Social Welfare Act, 1970

What is this act about?

This law, the Social Welfare Act, 1970, updates and expands existing social welfare legislation, primarily by introducing new types of benefits and increasing the rates of various pensions and allowances.

Who it applies to: Insured persons and their families; Individuals receiving old age pensions, unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit, widows' pensions, orphans' pensions, and children's allowances.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Labour law
Articles: 36
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

New benefits such as death grants, invalidity pensions, and retirement pensions.
Increases in the rates of old age pensions, unemployment assistance, and unemployment benefit.
Increases in the rates of widows' and orphans' (non-contributory) pensions.
Increases in the rates of children's allowances.

Who does this act apply to?

Insured persons and their families.
Individuals receiving old age pensions, unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit, widows' pensions, orphans' pensions, and children's allowances.

What are the key points?

Part II of the Act, which introduces new benefits, came into operation on October 1, 1970.
New benefits include death grant, invalidity pension, and retirement pension.
A death grant is payable on the death of an insured person, their spouse, or a qualified child, provided contribution conditions are met.
An invalidity pension is for persons permanently incapable of work who satisfy contribution conditions.
A retirement pension is for persons aged sixty-five years or older who satisfy contribution conditions and are retired.

Labour law

Unemployment Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1940

Presidential Elections (Amendment) Act, 1946

Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act, 1976

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2023

Trade Loans (Guarantee) Act, 1924

Pensions (Abatement) Act, 1965

National Bank Transfer Act, 1966

Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2012

Labour law

Legal text

Social Welfare Act, 1970 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1970 Social Welfare Act, 1970 Social Welfare Act, 1970 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 12 of 1970 SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1970 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Part I

Preliminary and General Section

Section 1

Short title, construction and collective citation.

Section 2

Interpretation.

Part II

Death Grant, Invalidity Pension, Retirement Pension, Old Age (Care) Allowance and Deserted Wife's Allowance

Section 3

Commencement of Part II.

Section 4

Amendment of section 14 of Act of 1952 (descriptions and rates of benefit and contribution conditions).

Section 5

Death grant.

Section 6

Invalidity pension.

Section 7

Retirement pension.

Section 8

Amendment of section 26 of Act of 1952 (increase of benefit for adult dependants).

Section 9

Amendment of section 27 (1) of Act of 1952 (increase of benefit—qualified children).

Section 10

Partial satisfaction of contribution conditions (death grant and retirement pension).

Section 11

Amendment of section 30 of Act of 1952 (disqualifications arising for woman on her marriage).

Section 12

Amendment of section 31 of Act of 1952 (absence from the State or imprisonment).

Section 13

Amendment of section 32 of Act of 1952 (overlapping benefits, etc.).

Section 14

Amendment of section 37 (1) of Act of 1952 (special provisions for voluntary contributors).

Section 15

Amendment of section 47 (2) (b) of Act of 1952 (administration of benefit).

Section 16

Transitional provisions in relation to invalidity pension, retirement pension and death grant.

Section 17

Amendment of Third Schedule to Act of 1952 (rate or amount of benefit).

Section 18

Amendment of Fourth Schedule to Act of 1952 (contribution conditions).

Section 19

Amendment of section 9 of Act of 1952 (return of sums paid in error by way of contributions).

Section 20

Amendment of Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) Act, 1966.

Section 21

Old age (care) allowance.

Section 22

Deserted wife's allowance.

Section 23

Power to remove difficulties.

Part III

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 24

Increase of rates of old age pensions.

Section 25

Increase of rates of unemployment assistance.

Section 26

Increase of certain rates of unemployment benefit.

Section 27

Increase of rates of widows' (non-contributory) pension.

Section 28

Increase of rates of orphans' (non-contributory) pensions.

Section 29

Extension of “qualified child”.

Section 30

Increase of rates of children's allowances.

Section 31

Amendment of Third Schedule to Act of 1952.

Section 32

Amendment of Second Schedule to Act of 1952.

