asked the Minister for Social Welfare why two persons in County Cork (name supplied) have not received full noncontributory old age pensions.
Written Answers. - County Cork Old Age Pensions.
225.
The persons concerned, a married couple, were allowed old age non-contributory pensions at the reduced rate of 65p a week from 10th May, 1974, on the recommendation of the social welfare officer, who assessed each of their weekly means at £9.28. The rate payable was increased to £2.30 a week from July, 1974, and this is the appropriate rate of pension where weekly means exceed £9 but do not exceed £10. The means of a person who is one of a married couple living together are taken to be half of the total means of the couple, and to qualify for a full pension a person's weekly means must not exceed £5. The assessed means are derived from capital and a 60-acre farm in respect of which a deed of transfer has been prepared but not yet finalised for stamping by the Revenue Commissioners. When the deed has been stamped the social welfare officer will be in a position to recommend a full pension in each case from 10th May, 1974.