Peter Burke
Ceist:449. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the age for receipt of children's allowance until third level education finishes. [57557/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 22 November 2022
Ceisteanna (449)
Freagraí scríofa
Child Benefit is a universal monthly payment made to families with children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their eighteenth birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Estimated expenditure on the scheme will be approximately €2.1 billion in 2022.
In Budget 2023, I secured a significant Social Welfare package of over €2.1 billion. As part of that, one of my priorities was to provide support for families and children.
People who are in receipt of Child Benefit received a cost-of-living double payment on 1st November. This double payment was made to approximately 638,000 families in respect of over 1.2 million children at an estimated cost of €170.4 million.
There are currently no plans to extend Child Benefit in respect of full-time students over the age of 18 until their third level education finishes. Such an extension would have significant cost implications. Families on low incomes may be able to avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
- Increase for a Qualified Child (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
- the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children; and
- the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
Budget 2023 provides for a €40 weekly increase in the Working Family Payment income limits for families of all sizes from January at a cost of approximately €16.8 million in 2023. I also provided for a €500 lump sum payment to all families in receipt of the payment this month at an estimated cost of €23 million.
Additionally, I provided for the weekly rates of the Increase for a Qualified Child to increase by €2 to €42 per week in the case of children under age 12 and by €2 to €50 per week in the case of children aged 12 or over. This increase will take effect from January at an estimated cost of €30.4 million in 2023.
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
I trust this clarifies the matter.