Written answers

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

Department of Social Protection

Family Income Supplement Eligibility

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding family income supplement in respect of separated parents who have joint custody of children (details supplied). [49995/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The family income supplement scheme (FIS), which provides income support for employees on low earnings with families, is designed to preserve the incentive to take up or remain in employment in circumstances where the employee might only be marginally better off than if he or she were claiming other social welfare payments.

To qualify for payment of FIS, a person must be engaged in full-time insurable employment which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight and the family income must be below a specified amount which varies according to the number of qualified children in the family. FIS is payable to the parent who is working or where both parents are working, to the parent with the higher employment income.

In the case of parents who are separated, a parent who is wholly or mainly maintaining a former spouse and child(ren) can qualify for FIS. However, only one FIS payment can be made in respect of any family. Furthermore, a person included in one particular family for any period for FIS purposes shall not be regarded as a member of any other family during that period. Current provisions do not therefore allow for FIS payment to be divided between parents and I have no immediate plans to amend the legislation in this regard.

Where a question arises in determining the residence of a child for FIS purposes, an investigation of specific circumstances may be carried out and if the Deputy wishes to have a particular case considered, he can arrange to have it brought to the attention of my Department for consideration.

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