Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 February 2022
230. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a further increase was not offered to a person (details supplied) following a recent contributory pension review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8872/22]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on 27 August 2021 and applied for an Increase for qualified adult (IQA) with their State pension (contributory). An IQA is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.
The rate of IQA depends on the rate of State pension (contributory) in payment to the primary pensioner, and on the IQA means test. The means test for IQA is assessed on the qualified adult’s means, solely or jointly held (50% of jointly-held means).
Where a qualified adult is assessed with weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where assessable weekly means are over €100 and not more than €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment.
Based on the information provided by the person concerned, the couple’s means were jointly-held prize bonds (date of issue 27 October 2020) and joint bank account. The initial IQA assessment was based on 50% of the jointly-held prize bonds and the full amount of capital in the bank account, resulting in a means assessment of €330 per week. As this exceeded the weekly means limit of €310 per week, the person concerned was notified in writing on 10 August 2021 that there was no entitlement to IQA and provided with a breakdown of the means assessment.
This means assessment was revised on 24 August 2021 following contact from the person concerned. Since the bank account is in joint names, the IQA means assessment should only have included half of the balance rather than the full amount. The revised means assessment was then under the €310 weekly limit and gave entitlement to a reduced rate of IQA. The revised decision issued in writing to the person concerned on 24 August 2021 and included a breakdown of the means assessment.
The person concerned then provided an updated bank statement for the couple’s joint bank account and prize bonds with a more recent date of issue (17 November 2021) in the person’s sole name. The qualified adult's name was no longer on the prize bonds. Where a Deciding Officer notes a transfer of assets by a person in respect of whom a means-tested increase for a qualified adult is being claimed, they will carefully consider all of the facts and circumstances in the individual case. If it is considered that applicants have disposed of assets to qualify for the means-tested IQA, or to qualify for a higher rate of payment, these assets remain assessable. The Deciding Officer therefore assessed half of the bank account balance and half of the prize bonds previously declared, as the prize bonds were the joint property of the couple and in both their names at the time of application. A decision issued in writing to the person concerned on 28 January 2022 with details of the means assessed and affording right of appeal of the decision within 21 days.
If the person concerned wishes to request a further review, they should provide documentary evidence for the disposal of the jointly-held prize bonds which were issued in the couple’s names on 27 October 2020.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
