My Department provides social insurance and social assistance payments to those who are experiencing a particular contingency. Social insurance schemes are paid to those covered by the Social Insurance Fund, whereas social assistance payments are designed to support those most in need and are based on a means-test. However, there is a general principle of one person, one payment, which applies across the Irish social welfare system.
Given the contingency-based nature of this system, even if the person experiences more than one contingency at the same time, generally, they can receive only one of those payments to help meet the person’s income needs. This means that a person will not be able to claim Widow’s Pension, Widower's Pension or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension and Illness Benefit at the same time.
It should be noted, however, that people might be eligible to claim one of the supports below in addition to their Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension:
Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly means-tested tax-free payment available to employees with children. A person can receive Working Family Payment (if they meet the criteria) and get a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension at the same time. Full details are available and updated regularly on the www.gov.ie website. The Widow's, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension is assessed as means.
A person might also be eligible to receive Living Alone Increase, Fuel Allowance or Household Benefits Package depending on their living circumstances and their age.
Supplementary Welfare Allowance is available to people struggling financially. This is a means-tested payment. It is administered by this Department’s Community Welfare Service and can be accessed by customers through their local Intreo office. The Department may also make an Exceptional Needs Payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income.
Full details of the above and further rules and guidelines are available and updated regularly on the www.gov.ie website.
The Department will continue to keep the range of supports under review. However, changing the underlying one person, one payment principle would involve significant additional expenditure which could prove unsustainable in the long-term, and which would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
