Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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1203. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the living alone allowance payment will be increased in view of the rising cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45945/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The living alone increase is an additional payment of €9 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including State pensions, and who are living alone. It is also available to people who are less than 66 years of age, living alone and in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension, incapacity supplement or blind pension.

I was pleased to announce on Budget Day that the maximum weekly rates of payment of all social welfare schemes will increase by €5 per week from March 2018, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of payment. In this regard, all living alone increase recipients will benefit from this weekly rate increase in their primary payment.

In addition, from June 2018, a new Telephone Support Allowance will be introduced, aimed at those living alone and of limited means. The allowance, of €2.50 per week, will be paid to social welfare recipients who are in receipt of both the living alone increase and fuel allowance. Accordingly, all living alone increase recipients, who are also in receipt of the fuel allowance, will benefit from this new payment. It should be noted that eligible recipients will not have to make a specific application for this allowance; it will be paid automatically.