Section 33

Amendment of section 6 of Act of 1952.

Section 34

Amendment of Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) Act, 1966.

Section 35

Restriction of section 13 of Act of 1966 and of certain regulations under section 32 of Act of 1952.

Section 36

Amendment of Rule 1 (III) of Seventh Schedule to Act of 1952.

SCHEDULE CONTRIBUTION CONDITIONS (DEATH GRANT, INVALIDITY PENSION, RETIREMENT PENSION) Acts Referred to Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933 1933, No. 46 Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Act, 1935 1935, No. 29 Social Welfare Act, 1952 1952, No. 11 Social Welfare (Amendment) Act, 1960 1960, No. 25 Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1963 1963, No. 26 Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1964 1964, No. 28 Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1965 1965, No. 20 Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1966 1966, No. 24 Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1967 1967, No. 18 Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1968 1968, No. 31 Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1969 1969, No 19 Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1962 1962, No. 17 Old Age Pensions Act, 1924 1924, No. 19 Children's Allowances (Amendment) Act, 1946 1946, No. 8 Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) Act, 1966 1966, No. 16 Social Welfare (Modifications of Insurance) Regulations, 1956 1956, S.I. No. 236 Unemployment Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1935 1935, No. 38 Number 12 of 1970 SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1970 AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE OLD AGE PENSIONS ACTS, 1908 TO 1969, THE UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE ACTS, 1933 TO 1969, THE WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' PENSIONS ACTS, 1935 TO 1969, THE SOCIAL WELFARE (CHILDREN'S ALLOWANCES) ACTS, 1944 TO 1969, AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE ACTS, 1952 TO 1969. [29th July, 1970.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

PART I

Preliminary and General Short title, construction and collective citation.

1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Social Welfare Act, 1970.

(2)This Act— (a) in so far as it amends and extends the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1969, shall be construed as one with those Acts and may be cited together with them as the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1970, (b) in so far as it amends and extends the Unemployment Assistance Acts, 1933 to 1969, shall be construed as one with those Acts and may be cited together with them as the Unemployment Assistance Acts, 1933 to 1970, (c) in so far as it amends and extends the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts, 1935 to 1969, shall be construed as one with those Acts and may be cited together with them as the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts, 1935 to 1970, (d) in so far as it amends and extends the Social Welfare (Children's Allowances) Acts, 1944 to 1969, shall be construed as one with those Acts and may be cited together with them as the Social Welfare (Children's Allowances) Acts, 1944 to 1970, (e) in so far as it amends and extends the Social Welfare Acts, 1952 to 1969, shall be construed as one with those Acts and may be cited together with them as the Social Welfare Acts, 1952 to 1970.

Interpretation.

2.—In this Act— “the Act of 1933” means the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933 ; “the Act of 1935” means the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Act, 1935 ; “the Act of 1952” means the Social Welfare Act, 1952 ; “the Act of 1960” means the Social Welfare (Amendment) Act, 1960 ; “the Act of 1963” means the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1963 ; “the Act of 1964” means the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1964 ; “the Act of 1965” means the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1965 ; “the Act of 1966” means the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1966 ; “the Act of 1967” means the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1967 ; “the Act of 1968” means the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1968 ; “the Act of 1969” means the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1969 .

PART II

Death Grant, Invalidity Pension, Retirement Pension, Old Age (Care) Allowance and Deserted Wife's Allowance.

Commencement of Part II.

3.—This Part of this Act shall come into operation on the 1st day of October, 1970.

Amendment of section 14 of Act of 1952 (descriptions and rates of benefit and contribution conditions).

4.—Section 14 of the Act of 1952 is hereby amended by the insertion of the following paragraphs after paragraph (h) (inserted by the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) Act, 1966 ) of subsection (1): “(i) death grant, (j) invalidity pension, (k) retirement pension.”

Death grant.

