Michael Creed
Ceist:421. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has had their qualified adult allowance stopped. [33414/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 22 June 2021
Ceisteanna (421)
Freagraí scríofa
An increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.
Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where their weekly means are over €100 and not more than €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment.
The person concerned applied for State pension contributory in September 2020 and reached pension age on 20 December 2020. The initial assessment of the IQA claim was based on the drawings or income attributed from the farm to the qualified adult, resulting in a means assessment of €115.38 per week from farm income. This gave an entitlement to a weekly IQA payment of €137.80. A decision issued in writing to the person concerned on 30 March 2021, and included a breakdown of the means assessment.
Following review of the decision, it was noted that the farm is in joint names. Accordingly, the assessment of means should have been based on half of the farm income/profit rather than the drawings of the qualified adult from the farm. This resulted in an increased means assessment of €374.22 per week from farm income, exceeding the weekly means limit of €310.
Notification issued in writing to the person concerned on 16 April 2021. This included a breakdown of the new means assessment, outlined how this would impact the IQA payment and afforded them an opportunity to respond, prior to a decision being made. A decision letter issued on 5 May 2021 advising that the allowance would be stopped from 13 May 2021.
The person concerned has the right to seek a review or to appeal this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.