Willie Penrose
Ceist:83. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the report on the working family payment to replace family income supplement will be published. [8347/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 20 February 2018
Ceisteanna (83)
Freagraí scríofa
The Working Family Payment (formerly known as the Family Income Supplement (FIS) scheme) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for low-earning employees with children and offers a financial incentive to take-up employment. It currently benefits over 58,000 families with almost 129,000 children, with an estimated spend in 2018 of approximately €431 million. I agreed during the debate on the Social Welfare Act 2017, enacted in December, to bring forward a report to the Committee on Social Protection reviewing the operation of the Working Family Payment, including the requirement to work 19 hours per week, or 38 hours per fortnight to qualify for the payment, within 6 months of the Bill being enacted. My officials are currently working on the review and I anticipate that this will be completed within the time agreed.
Budget 2018 increased the income thresholds by €10 for families with up to three children. This change will come into effect from 29 March 2018. My Department also intends to encourage families to see if they are eligible for the payment by way of a promotion and information campaign. The campaign should start towards the end of February.
The report on the Working Family Payment will reflect, to the extent that is possible given the timeframe, any effects that the promotion campaign and the impact of the threshold increase may have. It will also utilise the extensive analysis carried out in the development of the Working Family Payment.
Question No. 84 answered with Question No. 71.