Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
760. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number, by each €10-per-week income band, of State pension (contributory) qualified adults in receipt of the total IQA allowance and of a tapered rate of qualified adult allowance where the qualified adult is 66 or over; whether she intends changing the way the increase for a qualified adult is calculated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48306/23]
View answerAn increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.
Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where their weekly means are over €100 and not more than €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment.
The table below shows the number of persons aged 66 years of age and over who are the beneficiary of the Increase for a Qualified Adult on their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant's State Pension (contributory) by means band.
|
Means Band |
Over 66 |
|
0 - 10 |
26,808 |
|
11 - 20 |
1,405 |
|
21 - 30 |
1,317 |
|
31 - 40 |
995 |
|
41 - 50 |
746 |
|
51 - 60 |
831 |
|
61 - 70 |
787 |
|
71 - 80 |
871 |
|
81 - 90 |
979 |
|
91 - 100 |
951 |
|
101 - 110 |
630 |
|
111 - 120 |
552 |
|
121 - 130 |
389 |
|
131 - 140 |
386 |
|
141 - 150 |
353 |
|
151 - 160 |
372 |
|
161 - 170 |
298 |
|
171 - 180 |
303 |
|
181 - 190 |
235 |
|
191 - 200 |
261 |
|
201 - 200 |
231 |
|
211 - 220 |
210 |
|
221 - 230 |
174 |
|
231 - 240 |
178 |
|
241 - 250 |
136 |
|
251 - 260 |
118 |
|
261 - 270 |
102 |
|
271 - 280 |
119 |
|
281 - 290 |
92 |
|
291 - 300 |
88 |
|
301 - 310 |
157 |
|
Total |
41,074 |
Any change to the means assessment calculation for the Increase for a Qualified Adult would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
