Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the matter of qualified adult allowance payments to a person on contributory State pension; if the person qualifies for QAA irrespective of income; if the person's spouse's personal income is the only relevant means testing considered and is the spouse assessed with any portion of the spouse's private or total income. [40059/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Entitlement to state pension (contributory) is based on the number of contributions paid by the recipient over the duration of his/her working life. It entitles the recipient to a personal rate of pension (i.e. the amount payable to a single person with no dependants) regardless of any other means or income that they have.

An increase may also be paid in respect of a dependent adult, provided the dependent adult satisfies a means test. A full increase for a qualified adult (IQA) is payable where the dependent spouse's income is less than €100 per week - income from employment, self-employment, savings, investments and capital is taken into account. A reduced IQA is payable when the dependent spouse's income is between €100 and €310 per week.

The income of the pensioner who paid PRSI and qualifies for the state pension is not taken into account in the assessment for an IQA. Where capital is held jointly by a couple, half of the value is assessed as means for the IQA.