STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS.

S.I. No. 311 of 2000.

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 2000 (SECTION 17) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER, 2000.

S.I. No. 311 of 2000.

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 2000 (SECTION 17) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER, 2000.

The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 17 of the Social Welfare Act, 2000 ( No. 4 of 2000 ), hereby orders as follows:

Citation.

1. This Order may be cited as the Social Welfare Act, 2000 (Section 17) (Commencement) Order, 2000.

Commencement.

2. Section 17 of the Social Welfare Act, 2000 ( No. 4 of 2000 ), shall come into operation--

(a) in so far as it relates to unemployment assistance and farm assist, on 4 October, 2000,

(b) in so far as it relates to disability allowance, on 11 October, 2000,

(c) in so far as it relates to pre-retirement allowance, one-parent family payment (other than where payable in respect of a widow or widower), carer's allowance and a relevant payment by virtue of section 18(1)(b) or (c) of the Social Welfare Act, 1996 (No. 7 of 1996) , on 12 October, 2000, and

(d) in so far as it relates to old age (non-contributory) pension, blind pension, widow's and widower's (non-contributory) pension, one-parent family payment payable in respect of a widow or widower and orphan's (non-contributory) pension, on 13 October, 2000.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

This Order provides for the commencement of section 17 of the Social Welfare Act, 2000 .

Section 17 of the Social Welfare Act, 2000 provides for reform of the method of assessing capital for social assistance schemes (other than Supplementary Welfare Allowance). These changes include the first £10,000 being disregarded and capital in excess of this amount being assessed on a sliding scale.