Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2016
289. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if the same or similar reductions would apply in a given situation (details supplied); the changes in social protection payment rates that would apply across the range of payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18392/16]
View answerThe one-parent family payment weekly rate of payment for a recipient with one child (and no means) is €217.80 per week (excluding any supplementary payments, such as fuel allowance). This is the same weekly rate which is payable to a single person with one child in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance, disability allowance and farm assist. The personal weekly rate is €188 per week for all of these schemes.
It should be noted that where two people are married, civil partners or cohabiting and are living together, there is no entitlement to a one parent family payment. In the case of jobseeker’s allowance, jobseeker’s benefit, illness benefit, injury benefit, farm assist and pre-retirement allowance either one or both members of the couple can claim a payment in their own right if they satisfy the relevant contingency. While the maximum personal weekly rate of these payments is €188 per week, the total amount a couple can receive is limited to the equivalent of one personal rate of payment (€188 per week) and one increase for a qualified adult (€124.80), or the rate that applies once means are taken into account. Payment is then made to each member of the couple at half this total entitlement including an increase for qualified children, if any. Alternatively, one member of the couple may claim an increase for a qualified adult (and any qualified children). Similar arrangements apply in the case of invalidity pension and State pensions (contributory and non-contributory) but the maximum rates payable are somewhat higher as the personal and qualified adult rates are higher. Limitation does not apply where one of the couple is entitled to a carer’s allowance or disability allowance.
There have been no changes to these arrangements since the report referenced by the Deputy was published. The current arrangements apply to all affected couples regardless of whether one has been a lone parent at any stage and reflect the fact that two individuals maintaining one household will incur lower costs than two people maintaining separate households.
Any changes to the proportional payment of social welfare payments for qualified adults or the limitation arrangements described above would involve significant costs and there are no such plans under consideration at present.
