Social Welfare Bill 1987

Public bill · Government · Presented

The Social Welfare Bill 1987 would increase most social insurance, social assistance, pension and occupational-injury payments by about 3%, with new weekly rates set out in the tables on pages 2 and 3. It would make the Family Income Supplement more generous by raising the income limits, increasing maximum payments and covering half, rather than one-third, of the gap between family income and the limit. It would also raise the earnings ceiling for social insurance contributions, introduce a single 12% rate for pay-related benefit and restore an employer PRSI exemption for certain recently hired workers. However, new claimants would generally need more paid contributions to qualify for disability, maternity, unemployment and invalidity payments; people taking part in pilot work or education schemes would keep their unemployment entitlement.

Last updated 11 June 2020