Social Welfare Act, 1987
What is this act about?
This law, the Social Welfare Act, 1987, amends and extends existing social welfare legislation, primarily by updating rates for various social welfare payments and adjusting conditions for certain benefits.
Who it applies to: Individuals receiving social insurance benefits (e.g., unemployment, disability, maternity, old age, widow's, orphan's benefits); Individuals receiving social assistance payments (e.g., unemployment, deserted wife's, old age, blind, widow's, orphan's pensions, supplementary welfare allowance).
Deadlines:
- The required contribution weeks for entitlement to disability benefit, maternity allowance, unemployment benefit, and invalidity pension are increased from 26 to 39 weeks, and for duration of disability benefit and invalidity pension, from 156 to 208 weeks, generally effective from April 6, 1987, with specific transitional provisions.
At a glance
- Country
- Ireland
- Area of law
- Family law
- Articles
- 13
- Source
- irishstatutebook.ie
- Text retrieved
- Explanation updated
What does this act regulate?
- New rates for social insurance benefits.
- New rates for social assistance payments.
- Family income supplement amounts and calculation.
- Pay-related social insurance contributions and exemptions.
Who does this act apply to?
- Individuals receiving social insurance benefits (e.g., unemployment, disability, maternity, old age, widow's, orphan's benefits).
- Individuals receiving social assistance payments (e.g., unemployment, deserted wife's, old age, blind, widow's, orphan's pensions, supplementary welfare allowance).
- Employers regarding pay-related social insurance contributions and exemptions.
What are the key points?
- New rates for social insurance benefits come into operation on various dates in July 1987, depending on the specific benefit.
- New rates for social assistance payments also come into operation on various dates in July 1987, depending on the specific payment.
- The family income supplement threshold is increased from £100 to £104, and the weekly rate calculation is changed from one-third to one-half of the difference between income and the threshold, with maximum weekly amounts increasing from £10 to £16 (for one child) and from £10 to £16 plus £4 to £7 (for each additional child).
- The earnings ceiling for pay-related social insurance contributions is increased to £15,500, effective from April 6, 1987.
- Employers who increased their workforce under the Employers' Pay-Related Social Insurance Exemption Scheme between December 16, 1986, and January 31, 1987, are exempt from paying certain contributions for those additional employees from April 6, 1987, to April 5, 1988.
- The weekly rate of pay-related benefit is set at 12% of reckonable weekly earnings exceeding £62, effective for periods of interruption of employment starting on or after April 6, 1987.
- The required contribution weeks for entitlement to disability benefit, maternity allowance, unemployment benefit, and invalidity pension are increased from 26 to 39 weeks, and for duration of disability benefit and invalidity pension, from 156 to 208 weeks, generally effective from April 6, 1987, with specific transitional provisions.
Family law
Legal text
Legal text
Social Welfare Act, 1987 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 1987 Social Welfare Act, 1987 Social Welfare Act, 1987 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 2 of 1987 SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1987 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section
Section 1
Definitions.
Section 2
Social insurance benefits (new rates).
Section 3
Social assistance payments (new rates).
Section 4
Family income supplement.
Section 5
Pay-related social insurance contributions (increase in earnings ceiling).
Section 6
Exemption from payment of contributions, etc.
Section 7
Rate of pay-related benefit.
Section 8
Increase in contribution weeks necessary for entitlement to certain benefits, etc.
Section 9
Calculation of amounts payable on basis of daily rates for certain benefits.
Section 10
Amendment of section 76 of Principal Act (regulations).
Section 11
Participation in certain schemes not to affect subsequent entitlement to unemployment benefit or assistance.
Section 12
Repeals.
Section 13
Short title, construction and collective citation.
