rates).

3. —(1) The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for Parts I to IV (inserted by section 3 of the Act of 1991 and amended by subsection (1) of section 35 ) of the Second Schedule thereto of the Parts set out in Schedule A to this Act.

(2) This section shall come into operation—

(a) in so far as it relates to disability benefit, maternity allowance, injury benefit, disablement gratuity and disablement pension, on the 27th day of July, 1992,

(b) in so far as it relates to unemployment benefit, deserted wife's benefit, invalidity pension and retirement pension, on the 30th day of July, 1992,

(c) in so far as it relates to death benefit under section 50 , 51 or 52 of the Principal Act, old age (contributory) pension, survivor's benefit, widow's (contributory) pension and orphan's (contributory) allowance, on the 31st day of July, 1992.

Social assistance payments (new rates).

4. —(1) The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for Parts I and III (inserted by section 4 of the Act of 1991 ) of the Fourth Schedule thereto of the Parts set out in Schedule B to this Act.

(2) This section shall come into operation—

(a) in so far as it relates to supplementary welfare allowance, on the 27th day of July, 1992,

(b) in so far as it relates to unemployment assistance, on the 29th day of July, 1992,

(c) in so far as it relates to pre-retirement allowance, deserted wife's allowance, prisoner's wife's allowance, single woman's allowance, lone parent's allowance (other than lone parent's allowance payable in respect of a widow or widower) and carer's allowance, on the 30th day of July, 1992, and

(d) in so far as it relates to old age pension, blind pension, widow's (non-contributory) pension, lone parent's allowance payable in respect of a widow or widower and orphan's (non-contributory) pension, on the 31st day of July, 1992.

Invalidity pension (increase where pensioner has attained age of 80 years).

5. —(1) Section 91 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion after subsection (5) (inserted by section 16 of the Act of 1981 ) of the following subsection:

“(6) The weekly rate of invalidity pension shall be increased by £4.20 where the beneficiary has attained the age of 80 years.”.

(2) Subsection (1) shall come into operation on the 9th day of April, 1992.

(3) Section 91 of the Principal Act is hereby further amended by the substitution for subsection (6) (inserted by subsection (1)) of the following subsection:

“(6) The weekly rate of invalidity pension shall be increased by the amount set out in column (8) of Part I of the Second Schedule where the beneficiary has attained the age of 80 years.”.

(4) Subsection (3) shall come into operation on the 30th day of July, 1992.

Family income supplement (new weekly rates).

6. —(1) The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for section 232B (inserted by section 7 of the Act of 1991 ) of the following section:

“Entitlement to family income supplement.

232B.—Subject to this Part, an allowance (in this Part referred to as ‘family income supplement’) shall be payable out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas in respect of a family where the weekly family income is less than—

(a) in the case of a family which includes only one child, £155, or

(b) in the case of a family which includes two children, £175, or

(c) in the case of a family which includes three children, £195, or

(d) in the case of a family which includes four children, £215, or

(e) in the case of a family which includes five children, £240, or

(f) in the case of a family which includes six children, £260, or

(g) in the case of a family which includes seven children, £277, or

(h) in the case of a family which includes eight or more children, £294.”.

(2) This section shall come into operation on the 30th day of July, 1992.

Pay-related social insurance contributions (increase in earnings ceilings).

7. —(1) Section 10 (1) of the Principal Act is hereby amended by—

(a) the substitution in paragraph (c) of “£20,300” for “£19,300” (inserted by section 12 of the Act of 1991 ), and

(b) the substitution in paragraph (cc) of “£19,000” for “£18,000” (inserted by section 12 of the Act of 1991 ).

(2) This section shall come into operation on the 6th day of April, 1992.

Self-employment contributions (increase in earnings ceiling).

8. —(1) Section 17C (inserted by section 13 of the Act of 1991 ) of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution in paragraph (d) of “£19,000” for “£18,000”.

(2) This section shall come into operation on the 6th day of April, 1992.

Pay-related benefit.

9. —(1) Section 73 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of “£78” for “£75” (inserted by section 16 of the Act of 1991 ).

(2) This section shall have effect in relation to any period of interruption of employment commencing on or after the 6th day of April, 1992.