Number 40 of 2007

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT 2007

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section

1. Definitions.

2. Social insurance benefits (new rates).

3. Social assistance payments (new rates).

4. Family income supplement (new weekly rates).

5. Employment contributions (amendment to earnings limits and ceiling).

6. Optional contributions (amendment to income ceiling).

7. Widowed parent grant — increase of grant.

8. Amendments to Health Contributions Act 1979.

9. Short title and construction.

SCHEDULE 1

SCHEDULE 2

Acts Referred to

Number 40 of 2007

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT 2007

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

1 .— In this Act—

“ Act of 2006” means the Social Welfare Act 2006 ;

“ Principal Act ” means the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 .

2 .— (1) Schedule 2 to the Principal Act (as amended by section 2(1) of the Act of 2006) is amended by substituting the Parts set out in Schedule 1 for Parts 1 to 4 of the said Schedule 2.

(2) This section comes into operation—

(a) in so far as it relates to jobseeker’s benefit, on 27 December 2007,

(b) in so far as it relates to illness benefit, health and safety benefit, injury benefit and disablement gratuity, on 31 December 2007,

(c) in so far as it relates to carer’s benefit, State pension (transition), invalidity pension and a payment referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of “relevant payment” in section 178 of the Principal Act, on 3 January 2008, and

(d) in so far as it relates to disablement pension, death benefit under section 81, 82 or 83 of the Principal Act, State pension (contributory), widow’s (contributory) pension, widower’s (contributory) pension and guardian’s payment (contributory), on 4 January 2008.

3 .— (1) Schedule 4 to the Principal Act (as amended by section 3(1) of the Act of 2006) is amended by substituting the Parts set out in Schedule 2 for Parts 1 to 3 of the said Schedule 4.

(2) This section comes into operation—

(a) in so far as it relates to jobseeker’s allowance, pre-retirement allowance and farm assist, on 26 December 2007,

(b) in so far as it relates to supplementary welfare allowance, on 31 December 2007,

(c) in so far as it relates to disability allowance, on 2 January 2008,

(d) in so far as it relates to one-parent family payment (other than where payable in respect of a widow or widower), carer’s allowance and a payment referred to in paragraph (b) or (c) of the definition of “ relevant payment” in section 178 of the Principal Act, on 3 January 2008, and

(e) in so far as it relates to State pension (non-contributory), blind pension, widow’s (non-contributory) pension, widower’s (non-contributory) pension, one-parent family payment payable in respect of a widow or widower and guardian’s payment (non-contributory), on 4 January 2008.

4 .— (1) The following section is substituted for section 228 (as amended by section 4(1) of the Act of 2006) of the Principal Act:

“228.— Subject to this Act, an allowance (in this Act referred to as ‘family income supplement’) shall be payable out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas in respect of a family where the weekly family income is less than—

(a) in the case of a family which includes only 1 child, €490,

(b) in the case of a family which includes 2 children, €570,

(c) in the case of a family which includes 3 children, €655,

(d) in the case of a family which includes 4 children, €760,

(e) in the case of a family which includes 5 children, €870,

(f) in the case of a family which includes 6 children, €970,

(g) in the case of a family which includes 7 children, €1,090, or

(h) in the case of a family which includes 8 or more children, €1,170.”.

(2) This section comes into operation on 3 January 2008.

5 .— (1) Section 13(2) (as amended by section 5(1) of the Act of 2006) of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in paragraph (a) by substituting “€352” for “€339”,

(b) in paragraph (b) by substituting “€352” for “€339”, and

(c) in paragraph (c) by substituting “€50,700” for “€48,800”.

(2) This section comes into operation on 1 January 2008.

6 .— (1) Section 29(1)(b) (as amended by section 6(1) of the Act of 2006) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting “€50,700” for “€48,800”.

(2) This section comes into operation on 1 January 2008.

7 .— (1) Section 137(1) of the Principal Act (as amended by section 9(1) of the Act of 2006) is amended by substituting “€6,000” for “€4,000”.

(2) This section has effect in respect of persons whose entitlement to a widowed parent grant arises on or after 5 December 2007.

8 .— (1) Section 7A of the Health Contributions Act 1979 (as amended by section 13(1) of the Act of 2006) is amended—

(a) in subsection (1)—

(i) in paragraph (a) by substituting “€500” for “€480”, and

(ii) in paragraph (b) by substituting “€26,000” for “€24,960”,

and

(b) in subsection (2) by substituting “€26,000” for “€24,960”.

(2) This section comes into operation on 1 January 2008.

9 .— (1) This Act may be cited as the Social Welfare Act 2007.

(2) The Social Welfare Acts and this Act (other than section 8 ) shall be read together as one.