5.—The following section is hereby inserted in the Act of 1952 as section 25B: “Death Grant 25B. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a death grant shall be payable, to such person or persons as may be prescribed, on the death of— (a) an insured person, (b) the wife or husband of an insured person, (c) the widow or widower of a deceased insured person, or (d) a qualified child, if the relevant contribution conditions are satisfied, but only one death grant shall be paid by virtue of this section on any one death.

(2)For the purposes of this section, item 3 of Part II of the Third Schedule to this Act and paragraph 7 of the Fourth Schedule thereto ‘qualified child’ means a person— (a) who is under the age of eighteen at the date of death, (b) who is ordinarily resident in the State on that date, and (c) in respect of whose death the relevant contribution conditions for death grant are not satisfied by such person's insurance or the insurance of such person's wife or husband.”

Invalidity pension.

6.—The following section is hereby inserted in the Act of 1952 as section 25C: “Invalidity Pension 25C. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person shall be entitled to invalidity pension if— (a) he is permanently incapable of work, and (b) he satisfies the relevant contribution conditions.

(2)The conditions under which a person shall be regarded for the purposes of this section as being permanently incapable of work shall be specified by regulations.

(3)Regulations may provide for disqualifying a person for receiving invalidity pension if he fails without good cause to observe any prescribed rules of behaviour.”

Retirement pension.

7.—The following section is hereby inserted in the Act of 1952 as section 25D: “Retirement Pension 25D. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person who has attained the age of sixty-five years shall be entitled to retirement pension for any period of retirement if he satisfies the relevant contribution conditions.

(2)The periods which shall be regarded for the purposes of this section as periods of retirement shall be specified by regulations.”

Amendment of section 26 of Act of 1952 (increase of benefit for adult dependants).

8.—Section 26 of the Act of 1952 is hereby amended by the insertion after subsection (4) (inserted by the Act of 1968) of the following subsections: “(5) The weekly rate of invalidity pension shall be increased by the amount set out in column (3) of Part I of the Third Schedule to this Act for— (a) any period during which— (i) the beneficiary is living with or wholly or mainly maintaining his wife, or (ii) the beneficiary is wholly or mainly maintaining her husband who is incapable of self-support by reason of some physical or mental infirmity, or (b) any period during which the beneficiary, being a single man or a widower, is wholly or mainly maintaining a female person over the age of sixteen years having the care of one or more than one qualified child who normally resides or reside with him, subject to the restriction that a beneficiary shall not be entitled for the same period to an increase of pension in respect of more than one person specified in paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(6)The weekly rate of retirement pension shall be increased by the amount set out in column (3) of Part I of the Third Schedule to this Act for any period during which— (a) the beneficiary is living with or wholly or mainly maintaining his wife, or (b) the beneficiary is wholly or mainly maintaining her husband who is incapable of self-support by reason of some physical or mental infirmity.”

Amendment of section 27 (1) of Act of 1952 (increase of benefit—qualified children).

9.—Section 27 (1) of the Act of 1952 is hereby amended by the insertion after “old age (contributory) pension” (inserted by the Act of 1964) of “or invalidity pension or retirement pension”.

Partial satisfaction of contribution conditions (death grant and retirement pension).

10.—The following section is hereby inserted in the Act of 1952 after section 28A (inserted by the Act of 1960): “28B. (1) Subject to the provisions of the next subsection, regulations made with the sanction of the Minister for Finance may provide for entitling to death grant persons who would be entitled thereto but for the fact that the contribution condition set out in subparagraph (b) of paragraph 7 of the Fourth Schedule to this Act is not satisfied.

(2)Regulations for the purposes of the foregoing subsection shall provide that death grant payable by virtue thereof shall be of an amount less than that specified in the Third Schedule to this Act, and the amount specified by the regulations may vary with the extent to which the relevant contribution condition is satisfied.

(3)Subject to the provisions of the next subsection, regulations made with the sanction of the Minister for Finance may provide for entitling to retirement pension persons who would be entitled thereto but for the fact that the relevant contribution conditions are not satisfied as respects the average number of contributions paid or credited per contribution year.

