Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
730. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending the jobseeker's transitional payment to one-parent families in work, training or education. [36622/23]
View answer754. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to extend the JST to one-parent families in work, training or education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36770/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 730 and 754 together.
The Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment is a means tested income support for lone parents whose youngest child is aged 7 to 13 years, inclusive. When the persons youngest child turns 14, a person may be eligible for another scheme such as Jobseeker’s Allowance.
My Department also provides a number of other related supports. For example, the Working Family Payment which is available to lone parents who are working 38 or more hours per fortnight. A person can receive a payment under the scheme where a person has a child up to age 18 (or age 22 if in full time education). The scheme is paid based on 60% of the difference between the persons average weekly family income and the Working Family Payment threshold for the family size. The threshold is €591 per week where there is one child, €622 per week where there are two children and so on up to €1,358 per week where there are eight or more children.
In addition, a person who takes up insurable employment or self-employment, within four weeks of the end of their Jobseeker's Transitional Payment claim, can qualify for Back to Work Family Dividend, which is payable for a two-year period.
In year one, the rate of payment is based on the person's Qualified Child entitlement, subject to a maximum of four children, on the date of exit from their previous payment. Fifty per cent of that amount is payable in year two. The weekly rates of payment are set out below.
|
Under 12 |
1 child |
2 children |
3 children |
4 or more children |
|
|
|
Year 1 |
€42.00 |
€84.00 |
€126.00 |
€168.00 |
|
|
Year 2 |
€21.00 |
€42.00 |
€63.00 |
€84.00 |
|
12 or over |
1 child |
2 children |
3 children |
4 or more children |
|
|
|
Year 1 |
€50.00 |
€100.00 |
€150.00 |
€200.00 |
|
|
Year 2 |
€25.00 |
€50.00 |
€75.00 |
€100.00 |
Importantly, Working Family Payment and Back to Work Family Dividend can be paid concurrently.
The cost of paying the means tested Jobseeker's Transitional Payment to lone parents, after their youngest child turns 14, who are in employment, training or education would be very difficult to estimate. This is because, for example, in addition to demographics and evolving family structures, a person's circumstances may change over time: some persons formerly in receipt of Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment will be in receipt of another payment from the department, others may not be in receipt of a payment; while still others will be in employment and may not qualify for a means tested payment. Therefore, the numbers who would qualify were the scheme to be extended as described is not known.
The current approach aims to support lone parents by reducing long-term welfare dependency, and associated poverty, among this group by focusing on their access to education, training, and employment support services. Access to these services is designed to enhance the person's skills-set and job-readiness, thereby assisting with their transition into the workforce, and with their subsequent attainment of financial independence. There are no plans to change the current arrangements at present.
