Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 December 2022
171. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce supports for single fathers that they can avail of if the other parent is already in receipt of existing parental supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62579/22]
View answerMy Department provides the One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment to support mothers or fathers on low incomes who are parenting alone and who's youngest child is under age 14. In order to qualify, a lone parent must have main care and charge of at least one qualified child. Only one parent may qualify for One-Parent Family Payment or Jobseeker's Transitional Payment in respect of the same child.
In circumstances where one parent is in receipt of either of these payments and the other parent has an income need such that they are in receipt of another payment such as Jobseeker's Allowance, it is possible for a partial Increase for a Qualified Child to be made to the non-resident parent where that parent is contributing substantially to the maintenance of the child.
In this context "contributing substantially to the maintenance of the child" is taken to mean providing at least the current equivalent value of the Increase for a Qualified Child weekly rate whether that is in cash or in-kind.
Where the non-resident parent is not currently making such a contribution, but the Deciding Officer is satisfied that s/he would do so if an Increase for a Qualified Child were awarded, for example, if the person had done so previously when they could afford to, then it may also be accepted that the condition is fulfilled.
An Increase for a Qualified Child is payable only once at any one time in respect of any child for the same period, but it can be split between both parents in certain circumstances.
I trust this clarifies the position.