(4)Regulations for the purposes of the foregoing subsection shall provide that retirement pension payable by virtue thereof shall be payable at a rate less than that specified in the Third Schedule to this Act, and the rate specified by the regulations may vary with the extent to which the relevant contribution conditions are satisfied, but any increase of that pension payable under section 26 (6) (in respect of an adult dependant) or section 27 (1) (in respect of a qualified child) of this Act shall be the same as if the relevant contribution conditions had been fully satisfied.”

Amendment of section 30 of Act of 1952 (disqualifications arising for woman on her marriage).

11.—Section 30 of the Act of 1952 is hereby amended by the insertion of “, invalidity pension” after “unemployment benefit”.

Amendment of section 31 of Act of 1952 (absence from the State or imprisonment).

12.—Section 31 of the Act of 1952 is hereby amended by the addition of the following subsection : “(5) Regulations for the purposes of this section may be so framed as to make payment of death grant, invalidity pension and retirement pension subject to any specified conditions, limitations or restrictions and, in particular, in the case of persons absent from the State, may modify the periods which may be regarded for the purposes of section 25D of this Act as periods of retirement.”

Amendment of section 32 of Act of 1952 (overlapping benefits, etc.).

13.—Section 32 of the Act of 1952 is hereby amended by the insertion of “or invalidity pension” after “disability benefit” in both subsection (4) and subsection (5) (a).

Amendment of section 37 (1) of Act of 1952 (special provisions for voluntary contributors).

14.—Section 37 (1) of the Act of 1952 is hereby amended by the insertion of “, invalidity pension” after “maternity benefit” and of “, retirement pension or death grant” after “old age (contributory) pension” (inserted by the Act of 1960).

Amendment of section 47 (2) (b) of Act of 1952 (administration of benefit).

15.—Section 47 (2) (b) of the Act of 1952 is hereby amended by the insertion of “invalidity pension, retirement pension,” before “old age (contributory) pension” (inserted by the Act of 1960).

Transitional provisions in relation to invalidity pension, retirement pension and death grant.

16.—The following section is hereby inserted in the Act of 1952 after section 66A (inserted by the Act of 1960) : “66B. (1) Contributions paid under the National Health Insurance Acts, 1911 to 1952, by or in respect of an employed contributor may be taken into account in such manner and subject to such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed for the purpose of the satisfaction by him of the contribution conditions for invalidity pension or retirement pension.

(2)Regulations may provide for modifications of the contribution conditions for death grant in the case of a person who is an insured person at the commencement of section 5 of the Social Welfare Act, 1970, and who during the year subsequent to such commencement is absent from the State for any period or is credited with contributions in respect of any period of unemployment, incapacity for work or retirement or is or becomes a voluntary contributor paying contributions at the rate specified in section 6 (2) (b) of this Act.

(3)Regulations under this section shall be subject to the sanction of the Minister for Finance.”

Amendment of Third Schedule to Act of 1952 (rate or amount of benefit).

17.—The Third Schedule to the Act of 1952 is hereby amended by the addition to Part II (inserted by the Act of 1965) of the following item: “3. Death Grant: (a) in case the deceased person was a qualified child under the age of five years 5 (b) in case the deceased person was any other qualified child 15 (c) in any other case 25”

Amendment of Fourth Schedule to Act of 1952 (contribution conditions).

18.—The Fourth Schedule to the Act of 1952 is hereby amended by the addition thereto of the paragraphs set out in the Schedule to this Act.

Amendment of section 9 of Act of 1952 (return of sums paid in error by way of contributions).

19.—Section 9 of the Act of 1952 is hereby amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2) (inserted by the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1962 ): “(3) Regulations shall provide for the return, subject to any conditions, restrictions and deductions specified in the regulations, of so much of any contribution paid by an employed contributor or a voluntary contributor who entered into insurance for the purposes of paragraph 9 of the Fourth Schedule to this Act after he had attained the age of fifty-five years as is determined in accordance with the regulation ions to have been paid in respect of retirement pension.”

