Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2016
437. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection his views regarding the impact that seeking maintenance from the liable relative which is a condition of the jobseeker's transitional payment scheme may have on the welfare of parents who would be required to make contact with abusive former partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27250/16]
View answerThe jobseeker’s transitional payment (JST) is available to lone parents, who would be entitled to claim one parent family payment, but that their youngest child is aged 7 to 13 years inclusive. These customers are exempt from the full jobseeker’s allowance conditions that require them to be available for, and genuinely seeking, full-time work.
As with conditionality for one parent family payment, customers will be expected to have sought maintenance from the other parent, where possible. Departmental staff would explain this to customers during the initial claim appointment.
However, it is not the policy of the Department to have JST customers contact former abusive partners to seek maintenance. In such situations, claims would be processed without delay and without the customer having to make contact with their former partner.
