Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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169. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the higher rate of child dependent allowance for children of 12 years of age and over will be reflected in the rates for the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29180/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Working Family Payment is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. It is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment.

To qualify for Working Family Payment, the average total weekly family income must be below the relevant income threshold as related to the family size. The payment is calculated as 60% of the difference between the total family income and the income threshold which applies to the family.

Increases for a Qualified Child (IQCs) are paid as child-related supplements to most weekly social welfare payments in recognition of the need for greater incomes among benefit-dependent households with dependent children. The current full rate of payment is €40 per week in respect of each child over 12 years, and €36 per week in respect of each child under 12 years. These payments do not of themselves constitute a specific social welfare scheme and entitlement to the appropriate primary adult payment must be established in the first instance.

While increases for qualified children are an additional payment to primary social welfare payments , working family payment is an in-work support aimed at reducing in-work poverty, and increasing the benefit of work for low income households. It is based on household size rather than the individual ages of the children in the household.