Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

70. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that payments under the family income supplement scheme are not reckoned in any means testing within her Department; if she will contact the Department of Health and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure these payments are not reckoned for medical cards or local authority rents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40153/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Family Income Supplement (FIS) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for low paid employees with children. It is designed both to prevent in-work poverty and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. I was pleased to announce in the recent Budget that there will be an increase in the Family Income Supplement income thresholds of €5 for families with one child and €10 for families with two or more children.

For the purposes of weekly means tested social assistance payments, such as Jobseeker's Allowance, One Parent Family Payment and Disability Allowance Social Welfare legislation provides that any FIS payments to the relevant family are not assessable as means.

For the purposes of FIS assessment, weekly family income is net assessable earnings from employment, income from self-employment or any other source. Net assessable earnings are gross earnings less income tax, universal social charge, employee PRSI and pension contributions. Weekly social welfare payments (excluding the Back to Work Family Dividend) are taken into account as they constitute part of the family income. Similarly, income from all sources including weekly welfare payments is taken into account when determining entitlement to rent supplement.

I am advised by the Department of Health that income from FIS is not taken into account in the assessment for a medical card or GP card.

The types of income which are taken into account for differential rent purposes are a matter for the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and individual local authorities.