Amendment of Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) Act, 1966.

20.—(1)

Section 25

(2)of the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) Act, 1966 , is hereby amended by the insertion of the following paragraphs after paragraph (c): “(d) invalidity pension, (e) retirement pension,”

(2)

Section 36

(4)of the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) Act, 1966 , is hereby amended by the insertion of “and (i) to (k)” after “paragraphs (a) to (g)”.

(3)

Section 37

(2)(b) of the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) Act, 1966 , is hereby amended by the insertion of “or invalidity pension” after “disability benefit” in both subparagraph (i) and subparagraph (ii).

Old age (care) allowance.

21.—(1) An allowance (in this section referred to as an old age (care) allowance) at the rate of £2 15s. 0d. per week shall be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas to a person who has attained the age of seventy years in respect of any period during which— (a) such person is so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention, (b) there is residing with such person for the purpose of providing that care and attention a female relative of such person (being a relative specified for the purposes of this subsection by regulations), (c) such conditions as may be specified for the purposes of this subsection by regulations are fulfilled, and (d) the yearly means of such person calculated in accordance with the Rules for the Calculation of Means in the Seventh Schedule to the Act of 1952, applicable in the case of a claimant to pension under the Old Age Pensions Acts, 1908 to 1970, do not exceed £299 15s.

(2)The Minister may make regulations with respect to old age (care) allowances and such regulations may, in particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, apply (with or without modification), or make provisions corresponding (with or without modification) to, any provisions of or made under the Act of 1952 and the Acts amending and extending that Act.

(3)Section 3 (other than subsection (4)) of the Act of 1952 shall be construed and have effect as if— (a) references therein to a power to make regulations included references to a power to make regulations under this or the next section, and (b) references therein to regulations included references to any regulations under this or the next section.

Deserted wife's allowance.

22.—(1) An allowance (in this section referred to as a deserted wife's allowance) shall, subject to regulations, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas to a woman— (a) who has been deserted by her husband, (b) who has not attained the age of seventy years, (c) who, if she is less than fifty years of age, has at least one qualified child residing with her, and (d) who satisfies the conditions as to means specified for the purposes of this subsection by regulations.

(2)The rate of a deserted wife's allowance shall be the same as the rate of the widow's (non-contributory) pension which would be payable to the woman under the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts, 1935 to 1970, if her husband were dead.

(3)A child shall be a qualified child for the purposes of this section in relation to a woman if, on the assumption that her husband were dead, such child would be a qualified child in relation to her for the purposes of the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts, 1935 to 1970.

(4)Any question relating to the normal residence of a qualified child shall, for the purposes of this section and the regulations thereunder, be decided in accordance with section 5

(2)of the Children's Allowances (Amendment) Act, 1946 , and the rules under that subsection.

(5)The Minister may make regulations with respect to deserted wife's allowance and such regulations may, in particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing,— (a) specify the circumstances in which a woman is to be regarded for the purposes of this section as having been deserted by her husband, (b) apply (with or without modification), or make provisions corresponding (with or without modification) to, any provisions of or made under the Act of 1952 and the Acts amending and extending that Act, and (c) in applying the provisions of section 46 of the Act of 1952, provide, notwithstanding anything contained in that section, that in any case in which a deserted wife's allowance is by virtue of a revised decision given by a deciding officer or an appeals officer disallowed or reduced, such amount as the Minister may direct of any of the allowance that has been paid in excess of the rate determined by that decision to have been payable shall be recoverable as a debt due to the State.

Power to remove difficulties.

23.—(1) If in any respect any difficulty arises in bringing into operation this Part of this Act, the Minister may, subject to the sanction of the Minister for Finance, by order do anything which appears to be necessary or expedient for bringing this Part of this Act into operation, and any such order may modify the provisions of this Part of this Act so far as may appear necessary or expedient for carrying the order into effect.