SCHEDULE A SCHEDULE B Acts Referred to Health Contributions Act, 1979 1979, No. 4 Protection of Employees (Employers Insolvency) Act, 1984 1984, No. 21 Redundancy Payments Act, 1967 1967, No. 21 Redundancy Payments Act, 1979 1979, No. 7 Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981 1981, No. 1 Social Welfare (Amendment) Act, 1981 1981, No. 3 Social Welfare Act, 1982 1982, No. 2 Social Welfare Act, 1983 1983, No. 6 Social Welfare Act, 1984 1984, No. 5 Social Welfare Act, 1985 1985, No. 5 Social Welfare Act, 1986 1986, No. 8 Youth Employment Agency Act, 1981 1981, No. 32 Number 2 of 1987 SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 1987 AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE SOCIAL WELFARE ACTS, 1981 TO 1986. [4th April, 1987] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:
Definitions.
1.—In this Act— “the Act of 1984” means the Social Welfare Act, 1984 ; “the Act of 1985” means the Social Welfare Act, 1985 ; “the Act of 1986” means the Social Welfare Act, 1986 ; “the Principal Act” means the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981 .
Social insurance benefits (new rates).
2.—(1) The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for Parts I to IV (inserted by the Act of 1986) of the Second Schedule thereto of the Parts set out in Schedule A to this Act.
Social assistance payments (new rates).
3.—(1) The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for Parts I and III (inserted by the Act of 1986) of the Fourth Schedule thereto of the Parts set out in Schedule B to this Act.
Family income supplement.
4.—(1) Section 232B (inserted by the Act of 1984) of the Principal Act (which relates to the entitlement to family income supplement) is hereby amended by— (a) the substitution in paragraph (a) for “£100” (inserted by the Act of 1985) of “£104”, and (b) the substitution in paragraph (b) for “£100” (inserted by the Act of 1985) of “£104” and for “£20” (inserted by the Act of 1986) of “£22”.
Pay-related social insurance contributions (increase in earnings ceiling).
5.—(1) Section 10 (1) of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for paragraph (c) (inserted by the Act of 1986) of the following paragraph: “(c) Where in a particular contribution year an employed contributor's reckonable earnings have amounted to the sum of £15,500 and contributions under paragraph (b) have been paid in respect of those reckonable earnings, no further such contribution shall be payable in respect of any reckonable earnings of that employed contributor in that contribution year.”.
Exemption from payment of contributions, etc.
6.—Any employer who, during the period commencing on the 16th day of December, 1986, and ending on the 31st day of January, 1987, employed, under and by virtue of the scheme administered by the Department of Social Welfare and known as the Employers' Pay-Related Social Insurance Exemption Scheme, additional employees shall not, during the period commencing on the 6th day of April, 1987, and ending on the 5th day of April, 1988. be liable to pay in respect of additional employees who constitute a net increase in the employer's workforce under the scheme all or any of the following, namely— (a) the contribution specified in section 10 (1) (b) (ii) (as amended by the Social Welfare Act, 1982 ), of the Principal Act; (b) the employment contribution specified in subsection (2) (a) (ii), and the increase specified in subsection (2) (b), of section 65 (as amended by the Act of 1986) of the Principal Act; (c) the health contribution payable by an employer under section 5
Rate of pay-related benefit.
7.—(1) The following section is hereby substituted for section 73 of the Principal Act (inserted by the Social Welfare Act, 1983 , and as amended by the Act of 1986): “73.—The weekly rate of pay-related benefit payable to a person in any period of interruption of employment shall be, for any part of that period up to the 393rd day of incapacity for work or for any part of that period up to the 393rd day of unemployment, an amount equal to 12 per cent. of the part (if any) of his reckonable weekly earnings for the relevant income tax year that exceeds £62 but does not exceed such limit as stands prescribed for the time being, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed to restrict the total amount of benefit payable under this Part to the person in respect of any week.”.
Increase in contribution weeks necessary for entitlement to certain benefits. etc.
8.—(1) Section 19 of the Principal Act (which relates to contribution conditions for disability benefit) is hereby amended by the substitution in subsection (1) (a) for “26 contribution weeks” of “39 contribution weeks”.
