Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2573. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the working family payment in 2017 and to date in 2018; and the budget for the working family payment in 2017 and 2018. [35183/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work support, which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. WFP is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependants and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment.
As of December 2017 there were some 57,700 families with almost 130,000 children in receipt of WFP. Estimated expenditure on the Working Family Payment for 2017 was over €422 million.
There are currently over 56,000 families with 126,000 children in receipt of WFP. The estimated spend on WFP for 2018 is approximately €431 million, following the increase in the thresholds provided for in last year’s Budget.