(2)Every order made under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and if a resolution is passed by either House of the Oireachtas within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it annulling the order, the order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder,

(3)No order may be made under this section after the expiration of one year after the commencement of this Part of this Act.

PART III

Miscellaneous Increase of rates of old age pensions.

24.—(1) Section 77 of the Act of 1952 is hereby amended by— (a) the substitution of “two hundred and forty-seven pounds” for “two hundred and twenty-one pounds” (inserted by the Act of 1969) in each place where it occurs in subsection (2) (inserted by the Act of 1964), (b) the substitution of “two hundred and thirty-four pounds” for “two hundred and eight pounds” (inserted by the Act of 1969) in that subsection, (c) the substitution for the Table to that subsection (inserted by the Act of 1969) of the Table annexed to this subsection, and (d) the substitution for subsection (2B) (inserted by the Act of 1966) of the following :— “(2B) In this section, ‘qualified child’ in relation to a claimant or pensioner means— (a) a person under the age of eighteen years in respect of whom the claimant or pensioner is entitled to a children's allowance under the Social Welfare (Children's Allowances) Acts, 1944 to 1970, or would be so entitled if the person were not over the age of sixteen years, (b) if the claimant or pensioner is a woman, a child of hers under the age of eighteen years in respect of whom the head of the household in which she resides is entitled to a children's allowance under those Acts or would be so entitled if such child were not over the age of sixteen years, and (c) if the claimant or pensioner is a widow, a person who is over the age of eighteen years and under the age of twenty-one years, who is receiving full-time instruction by day at any university, college, school or other educational establishment and in respect of whom the claimant or pensioner would be entitled to a children's allowance under those Acts if the person were not over the age of sixteen years.”

TABLE Rate of Pension Weekly Rates Means of claimant or pensioner Claimant or pensioner, no qualified child Claimant or pensioner, one qualified child Claimant or pensioner, two or more qualified children

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)£ s. £ s. £ s.

Where the yearly means of the claimant or pensioner as duly calculated— are Nil 4 5 5 0 5 15 } Plus, where there are more than two qualified children, 10 shillings for each qualified child in excess of two. exceed Nil but do not exceed £26 5s. 0d.

4 0 4 15 5 10 exceed £26 5s. 0d. but do not exceed £52 10s. 0d.

3 15 4 10 5 5 exceed £52 10s. 0d. but do not exceed £65 10s. 0d.

3 10 4 5 5 0 exceed £65 10s. 0d. but do not exceed £78 10s. 0d.

3 5 4 0 4 15 exceed £78 10s. 0d. but do not exceed £104 15s. 0d.

3 0 3 15 4 10 exceed £104 15s. 0d. but do not exceed £117 15s. 0d.

2 15 3 10 4 5 exceed £117 15s. 0d. but do not exceed £130 15s. 0d.

2 10 3 5 4 0 exceed £130 15s. 0d. but do not exceed £143 15s. 0d.

2 5 3 0 3 15 exceed £143 15s. 0d. but do not exceed £156 15s. 0d.

2 0 2 15 3 10 exceed £156 15s. 0d. but do not exceed £169 15s. 0d.

1 15 2 10 3 5 exceed £169 15s. 0d. but do not exceed £182 15s. 0d.

1 10 2 5 3 0 exceed £182 15s. 0d. but do not exceed £195 15s. 0d.

1 5 2 0 2 15 exceed £195 15s. 0d. but do not exceed £208 15s. 0d.

1 0 1 15 2 10 exceed £208 15s. 0d. but do not exceed £221 15s. 0d.

0 15 1 10 2 5 exceed £221 15s. 0d. but do not exceed £234 15s. 0d.

0 10 1 5 2 0 exceed £234 15s. 0d. but do not exceed £247 15s. 0d.

0 5 1 0 1 15

(2)

Section 8

of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1924 , is hereby amended by the substitution in subsection (1) of the following for paragraph (i) (inserted by the Act of 1964): “(i) in case the person has no child who is a qualified child as defined in subsection (2B) (inserted by the Social Welfare Act, 1970) of section 77 of the Social Welfare Act, 1952 , two hundred and forty-seven pounds and fifteen shillings,”.

