Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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526. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the pension of a person (details supplied) was reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46071/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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An increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment, payable to a State pension (contributory) claimants whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.  The person concerned is in receipt of IQA on their spouses state pension (contributory).

As part of my Department’s commitment to ensuring that claimants are receiving their full and correct entitlements, on-going reviews of means tested payment are carried out. 

Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable.  Where their weekly means are between €100 and €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable.  If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment.

As the qualified adult, the person concerned has been assessed with personal means of €234.00 per week derived from the capital value of their savings and shares. This gives an entitlement to a reduced weekly IQA payment with their spouse's State pension (contributory). The decision issued on 21 October 2019, and includes a breakdown of the means assessment, together with the right to seek a review of or appeal this decision.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.