Calculation of amounts payable on basis of daily rates for certain benefits.
9.—(1) Section 18 of the Principal Act (which relates to entitlement to disability benefit) is hereby amended by the insertion in subsection (6) after “one-sixth the appropriate weekly rate” of “subject to the total amount being paid at any time by virtue of this subsection being rounded up to the nearest 10p where it is a multiple of 5p but not also a multiple of 10p and being rounded to the nearest 10p where it is not a multiple of 5p or 10p”.
Amendment of section 76 of Principal Act (regulations).
10.—(1) Section 76 (1) of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for paragraph (b) of the following paragraph: “(b) the calculation of the amounts payable in respect of pay-related benefit in accordance with prescribed scales and for such adjustments of the amounts as may be necessary to facilitate the computation of the amounts and avoid multiples of other than 10p in the amounts;”.
Participation in certain schemes not to affect subsequent entitlement to unemployment benefit or assistance.
11.—The Principal Act is hereby amended— (a) in subsection (4A) (inserted by the Act of 1986) of section 29 by— (i) the addition to paragraph (e) after “Teamwork,” of “or”, and (ii) the insertion after paragraph (e) of the following paragraphs: “(f) participation in a scheme administered by the Department of Social Welfare and known as the Part-Time Job Allowance Scheme, or (g) participation in a scheme administered by the Department of Education and known as the Educational Opportunities Scheme,”, and (b) in subsection (2A) (inserted by the Act of 1985) of section 135 by— (i) the addition to paragraph (e) after “Teamwork,” of “or”, and (ii) the insertion after paragraph (e) of the following paragraphs: “(f) participation in a scheme administered by the Department of Social Welfare and known as the Part-Time Job Allowance Scheme, or (g) participation in a scheme administered by the Department of Education and known as the Educational Opportunities Scheme,”, and the said subsections (4A) and (2A), as so amended, are set out in the Table to this section.
TABLE (4A) Notwithstanding anything contained in subsection (4), any period, not exceeding one year in duration, of— (a) employment under a scheme administered by the Department of Labour and known as the Social Employment Scheme, or (b) participation in a scheme administered by the Department of Labour and known as the Enterprise Allowance Scheme, or (c) participation in a scheme administered by the Department of Labour and known as the Alternance Scheme, or (d) attendance at a training course provided or approved of by An Chomhairle Oiliúna, or (e) employment under a scheme administered by the Department of Labour and known as Teamwork, or (f) participation in a scheme administered by the Department of Social Welfare and known as the Part-Time Job Allowance Scheme, or (g) participation in a scheme administered by the Department of Education and known as the Educational Opportunities Scheme, shall be disregarded in treating, pursuant to subsection (4) (c), any two periods of interruption of employment not separated by more than 13 weeks as one period of interruption of employment. (2A) For the purposes of this Chapter, any period, being not longer than one year in duration, of— (a) employment under a scheme administered by the Department of Labour and known as the Social Employment Scheme, or (b) participation in a scheme administered by the Department of Labour and known as the Enterprise Allowance Scheme, or (c) participation in a scheme administered by the Department of Labour and known as the Alternance Scheme, or (d) attendance at a training course provided or approved of by An Chomhairle Oiliúna, or (e) employment under a scheme administered by the Department of Labour and known as Teamwork, or (f) participation in a scheme administered by the Department of Social Welfare and known as the Part-Time Job Allowance Scheme, or (g) participation in a scheme administered by the Department of Education and known as the Educational Opportunities Scheme, shall be disregarded in treating, pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, any two continuous periods of unemployment not separated by more than 20 weeks as one continuous period of unemployment.
Repeals.
12.—(1) Subsections (3) and (4) of section 123 (which relate to investment return in respect of payments made out of the Social Insurance Fund) of the Principal Act are hereby repealed.
Short title, construction and collective citation.
13.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Social Welfare Act, 1987.
SCHEDULE A
Section 2.
