Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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621. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if payment into an AVC pension scheme is an allowable deduction from a spouse's income in the assessment of means for the jobseeker's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5416/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Jobseeker’s Allowance is a means tested social assistance scheme operated by my Department. For means testing purposes, account is taken of the income and assets of both the claimant and his or her spouse or partner, including the earnings of the spouse.

Where a claimant or their spouse or partner has earnings from insurable employment, earnings less PRSI contributions, pension contributions and trade union subscriptions are assessed as means. In this regard, payment into an AVC pension scheme is an allowable deduction from a spouse's earnings.

If the Deputy is aware of any particular case regarding this issue, I would ask that he bring it to the attention of my officials.