In what is good news for farmers on a low income, the IFA has secured a commitment from the Department of Social Protection that GLAS payments will be disregarded in the means test for Farm Assist.
The first €2,500 of the payment will be disregarded, as well as 50% of the remainder. This means that farmers getting a maximum GLAS payment of €5,000 will have the first €2,500 and 50% of the remaining payment disregarded, giving a total disregard of €3,750.
In addition, costs associated with compliance with GLAS such as planning fees and capital costs can also be taken into account in the means assessment of the farm.
Flor McCarthy, Rural Development Chairman, said that with around 10,000 farmers on Farm Assist, confirmation of the disregards will ensure that farmers on low incomes will generally not be affected in their means test if they join the new GLAS scheme which will open shortly.
The Chairman went on to say that the IFA will be making a further case for the restoration of income disregards abolished by the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton in 2011 and 2012 Budgets.
Farm Assist
Farm Assist is a form of social welfare for low income farmers and it is means-tested. To qualify for Farm Assist, you must be a farmer, farming land in the State, aged between 18 and 66 and satisfy a means test.
There is a similar social welfare payment for fishermen and women called Fish Assist.
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – 05/02/2015)