Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to increase the threshold on earnings by a dependant in receipt of an old age contributory pension; his views on whether the current threshold is unfair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27036/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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For the purposes of most social welfare payments, entitlement to an increase for a qualified adult is based on the income of the spouse or partner. A qualified adult increase at the maximum rate is payable where the spouse or partner's income is €88.88 per week or less and tapered reduced rates are payable where income is less than €220 per week. The lower threshold was last increased in the budget in 2000 while the upper threshold has been increased in each successive budget since then, from €171.42 in 2000 to €220 in 2005. Any change in the current arrangements relating to entitlement to qualified adult allowances would have to be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available resources.