“Second Schedule Rates of Benefits
PART I
Rates of Periodical Benefits and Increases Thereof Description of benefit Weekly rate Increase for adult dependant (where payable) Increase for first qualified child (where payable) Increase for second qualified child (where payable) Increase for each of third, fourth and fifth qualified children (where payable) Increase for each qualified child in excess of five (where payable) Increase for prescribed relative under section 50 (11), 51 (2), 81 (3), 86 (3). 91 (3), 95 (2) or 103 (2) (where payable) Increase where the person has attained pensionable age and is living alone (where payable)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(4a)
(5)
(5a)
(6)
12.40 26.40 3.70 8. Orphan's (Contributory) Allowance 31.30 — — — — — — —
PART II
Occupational Injuries Benefits—Gratuities and Grant £ 1. Disablement Benefit:
Maximum gratuity in the case of persons— (i) aged under 66 years 4,500 (ii) aged over 66 years 4,580 2. Death Benefit: (i) Widower's gratuity in the case of persons— (a) aged under 66 years 3,280 (b) aged over 66 years 3,340 (ii) Grant in respect of funeral expenses 220
PART III
Disablement Pension Degree of disablement Weekly rate
(1)
58.32 59.58 80 ” ”
51.84 52.96 70 ” ”
45.36 46.34 60 ” ”
38.88 39.72 50 ” ”
32.40 33.10 40 ” ”
25.92 26.48 30 ” ”
19.44 19.86 20 ” ”
12.96 13.24
PART IV
Increases of Disablement Pension £ 1. Increase where the person is permanently incapable of work: in the case of persons— (a) aged under 66 years 42.30 (b) aged over 66 years 43.20 2. Increase where the beneficiary requires constant attendance: (a) limit of increase except in cases of exceptionally severe disablement where the person is— (i) aged under 66 years 25.90 (ii) aged over 66 years 26.40 (b) limit in any case where the person is— (i) aged under 66 years 51.80 (ii) aged over 66 years 52.70 ”.
SCHEDULE B
Section 3.
“Fourth Schedule Rates of Assistance
PART I
Rates of Periodical Social Assistance and Increases Thereof Description of assistance, pension or allowance Weekly rate or amount Increase for adult dependant (where payable) Increase for first qualified child (where payable) Increase for second qualified child (where payable) Increase for each of third, fourth and fifth qualified children (where payable) Increase for each qualified child in excess of five (where payable) Increase for prescribed relative under section 162(1)(a), 179(a), 195(2), 196(2) or 197(2) (where payable) Increase where the person has attained pensionable age and is living alone (where payable) Increase where the person has attained the age of 80 years (where payable)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(4a)
(5)
(5a)
(6)
(7)
A. Persons other than those at B:
PART III
Increase of Old Age Pension for a Spouse Means of claimant or pensioner Weekly rate of increase £ Where the weekly means of the claimant or pensioner do not exceed £6 23.70 exceed £6 but do not exceed £8 22.70 exceed £8 but do not exceed £10 21.70 exceed £10 but do not exceed £12 20.70 exceed £12 but do not exceed £14 19.70 exceed £14 but do not exceed £16 18.70 exceed £16 but do not exceed £18 17.70 exceed £18 but do not exceed £20 16.70 exceed £20 but do not exceed £22 15.70 exceed £22 but do not exceed £24 14.70 exceed £24 but do not exceed £26 13.70 exceed £26 but do not exceed £28 12.70 exceed £28 but do not exceed £30 11.70 exceed £30 but do not exceed £32 10.70 exceed £32 but do not exceed £34 9.70 exceed £34 but do not exceed £36 8.70 exceed £36 but do not exceed £38 7.70 exceed £38 but do not exceed £40 6.70 exceed £40 but do not exceed £42 5.70 exceed £42 but do not exceed £44 4.70 exceed £44 but do not exceed £46 3.70 exceed £46 but do not exceed £48 2.70 exceed £48 but do not exceed £50 1.70 exceed £50 Nil ”.
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