Number 7/1996: SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1996

7 1996

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Number 7 of 1996

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1996

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Preliminary

Section
1.	Short title and construction.
2.	Definitions.

PART II

Increases

3.	Social insurance benefits (new rates).
4.	Social assistance payments (new rates).
5.	Child benefit (new rates, etc.).
6.	Family income supplement (new weekly rates).
7.	Continued payment for qualified children.

PART III

Social Insurance Contributions

8.	Employment contributions (new rates of contributions and increases in earnings ceilings).
9.	Self-employment contributions (new rates of contributions and increase in earnings ceiling).
10.	Optional contributions (new rates of contributions).
11.	Voluntary contributions by former self-employed contributors.
12.	Insurable employment.

PART IV

Disability Allowance

13.	Disability allowance.
14.	Transitional provisions.
15.	Amendments consequential on section 13 and repeal.
16.	Commencement (Part IV).

PART V

One-Parent Family Payment

17.	One-parent family payment.
18.	Transitional provisions.
19.	Repeals, etc.
20.	One-parent family payment— entitlement of person whose marriage has been dissolved.
21.	Commencement (Part V).

PART VI

Unemployment Assistance

22.	Unemployment assistance.
23.	Rules as to calculation of means.

PART VII

Pensions

24.	Homemakers.
25.	Pre-retirement allowance.
26.	Old age (contributory) and retirement pensions— conditions for receipt.
27.	Widow's and widower's (contributory) pension.
28.	Widow's and widower's (contributory) pension— entitlement of person whose marriage has been dissolved.
29.	Commencement (Part VII).

PART VIII

Amendment of Part VII of Principal Act: Decisions, Appeals and Social Welfare Tribunal

30.	Supplementary welfare allowance— appeals.
31.	Decisions and determinations under Social Welfare Acts.
32.	Effect of revised decisions.
33.	Amendment of section 274 of Principal Act.
34.	Award of expenses.

PART IX

Miscellaneous Amendments

35.	Regulations (payment of benefit beyond pensionable age).
36.	Supplementary welfare allowance— administration.
37.	Assessment of means for social assistance payments.
38.	Student who reaches 22 years of age during academic year to be regarded as qualified child up to end of academic year.
39.	Increase of disablement pension where constant attendance is needed.
40.	Social insurance fund (payment of fees).
41.	Limitation period for proceedings.
42.	Budgeting in relation to social welfare payments.
43.	Employment statements.

PART X

Amendment of Section 5 of Combat Poverty Agency Act, 1986

44.	Deferral of period for submission of strategic plan by combat poverty agency.

PART XI

Amendment of Health Contributions Act, 1979 and Youth Employment Agency Act, 1981

45.	Amendment of sections 7A and 11 of Health Contributions Act, 1979.
46.	Amendment of sections 18A and 22 of Youth Employment Agency Act, 1981.

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Number 7 of 1996

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1996

AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE SOCIAL WELFARE ACTS, SECTIONS 7A AND 11 OF THE HEALTH CONTRIBUTIONS ACT, 1979 , SECTIONS 18A AND 22 OF THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AGENCY ACT, 1981 , AND SECTION 5 OF THE COMBAT POVERTY AGENCY ACT, 1986 , AND TO REPEAL SECTION 69 OF THE HEALTH ACT, 1970 . [3rd April, 1996]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: