Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2023
480. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question 1204 of 16 June 2022 , the information that remains outstanding relative to the claim for an increase in pension for a qualified adult in the name of a person (details supplied); if a response has been issued to the legal representative of the applicant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4103/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn 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.
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. The review is ongoing for the person concerned. Once the outstanding information is received in my Department, entitlement to the Increase for Qualified Adult allowance will be reviewed.
It is also open to the spouse of the person concerned to apply for State Pension (contributory) and/or State Pension non-contributory in their own right. I have arranged for applications to issue.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
