Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012
59. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering changing the inclusion of child support in the calculation of means in lone parents allowance applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44423/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Revised Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure of €1,062 million on the one parent family payment scheme in 2012. One parent family payment is a means tested social assistance payment for men and women who are bringing up a child or children with the support of a partner. There are currently over 89,000 people receiving this payment. The weekly amount of the payment to each recipient depends on the weekly means of the parent. When assessing means for the one parent family payment, account is taken of all cash income which the person is receiving. Thus, for example, where a recipient has earnings from employment, the first €130 per week is disregarded and the balance is assessed at 50%.
Where a recipient is in receipt of a maintenance payment, this payment is also assessed as means. Initially, a person’s housing costs, if any, of up to €95.23 per week are disregarded for those who pay rent or a mortgage. Maintenance above this level is assessed at 50%. Similar arrangements apply across a range of other social assistance schemes such as disability allowance and jobseeker’s allowance.
As a result of this approach, a recipient will always retain at least half of any maintenance paid. I consider that these arrangements are appropriate in that there is always an incentive to seek and receive a maintenance payment in respect of the child, the recipient himself or herself or both, as appropriate. Accordingly, I have no plans, at present, to change the assessment of maintenance payments for entitlement to the one parent family payment and similar payments.
