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Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 December 2019

Tuesday, 3 December 2019

Ceisteanna (567)

Peter Burke

Ceist:

567. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of a proposal (details supplied). [49827/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

An Increase for a Qualified Adult is an additional payment made to social welfare recipients in respect of a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant who is financially dependent on them. This additional payment is means-tested.

The Department estimates that payments will be made in respect of an average of 150,000 Qualified Adults per week in 2020.

The full year cost of ceasing the payment of the Increase for a Qualified Adult, and establishing Qualified Adults as social welfare customers in their own right is estimated to be €324m, based on the estimated average number of Qualified Adults in 2020.

This estimate assumes that Qualified Adults on all working age payments would qualify for a full rate Jobseekers Allowance payment, while qualified adults on State Pensions (Contributory and Non-Contributory), would qualify for the full rate State Pension Non-Contributory in their own right.

It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2020.

The estimated costs are exclusive of the additional administrative costs involved in processing an additional 150,000 claims.

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