Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
385. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider an increase in the qualified adult allowance payment in line with any increase in social welfare payments, particularly in the instance of those qualified adults over 80 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4177/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecipients of certain social welfare payments can claim an increase in their payment in respect of a Qualified Adult, subject to a means assessment. A Qualified Adult is the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the recipient who is being wholly or mainly maintained by that claimant.
As part of the Budget 2024 package, I increased personal weekly payment rates by €12 across the board, and those with a Qualified Adult saw an additional proportionate increase.
For working-age payments where the maximum personal rate is €232 per week, such as Disability Allowance and jobseeker payments, the Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) is now €154 per week – an increase of €8.
For those on the maximum personal rate of the State Pension (Contributory) of €277.30, with a Qualified Adult aged over 66, the IQA rate is now €248.60 - an increase of €10.80.
It should be noted that a higher rate of pension is payable to a pensioner aged 80 or over. The over 80 allowance is an increase of €10 per week on the basic pension rate, which is automatically awarded to qualified pensioners on attaining 80 years of age. Only one such allowance is payable in respect of each pension. The maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) for those over 80 is now €287.30.
The current rate of payment in respect of Qualified Adults reflects the economies of scale faced by a two-adult household compared to those of a one-adult household. Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) research has found that the minimum needs of the adults in a couple headed household cost 1.5 times (rather than twice) that of an equivalent one adult headed household with children. This finding was backed up by similar research in other countries which have carried out research into minimum budget standards.
For pensioners, the MESL research found that in 2023 the costs for a two adult pensioner household were 1.25 that of the one adult pensioner household. In addition, the 2022 SILC data published by the CSO found that single pensioner households are over twice as likely to be at risk of poverty than a couple household where with at least one is aged over 65 years.
Any changes to the proportionate rates of payments for qualified adults would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
