The new Farm Assist scheme will cost an additional £15 million, with some 14,000 farm families set to benefit. The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, yesterday gave details of how the new scheme, set to begin in June, will operate.
The scheme will be means-tested, taking into account both farm income and off-farm income of farmer and spouse, and eligibility will be based on actual income assessed being within specified thresholds. Claimants will be able to apply to have their means reassessed at any time if their income position changes and will not be required to "sign on".
Only 80 per cent of farm income will be taken into account, with further reductions per child in the family. The payment will, in effect, meet the shortfall between the assessed figure and the Long-term Unemployment Assistance rate applicable to a similar family.