Dalli asks department to look into social benefit eligibility ceilings

Social Policy Minister John Dalli said today that he had asked the Social Security Department to look into the income ceilings for eligibility to social benefits in view of the adjustments made to the cost of living allowance (COLA).

Speaking in Parliament during the Budget debate, Mr Dalli said he did not agreed with automatic adjustment of ceilings whenever a cost of living increase was given. Administrators had to continue to hold the reins on public expenditure. However it was unfair and absurd that many people, on receiving the COLA, lost their eligibility for certain benefits and ended up losing more than they gained.

This was a situation which should be addressed.

In his address Mr Dalli insisted that the government would continue to crack down on benefit fraud, through a new, well organised and resourced inspectorate which worked for all departments. He said a specialised central unit was being created for means testing when such testing was required for eligibility to some social benefits.

Mr Dalli referred to the planned the extension of Addolorata Cemetery, and the charges for the new graves (€8,000 each) were not aimed at profit making, but to create a fund from which the cemetery would be regularly maintained to adequate levels.