(3)Subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall come into operation on the 7th day of August, 1970.

Increase of rates of unemployment assistance.

25.—(1) In the Act of 1933, for the Schedule thereto (inserted by the Act of 1969) there is hereby substituted the Schedule annexed to this subsection.

SCHEDULE Rates of Unemployment Assistance Classes of persons to whom the rates of unemployment assistance set out in this Schedule are applicable Weekly rate of unemployment assistance applicable to persons resident in any urban area Weekly rate of unemployment assistance applicable to persons resident in any other place £ s. £ s.

Person without a dependant 3 12 3 6 Person with an adult dependant 6 8 6 0 Person with an adult dependant and one child dependant 7 3 6 15 Person with an adult dependant and two or more child dependants 7 18 7 10 plus, where there are more than two child dependants, 10 shillings for each child dependant in excess of two. plus, where there are more than two child dependants, 10 shillings for each child dependant in excess of two.

Person with one child dependant 4 10 4 4 Person with two or more child dependants 5 5 4 19 plus, where there are more than two child dependants, 10 shillings for each child dependant in excess of two. plus, where there are more than two child dependants, 10 shillings for each child dependant in excess of two.

(2)Subsection (Α) (inserted by the Act of 1952) of section 4 of the Unemployment Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1935 , is hereby amended by the substitution in the definition of “child dependant” of “eighteen” for “sixteen”.

(3)Subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall come into operation on the 29th day of July, 1970.

Increase of certain rates of unemployment benefit.

26.—(1) In the Table to section 5 (2) of the Act of 1967, for the rates set forth therein (inserted by the Act of 1969) there are hereby substituted the rates set forth in the Table annexed to this subsection.

TABLE Class of Person Weekly Rate Increase for adult dependant (where payable) Increase for qualified child or for each of two qualified children (where payable) Increase for each qualified child in excess of two (when payable)

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)Person entitled to an increase in respect of a qualified child but not entitled to an increase in respect of an adult dependant £3 15s. — 15s.

10s.

Any other person £3 12s. £2 16s.

15s.

10s.

(2)For the purposes of this section, the provisions of subsection (3) of section 29 of this Act shall come into operation on the 30th day of July, 1970.

(3)Subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall come into operation on the 30th day of July, 1970.

Increase of rates of widows' (non-contributory) pensions.

27.—(1) Section 20 (inserted by the Act of 1952) of the Act of 1935 is hereby amended— (a) by the substitution for paragraph (b) of subsection (1) (inserted by the Act of 1969) of the following paragraph: “(b) (i) where the yearly means of the widow as duly calculated do not exceed two hundred and forty-seven pounds and fifteen shillings, at the rate set forth in Table B to this subsection, and (ii) where the yearly means of the widow as duly calculated exceed two hundred and forty-seven pounds and fifteen shillings, at the rate at which the pension would be payable if the yearly means of the widow as duly calculated exceeded two hundred and thirty-four pounds and fifteen shillings but did not exceed twohundred and forty-seven pounds and fifteen shillings, less five shillings for each amount (if any) of thirteen pounds by which the said yearly means exceed two hundred and forty-seven pounds and fifteen shillings, any fraction of thirteen pounds being treated for this purpose as thirteen pounds”, and (b) the substitution for Table B (inserted by the Act of 1969) of the Table annexed to this subsection.

TABLE B Weekly Rates of Widows' (Non-Contributory) Pensions Means of Widow Widow, no qualified child Widow, one qualified child Widow, two qualified children

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)£ s. £ s. £ s. where the yearly means of the widow, as duly calculated:— are Nil 4 5 5 0 5 15 } Plus, where there are more than two qualified children, ten shillings for each qualified child in excess of two. exceed Nil but do not exceed £26 5s. 0d.