Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 March 2022
83. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to extending social welfare supports to retired civil servants who have received their occupational pensions in place of a standard State pension, such as the living alone allowance in cases in which there are requirements to be in receipt of a primary social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16734/22]
View answer90. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will allow those who are not in receipt of a qualifying payment to receive the living alone allowance; and if it will be ensured that this is negotiated in the budget 2023 discussions. [16880/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 90 together.
Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, my Department also provides a range of other payments, both cash and non-cash, on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered secondary in nature.
The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or a stand-alone payment in itself, but rather it is a supplement to a primary social protection payment of €22 per week made to people aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. For those aged 66 or over, these payments include State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-contributory), Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Widow's/Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and Deserted Wife's Benefit.
Accordingly, there are no circumstances where the Living Alone Increase can be paid to people who are not in receipt of a primary qualifying payment from my Department. Any decision to allow those who are not in receipt of a qualifying payment to receive the Living Alone Increase - and thereby establish it as a scheme - would have budgetary and administrative consequences and would have to be considered in the context of Budget negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
