Family rejected 100-year old’s gift from President
The release of state records under the 30 year rule revealed that a Limerick family turned down the President’s Centenarian Bounty because they were worried that if their mother found out she was 100, it might damage her health.
The woman was under the belief that she was 93, but was infact approaching 100 when the department of Social Welfare contacted the family to make arrangements for the payment.
Records show that the daughter of the woman told the Social Welfare officer that if her mother found out that she was actually 100 years old, it would be detramental to her health.
The welfare officer gave the daughter more time to think about accepting the £50 pound bounty but still rejected it, however she later accepted it on behalf of her mother.
Today, the Centenarians bounty is worth €2,450 and is given as a gift from the President to anyone who reaches the age of 100. Every year after that they receive a special medal, the design of which is different every year.