Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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11. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to prevent lone parents, who are also carers, from losing €86 per week subsequent to her plans to lower the cut-off age for the one-parent payment scheme to seven years. [9313/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am very happy to confirm my announcement this week that I will be extending eligibility to the one-parent family payment (OFP) to lone parents who are also eligible for the half-rate carer’s allowance (CA) payment, until their youngest child is aged 16 years. This acknowledges the special situation for lone parents who are caring and, in particular, acknowledges the commitment of lone parents who are caring for people other than their own child – such as a parent or sibling who requires full-time care and attention.

The OFP scheme already provides for lone parents who are caring for children under 16 years of age, and who are in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance (DCA) and a half-rate carer’s allowance payment in conjunction with their OFP. This entitlement is not affected by the ongoing changes to the OFP scheme. This change now provides the same level of support to those caring for someone other than their own child.

This is expected to impact positively on the 800 individuals due to be affected on 2 July, 2015. In addition, all lone parents, whose youngest children is aged between 7 and 16 and who are providing full time care and attention for another person will also now be able to apply for one parent family payment and a half rate carer’s allowance payment.