Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
896. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the average amount paid to recipients of social welfare schemes administered by her Department in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1422/23]
View answer897. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid to the highest single recipient of social welfare schemes administered by her Department in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1423/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 896 and 897 together.
The majority of payments that are issued by the Department reflects the entitlement period where the recipient’s claim was open. However payments can be issued in respect to different entitlement periods (i.e. arrears payments). Arrears can be due to persons where there is a gap between their entitlement date and the date of their first payment. In some cases, typically cases where a claim is awarded following an appeals process, there may be several weeks of arrears payments due to a person. Such payments occur each week, and these payments cannot readily be distinguished from non-arrears payments. Because of this, and on statistical disclosure grounds, my Department is unable to provide details on the highest amount issued. However the amount paid to individuals by pay band rates for 2022 is provided in Table 1. These amounts paid may include arrears payments and may not therfore pertain solely to 2022.
The average payment issued to a recipient in 2022 was €7,700. Note that this average amount may also include arrears payments and may not pertain solely to 2022.
The amount paid to recipients of social welfare schemes in 2022.
|
Amount paid (€) |
Recipients |
|
< 2,500 |
676,485 |
|
2,500 - < 5,000 |
326,674 |
|
5,000 - < 7,500 |
212,576 |
|
7,500 - < 10,000 |
130,318 |
|
10,000 - < 12,500 |
252,389 |
|
12,500 - < 15,000 |
405,140 |
|
15,000 + |
450,842 |
