Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022
293. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if any additional flexibility is being shown to applicants of farm assist with regard to the period for which income is calculated, due to likely future earnings having degraded in the past 12 months arising from dramatically increasing input costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15758/22]
View answerFarm Assist is an important income support for farmers on low incomes, enabling them to continue to farm while also receiving a State income support. The means test for Farm Assist takes account of all income sources and operating costs, and is flexible to allow for significant fluctuations from one year to the next.
Income and expenditure figures for the preceding year are generally used as an indicator of the expected position in the following year. Details of any exceptional circumstances are also taken into account so as to ensure that the assessment accurately reflects the current situation.
