Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
852. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the projected cost of a €1 increase in each weekly social welfare payment in 2021 based on forecasted unemployment figures and controlling for the exceptional circumstances of 2020. [12495/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe costings sought by the Deputy are detailed in the following tables.
Table 1: Cost of €1 increase in all weekly social insurance and social assistance payments
|
Scheme |
Full year cost of a €1 increase |
|
€m |
|
|
Social Insurance Schemes |
|
|
Pension Payments |
|
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
24.02 |
|
Widow/er's Contributory Pension (Aged 66 and over) |
4.54 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit (Aged 66 and over) |
0.16 |
|
Death Benefit Pension (Aged 66 and over) |
0.03 |
|
Working Age Payments |
|
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension |
1.57 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
0.14 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
3.26 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
0.11 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
0.06 |
|
Disablement Pension |
0.26 |
|
Illness Benefit |
2.65 |
|
Injury Benefit |
0.04 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
0.05 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
7.32 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
0.15 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
0.00 |
|
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit |
1.08 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
0.06 |
|
Parent’s Benefit |
0.09 |
|
Total Social Insurance Schemes |
46.07 |
|
Scheme |
Full year cost of a €1 increase |
|
€m |
|
|
Social Assistance Schemes |
|
|
Pension Payments |
|
|
State Pension (Non Con) |
5.07 |
|
Carer's Allowance (Aged 66 and over) |
0.10 |
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance (Aged 66 and over) |
0.36 |
|
Working Age Payments |
|
|
Blind Pension |
0.06 |
|
Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension |
0.07 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
0.00 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
2.05 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
2.36 |
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance |
0.63 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
0.03 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
11.81 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance - for those aged 18 to 24 years of age |
1.00 |
|
Disability Allowance |
8.22 |
|
Farm Assist |
0.36 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
0.25 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
0.19 |
|
Community Employment |
1.31 |
|
TÚS |
0.34 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
0.22 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
0.95 |
|
Total Social Assistance Schemes |
35.93 |
|
Total Assistance and Insurance* |
82.00 |
*Rounding may affect totals
The costs shown above are on a full year basis. Other than the estimates for jobseekers' benefit and jobseekers' allowance, the costs are based on the estimated number of recipients underpinning the Revised Estimate of expenditure for 2020 voted by the Oireachtas on 28 May 2020. 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.
The costs for jobseekers' benefit and jobseekers' allowance are based on unemployment rates for 2021 set out in the Stability Programme Update published in April 2020, following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis.
It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and, for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
