Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 6 September 2019
1775. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the working family payment for a person (details supplied) will be backdated to when the qualified child returns to education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34774/19]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. In order to qualify for WFP, an applicant must have a qualified child and be engaged in full-time paid employment as an employee for not less than 38 hours per fortnight.
Under Social Welfare Legislation, a qualified child is defined as a child under 18 years of age or aged between 18 and under 22 and in recognized full-time day education.
Working Family Payment for the person concerned was due for renewal from 17 July 2019. The person's son turned 18 on 22 June 2019 and is not currently in full time education. As the person concerned does not have a qualified child as defined in legislation the claim was therefore disallowed.
A fulltime education certificate issued to the person concerned for completion by the College/University if the child dependent begins third level education. If the certificate is returned confirming that the child has commenced fulltime education the application for the person concerned will be considered from the date College commences.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
