Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 November 2017
514. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if changes are required in the criteria governing cohabitation with a view to ensuring that hardship is not caused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51214/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe question of whether a couple is cohabiting as husband and wife or civil partners affects entitlement under the Social Welfare Acts in a number of ways:
- A person may be entitled to an increase for a qualified adult for a person who is not a husband, wife or civil partner provided the couple are cohabiting;
- A disqualification applies in various schemes where there is cohabitation, for example, under the One-parent Family Payment scheme;
- Means are calculated similarly for a cohabiting couple as for a married couple/civil partners;
- In Jobseeker's Allowance cases a limitation is applied to payment rates where the person with whom the claimant is cohabiting is also in receipt of certain Social Welfare payments.
My Department has set down the guidelines it uses in considering issues relating to cohabitation. These guidelines are updated from time to time to take into account changes to policy, legislation or best practice. These are available on the Department’s website at http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Cohabitation.aspx .
With regard to the issue of hardship, if a person does not qualify for a particular Social Welfare payment due to cohabiting, they should be advised to apply for a payment that is appropriate to their particular circumstances.
Any changes to these arrangements would involve significant costs and there no plans under consideration to change the existing criteria.
