Brian Walsh (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding family income supplement in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Galway. [40803/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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One of the measures introduced as part of Budget 2012 is that income from weekly carer's payments will be included for the purposes of calculating entitlement to family income supplement (FIS) in line with other welfare payments, with effect from January 2012.

Entitlement to FIS is based on the level of a family's income including net income from employment and the value of any social welfare payments they might have. However, income from carer's allowance and carer's benefit was an exception and was not taken into account in assessing family income for FIS purposes prior to January 2012.

From January 2012, for new applicants and upon renewal for existing claimants, income from carer's allowance and carer's benefit payments will be included in the (FIS) income assessment. The measure will be implemented over 3 years with 1/3rd of the income from carer's allowance and carer's benefit payments assessed in 2012, 2/3rds in 2013 and full assessment in 2014.

This provides for a more consistent approach to the concurrent payment of FIS with other social welfare benefits through the standardisation of the treatment of social welfare income for this purpose. The reform reduces a person's secondary payment (FIS) without affecting their primary payment, therefore targeting available scarce resources at those in most need.

The FIS entitlement of the family in question will not be affected by this budget change until August 2012 when their claim falls for renewal. If an application for renewal of FIS is made by the family at that stage, their entitlement will be reviewed and any income from the carer's payment will be included in the assessment as set out above i.e 1/3rd at 2012 renewal, increasing to 2/3rds in 2013 and to full assessment from their 2014 renewal date.