Family Income Supplement

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Ceisteanna (205)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

205. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason the family income supplement to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has been decreased by €300; if her Department is aware of the hardship currently being experienced due to the maintenance recovery policy currently being pursued in this case; if her Department will review this person's entitlement, with a view to restoring the original level of payment, with particular reference to the fact that the person will soon be made homeless, due to less income and increasing rent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37741/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The Family income supplement (FIS) is designed to provide support for employees on low earnings with families.

The person concerned was in receipt of FIS at the weekly rate of €74 from October 2014 to October 2015. When she applied to have payment renewed in October 2015 her income was re-assessed taking into account her current circumstances.

The person's assessable income and FIS entitlement from October 2014 and October 2015 are given in the following table.

-	Oct 2014	Oct 2015
Average net weekly assessable earnings	€ 334.20	€ 318.55
Other Social Welfare payment	€ Nil	€ 132.80*
Maintenance payment	€ 50.00	€ 76.00
Total Assessable Family Income for FIS	€ 384.20	€ 527.35
FIS Payable	€ 74.00	€ NIL
Total Income	€485.00	€527.35

*One Parent Family Payment (OPFP).

As the threshold for a family with 1 child is currently €506.00 her FIS application from October 2015 was disallowed. However, the overall income of the person concerned in October 2015 shows to have increased from their overall income in October 2014.

As regards maintenance recovery, the financial position of each liable relative is assessed based on the net weekly income (i.e. income from all sources less income tax and PRSI) after applicable allowances set out in the Regulations.

All liable relatives assessed with a maintenance liability are notified by the Department and are issued with a maintenance contribution assessment. The amount assessed can be reviewed where new information comes to light about the financial or household circumstances of the liable relative. A liable relative is given the option to commence making payments to the OPFP recipient or directly to the Department. Maintenance payments to the OPFP recipient are assessed as means and may have an impact on their weekly payment from the Department.

In the case of the person concerned she was receiving maintenance payments of €50.00 per week and as from 24 June 2015 her maintenance payment was increased by €26.00. This gives her a weekly payment of €76.00 maintenance per week.

The person concerned is also currently receiving a rent supplement payment of €68.10 per month.