Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 March 2018
265. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will examine the possibility of allowing those on a qualified adult payment to access schemes such as community employment, Tús and the rural social scheme to avail of upskilling, thus benefitting local communities through these schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14291/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWithin the social welfare system and subject to the qualifying conditions of the particular scheme, a primary claimant may apply for payment of an increase for a qualified adult (IQA) in respect of a dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant.
Generally, persons in respect of whom IQA payments are being made are free to make an application for a social welfare payment in their own right. For example, where a person of working age is a qualified adult on their spouse’s jobseeker’s benefit or allowance claim that person may claim jobseeker’s benefit or allowance in their own right. If the claim is successful, the increase for a qualified adult ceases to be payable to the spouse. In this way equality of access is provided.
Access to work schemes for job-seekers, such as Community Employment and Tus, is conditional on a person having been continually unemployed – that is, available for, seeking and failing to find employment for a period of time, typically at least a year – and thus having been shown to be particularly in need of assistance. There are no plans to alter these requirements, and it would be administratively impossible to establish such continual unemployment other than by reference to continuous receipt of a relevant income support payment.
The Deputy should note that qualified adults may be eligible for the rural social scheme (RSS), which is aimed at low-income farmers and fishermen/women through spousal swaps. If a person eligible for the RSS does not wish to participate on the RSS, his/her dependent spouse/civil partner/cohabitant can apply in their place. In these instances, the person originally qualified must give up his/her qualifying social welfare payment if his/her spouse/civil partner/cohabitant is accepted on the RSS.
