Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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1204. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the qualified adult allowance rate in respect of social welfare payments has been increased in recent years; her plans to increase this rate of payment in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45967/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I was pleased to announce on Budget Day that there will be a €5 increase in the maximum weekly rates of social welfare payments from the end of March 2018, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of payment. This builds on a similar €5 increase in Budget 2017, and a €3 increase in the weekly rates of payment for those aged 66 and over in Budget 2016.

Accordingly, as a result of the Budget 2016 and 2017 improvements, the qualified adult rate of a State Pension Contributory recipient (where the qualified adult is aged 66 and over), increased from €206.30 per week in 2015 to €213.50 per week currently. This will further increase to €218.00 per week from March 2018.

Similarly, the qualified adult rate for a State Pension Contributory recipient (where the qualified adult is under 66 years of age) has increased from €153.50 per week in 2015 to €158.80 per week currently and will increase to €162.10 per week from March 2018.

The qualified adult rate that applies to schemes such as Jobseeker’s Allowance/Benefit, Farm Assist, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Illness Benefit, increased from €124.80 per week in 2016 to €128.10 per week currently and will increase to €131.40 per week in March 2018.

Equivalent proportionate increases have applied across all social welfare schemes with qualified adult payments.