Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2023
383. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to respond to concerns raised (details supplied) in respect of a foster carer’s difficulties in accessing certain social protection supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41394/23]
View answerThe provision of fostering services is a matter for Tusla (the Child and Family Agency), including the provision of financial supports. Tusla provides a Foster Care Allowance in respect of each child in foster care. The weekly Foster Care Allowance is currently €325 per child under 12, and €352 for children aged 12 and over. Foster care allowances from Tusla are not taxable and are not included in the means test for social protection payments.
There are a number of social protection payments which are available to foster carers:
Child Benefit: Where a child has been placed in foster care, by Tusla, and the child has been in the continuous care of the foster carer for 6 months, Child Benefit may be transferred to the foster carer.
Increases for Qualified Children (for person in receipt of a Primary Social Welfare Payments): A foster carer who is in receipt of a primary social welfare payment (such as Jobseeker’s Allowance) is eligible for an Increase for a Qualified Child in respect of a foster child (as long as no other person is in receipt of an Increase for a Qualified Child in respect of the same child).
Working Family Payment: The Working Family Payment is paid to low-income families. The payment is based on the number of children / foster children in the family and overall household income.
Back to Work Family Dividend: The Back to Work Family Dividend is paid over a two year period and aims to help families move from social welfare into employment. A foster carer who moves off Jobseeker's Allowance and who was in receipt of an Increase for a Qualified Child(ren) can retain these payments for two years - 100% of the payment(s) is paid in year one and 50% in year two.
To be eligible for One Parent Family Payment or the Jobseeker Transitional scheme, an applicant must be a qualified parent, as defined in the relevant sections of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, which includes:
- a widow
- a widower
- a separated spouse
- an unmarried person
- a person whose spouse or civil partner has been committed in custody to a prison or place of detention for not less than 6 months, or
- a surviving civil partner
- a civil partner who is not living with the other civil partner of the civil partnership, or
- a person who is not a party to a civil partnership who is the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of at least one relevant child, who normally resides with that person.
As a foster carer is not the parent or legal guardian of the foster child, they are not eligible for these schemes. However, as outlined above, foster carers are eligible for the Foster Care Allowance from Tusla, which is paid at a higher rate than these two lone parent social welfare schemes.
