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. Where property or assets are held jointly, the qualified adult's means are assessed as half of the total amount. The family home is not included in the means assessment.
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. A questionnaire is required to be completed to include details of the means of their qualified adult.
A questionnaire was issued on 18 August 2021, with a letter outlining the means limits. Upon receipt of the completed questionnaire, with self-declared means, the weekly means of the qualified adult were calculated as being in excess of €310. As this exceeds the current statutory limit for the IQA payment, the IQA ceased with effect from 30 September 2021, and the customer was notified in writing on 27 September 2021 with a breakdown of the means assessment.
The person concerned appealed the decision in November 2021 and was notified on 10 January 2022 that their appeal was disallowed.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
