No 36 of 2006 - Social Welfare Act 2006
What does this law do?
The main purpose of this Act 2006 is to give effect to a number of social welfare measures as announced in Budget 2007. The Act provides for increases in the rates of social insurance and social assistance payments and improvements in Family Income Supplement, Maternity and Adoptive Benefit, Death Benefit Funeral Expenses Grant, Bereavement Grant, Widowed Parent Grant, State Pension (Non-Contributory) and Disability Allowance schemes.
It also provides for raising the weekly earnings amount at which PRSI becomes payable, and an increase in the income ceiling above which PRSI contributions are not payable by employed or optional contributors. In addition, the Act provides for changes to the Health Contributions Act 1979 to provide for an increase in the amount of contributions payable for earnings over a certain threshold, and for an increase in the weekly and annual exemption thresholds for the Health Contribution Levy.
Contact Department:
Department of Social and Family Affairs
Signed by the President on:
19 December 2006
Full version of this Act can be found on the Oireachtas website.