Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
853. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures which will be put in place for applicants for the working family payment that are due for a review of the payment that will be affected by Covid-19 reduced working hours under the criteria that they must work 38 or more hours each fortnight; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12507/20]
View answerThe Working Family Payment is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. It is designed to prevent in-work poverty and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. The estimated annual expenditure on Working Family Payment in 2019 is approximately €397.2 million. As of May 2020 the support is paid to approximately 51,256 persons in respect of some 115,201 children.
Customers who are in receipt of Working Family Payment and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment are considered to be meeting all the eligibility requirements of the Working Family Payment in this situation, and their payment is not affected at this time.
There are a number of supports currently available from the Department in cases where an individual may not be eligible for Working Family Payment, including the Short Term Work Support and Jobseekers Allowance, which allows an individual to work up to three days without losing their benefit. The Department regularly updates information regarding the supports available during Covid-19 and details of these can be found on the Department's website at:
https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-employment-affairs-and-social-protection/
