Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 September 2015
71. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent, if any, to which she is aware of any hardship to lone parents, arising from changes in the one-parent family payment, with particular reference to situations where the payment subsequently fell short of the previous entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33633/15]
View answerThe primary goal of the reform to the one-parent family payment scheme is to maximise the opportunities for lone parents to enter into and increase employment by providing them with enhanced access to the wide range of education, training and employment supports that make up the Department’s Intreo services.
Of the 25,500 customers exited the one-parent family payment scheme on 2 July, 2015, approximately 12,000 incurred no change in their income.
Approximately 2,400 were new family income supplement recipients and saw an increase in their income. These new recipients are also eligible for the back to work family dividend.
The back to work family dividend allows parents to retain the child proportion of their former core social welfare payment, which equals €29.80 per week per child, for two years, with full entitlement in the first year and 50% entitlement in the second year. This equates to €1,550 per child in the first year and €775 per child in the second year.
There are currently 8,800 customers in receipt of the back to work family dividend, of which over 6,500 are former one-parent family payment recipients.
The Department will continue to actively promote the Dividend to lone parents who have transitioned off the OFP scheme.
Approximately 4,900 of the jobseeker’s transitional payment cohort experienced a reduction in their income and, approximately 5,700 of the family income supplement recipients experienced a reduction in their income. However, this cohort is now eligible for the back to work family dividend.
In cases where customers transitioned to the family income supplement scheme and who subsequently experienced a reduction in their income, the Department contacted these customers and invited them to attend a one-to-one meeting with a designated Case Officer in order to discuss their options.
The Department will continue to work with these customers in order to assist them in any way possible.
Lone parents who are now on jobseeker’s allowance or the jobseeker’s transitional payment and who experienced an income reduction are in the process of being invited to attend a one to one engagement with a Case Officer to discuss their options and the wide variety of supports the Department can provide them.
