Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
104. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the current iteration of the means test for social assistance payments; if her Department is taking steps to update the means test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46179/23]
View answerMeans tests in my Department are kept under regular review and a number of significant changes have been made in recent years.
I have introduced a number of changes to means testing, including providing for higher income disregards. These disregards ensure that, where people are in receipt of a social assistance payment and are working, their income from work to the level of the income disregard, is not assessed in the means test.
In 2022 I expanded the list of agri-environmental schemes that qualify for a disregard, and as part of Budget 2023 I increased this disregard.
In 2022 I also introduced a Rent a Room disregard, for all Social Protection schemes, to enable recipients to support those arriving from Ukraine, and others, in a tight housing market. Earlier this year, I extended that provision for a further two years.
From January this year I introduced significant changes to eligibility rules for Fuel Allowance, including a new means threshold for people aged 70 years and over - €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple. These changes resulted in an additional 35,000 households joining the scheme so far.
Last year I significantly increased the income and capital disregards for Carer's Allowance. This enables more carers with modest incomes to become eligible for the scheme and allows carers and their families to earn more from employment while retaining their carer’s payment.
As part of Budget 2024 I have further increased the disregard to €450 for a single person, and €900 for carers with a spouse/partner from June.
Regulations which provide for disregards in relation to UCD's Cothrom na Féinne scholarship programme are in development and I hope to sign them in the coming days, benefitting third level students from lower income households.
I have committed to a carrying out broad review of means testing this year, which is ongoing, and it will be completed by the end of the year.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
