Social Welfare Bill, 1990

Public bill · Government · Presented

The Social Welfare Bill, 1990 would increase most social welfare payments, generally by 5%, while giving larger increases to some unemployed people, lone parents, widows, widowers and other low-income recipients. It would introduce new allowances for lone parents and people providing full-time care to severely incapacitated pensioners, and raise child benefit and support for dependent children in education. The Bill would also create a separate office to handle appeals about welfare decisions, make several changes to contribution and eligibility rules, and merge certain social insurance funds. It would improve access to disability payments and training schemes, but gradually require some widows and similar recipients to start paying social insurance contributions.

Last updated 11 June 2020