An increase for qualified adult is a means tested payment, payable to a State pension (contributory) (SPC) 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. Currently there are about 56,000 beneficiaries of this payment.
As part of my Department’s commitment to ensuring that claimants are receiving their full and correct entitlements, ongoing reviews of all means tested payments are carried out.
In the case of an increase for qualified adult (IQA) on SPC, the primary claimant is contacted by my Department to notify them that their continuing entitlement to the means tested IQA payment is being examined. In addition, details of the means of their qualified adult is requested. A questionnaire is required to be completed but additional documentation is not requested for the majority of reviews. In the region of 10% of the SPC IQA cases are reviewed each year. The review letters have been approved by the National Adult Literacy Association for ease of comprehension.
Where a qualified adult has weekly means of not more than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where their weekly means is 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. For SPC claimants, only the means of the qualified adult are taken into account. In the case of joint bank accounts or joint ownership of land or property, half the value or amount is assessed as means for the qualified adult. The family home is not assessable.
t is open to claimants to contact my Department regarding the return of the requested information. Flexibility is provided if there is difficulty in replying within the requested timeframe.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
