Most social welfare payments provide for an increase in respect of qualified children.
Social welfare customers in receipt of a long term payment or in receipt of a short term payment for more than six months can claim an increase for each child who is over 18 years and up to age 22 and attending a full-time day course of education at an institute of education. If the child reaches age 22 during an academic year while attending a full-time day course of education, they continue to be regarded as a qualified child up to the end of that academic year, provided they continue to receive full-time education.
I am satisfied that this provision assists social welfare recipients in supporting a qualified child dependant up to and including primary degree level in most cases. Any improvement could only be considered in a budgetary context and in light of competing priorities.
I have no immediate plans to change current arrangements but I will keep the matter under review.