Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 March 2023
93. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has undertaken an assessment of the take-up of the working family dividend and consulted with the Revenue Commissioners, which collects income data to ensure that this support is fully taken up. [14949/23]
View answerI understand Deputy Stanton will introduce Question No. 93.
I am taking this question on behalf of Deputy Richard Bruton who sends his apologies. He is concerned about whether the Minister is undertaking an assessment of the take-up of the working family dividend and whether she has consulted with the Revenue Commissioners which collects income data to ensure this support is fully taken up. He is concerned that it may not be and, if it is not, that we act to ensure it is.
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The working family payment is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees with children on lower earnings designed to prevent in-work poverty. It is a targeted measure that is directly linked to household income and, therefore, directly supports low-income working families. The average weekly payment made to families is currently estimated at €160 per week, which is tax-free.
Approximately 48,000 families with 104,000 children are currently in receipt of the payment. The estimated expenditure on the scheme in 2023 is €362 million. In fact, we have seen a significant increase in the number of applications in recent years, with 34,372 claims received in 2022 compared with 27,854 in 2018.
Budget 2023 provided for a €40 increase in the weekly income thresholds for the working family payment from January 2023. Recipients of the payment also received a €500 cost of living payment last November and will receive a further payment of €200 next month. I am very conscious of the importance of ensuring that people are aware of and take up the payments for which they are eligible. It is difficult to accurately estimate the take-up of the scheme. It is not simply a matter of making a comparison with Revenue data, as there are eligibility requirements other than income levels in order to qualify for the scheme.
My Department recently undertook a public information campaign to promote the working family payment scheme. The objective of this campaign is to increase awareness of the working family payment and to highlight that the payment can be applied for online at mywelfare.ie. Advertising featured across a mix of print, radio and social media, with all advertising directing people to the appropriate website for information, which includes a link to mywelfare.ie. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
I thank the Minister for a good and comprehensive response. I congratulate on her what she has done in respect of this payment. It is an important payment for working parents on low incomes. Obviously, the low income is another issue and the minimum wage is helping. There is more to come in that regard. Since the promotion the Minister mentioned has started, has there been an increase in the number of people who have applied for the payment? Does her Department have an idea as to how many people who may be entitled to payment are not claiming it?
I do not have the figures for who should be applying. We can only encourage people to consider the working family payment. It is to help people who are working. We want to encourage people who go to work and support them in doing so. That is the purpose of the working family payment.
The online application process replaced a very long paper application form. The removal of the requirement for an employer to sign part of the application is another change aimed at removing barriers for the take-up of the scheme. We have seen a significant increase in the number of applications in recent years, as I said, with 34,372 claims received in 2022 compared with 27,854 in 2018. My Department undertook a public information campaign to promote the payment, using the tagline "You might be surprised by the working family payment". The campaign aimed to promote the payment among working families on low to moderate incomes, especially those who may not realise they qualify for the payment, and to provide them with more information about the scheme.
The Minister has answered all of my questions. It is a good payment. Does the Minister plan to keep the awareness campaign going? It is very important. Not everyone is online or listens to mainstream media. There are old-fashioned communication methods, such as putting up posters in various centres around the country. People may see the information and apply for the payment. It is important that we use word of mouth, citizens' information and any other communication means possible.
The Department of Social Protection wants people to know about these schemes and take them up. They are in place to help people. As the Deputy knows, we have supported people. Budget 2023 included a social welfare package of almost €2.2 billion. There was a double weekly payment in October, a double child benefit payment in November and a Christmas bonus double payment in December. There was also a €500 cost-of-living lump sum payment to recipients of the working family payment in November and a €40 increase in the weekly income threshold for the working family payment. That all helps.
The personal rate of working age payments, such as one-parent family payment, was increased by €12, from €208 to €220 per week in January. We also increased the qualifying child rate to €42 per week in respect of a qualifying child aged under 12 and to €50 per week in respect of a qualifying child aged 12 and over. In order to help families, I also am trying to expand the school meals programme. I was delighted I was able to include that in the last announcement. All DEIS primary schools will be included in the hot school meals programme.
