Written answers
Wednesday, 20 June 2018
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Benefits Expenditure
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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207. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full year cost of increasing all social welfare payments by €5, €10, €15 and €20, respectively, by payment type, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27000/18]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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211. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing all working age payments by €5, €10, €15 and €20 by payment type, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27037/18]
Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 211 together.
The costings sought by the Deputy are detailed in the following table.
Cost of varying increases in social welfare payments
| - | Full year cost of a €5 increase | Full year cost of a €10 increase | Full year cost of a €15 increase | Full year cost of a €20 increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheme | €m | €m | €m | €m |
| Working Age Payments | ||||
| Social Insurance Schemes | ||||
| Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension | 7.98 | 15.96 | 23.94 | 31.92 |
| Deserted Wife's Benefit | 1.08 | 2.16 | 3.24 | 4.32 |
| Invalidity Pension | 15.44 | 30.88 | 46.32 | 61.76 |
| Guardian's Payment (Contributory) | 0.28 | 0.56 | 0.84 | 1.12 |
| Disablement Pension | 1.28 | 2.56 | 3.84 | 5.12 |
| Illness Benefit | 14.49 | 28.98 | 43.47 | 57.96 |
| Injury Benefit | 0.42 | 0.84 | 1.26 | 1.68 |
| Incapacity Supplement | 0.28 | 0.56 | 0.84 | 1.12 |
| Jobseeker's Benefit | 8.53 | 17.06 | 25.59 | 34.12 |
| Carer's Benefit | 0.71 | 1.42 | 2.13 | 2.84 |
| Health and Safety Benefit | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.06 | 0.08 |
| Maternity & Adoptive Benefit | 5.35 | 10.7 | 16.05 | 21.4 |
| Paternity Benefit | 0.31 | 0.62 | 0.93 | 1.24 |
| Social Assistance Schemes | ||||
| Blind Pension | 0.34 | 0.68 | 1.02 | 1.36 |
| Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension | 0.36 | 0.72 | 1.08 | 1.44 |
| Deserted Wife's Allowance | 0.03 | 0.06 | 0.09 | 0.12 |
| One-Parent Family Payment | 10.17 | 20.34 | 30.51 | 40.68 |
| Carer's Allowance | 11.35 | 22.7 | 34.05 | 45.4 |
| Half Rate Carer's Allowance | 3.11 | 6.22 | 9.33 | 12.44 |
| Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) | 0.13 | 0.26 | 0.39 | 0.52 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance | 38.23 | 76.47 | 114.87 | 153.1 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance - for those aged 18 to 24 years of age | 4.15 | 8.3 | 12.44 | 16.59 |
| Jobseeker's Allowance - for those aged 25 years of age | 0.72 | 1.44 | 2.17 | 2.89 |
| Pre-Retirement Allowance | 0.05 | 0.1 | 0.15 | 0.2 |
| Disability Allowance | 39.67 | 79.34 | 119.01 | 158.68 |
| Farm Assist | 2.33 | 4.66 | 6.99 | 9.32 |
| Back to Education Allowance | 2.08 | 4.16 | 6.24 | 8.32 |
| Back to Work Enterprise Allowance | 2.33 | 4.66 | 6.99 | 9.32 |
| Community Employment | 6.02 | 12.04 | 18.06 | 24.08 |
| TÚS | 1.8 | 3.6 | 5.4 | 7.2 |
| Rural Social Scheme | 1.11 | 2.22 | 3.33 | 4.44 |
| Gateway | 0.0 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | 4.57 | 9.14 | 13.71 | 18.28 |
| Total Working Age Payments | 184.72 | 369.46 | 554.35 | 739.08 |
| Pension Payments | ||||
| Social Insurance Schemes | ||||
| State Pension (Contributory) | 110.16 | 220.32 | 330.48 | 440.64 |
| Widow/er's Contributory Pension (Aged 66 and over) | 22.23 | 44.46 | 66.69 | 88.92 |
| Deserted Wife's Benefit (Aged 66 and over) | 0.57 | 1.14 | 1.71 | 2.28 |
| Death Benefit Pension (Aged 66 and over) | 0.09 | 0.18 | 0.27 | 0.36 |
| Social Assistance Schemes | ||||
| State Pension (Non Con) | 25.14 | 50.28 | 75.42 | 100.56 |
| Carer's Allowance (Aged 66 and over) | 0.66 | 1.32 | 1.98 | 2.64 |
| Half Rate Carer's Allowance (Aged 66 and over) | 1.57 | 3.14 | 4.71 | 6.28 |
| Total Pension Payments | 160.42 | 320.84 | 481.26 | 641.68 |
| Total for Social Assistance and Social Insurance | 345.14 | 690.30 | 1,035.61 | 1,380.76 |
| Other Payments or Supplements | ||||
| Domiciliary Care Allowance | 2.43 | 4.85 | 7.28 | 9.71 |
| Child Benefit | 73.79 | 147.58 | 221.37 | 295.17 |
| Carer Support Grant | 0.56 | 1.12 | 1.68 | 2.24 |
| Household Benefits | 26.27 | 52.54 | 78.81 | 105.08 |
| Fuel Allowance | 50.76 | 101.52 | 152.28 | 203.04 |
| Telephone Support Allowance | 33.02 | 66.04 | 99.06 | 132.08 |
| Increase for Qualified Child | 87.89 | 175.78 | 263.67 | 351.56 |
| Living Alone Allowance | 54.99 | 109.98 | 164.97 | 219.97 |
| Over 80s Allowance | 42.89 | 85.78 | 128.67 | 171.56 |
| Other Payments Total | 372.6 | 745.19 | 1,117.79 | 1,490.41 |
| Overall Total | 717.74 | 1,435.49 | 2153.40 | 2,871.17 |
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2019. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2019.
It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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208. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of paying a 100% Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27001/18]
Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Last December, an 85% Bonus was paid to some 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed, at a cost of €218.6 million. The cost of a 100% Bonus is estimated at circa €257 million in 2018.
As was the case in previous years where a Bonus was subsequently paid (2014 to 2017 inclusive), there is no provision in the 2018 Revised Estimates for the payment (at any rate) of a Christmas Bonus in 2018. Any decision taken regarding the payment of a Bonus in 2018 will have to be consistent with the legal requirements set out in the domestic Fiscal Responsibility Acts 2012 and 2013 and the targets set for Ireland by the EU Stability and Growth Pact.
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