Widow’s pension in unemployment assistance means test
Bruton questioned why a contributory widow’s pension is counted in full when assessing eligibility for unemployment assistance, arguing this amounts to double counting. Haughey said the law requires all regular cash income to be assessed and acknowledged Bruton’s perspective without committing to a review.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a contributory widow's pension is assessed in full in deciding eligibility for unemployment assistance when this pension is payable regardless of means.
Comment on this
The legislation dealing with unemployment assistance requires that all income in cash must be taken into account in assessing a person's means. Incomes from a widow's contributory pension as from other pensions is a regular cash payment and has, therefore, to be assessed.
Comment on this
Would the Minister not agree that the person has contributed to that pension anyway and that there is an element of double counting involved?
