Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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399. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) cannot be added to their spouse’s contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58792/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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An Increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment, payable to 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 do not exceed a means test income limit. Where property or assets are held jointly, the qualified adult's means are assessed as half of the total amount. The family home is not included in the means assessment.

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.

The person’s spouse applied for an Increase for qualified adult in respect of the person concerned when applying for State pension (contributory) on 16 March 2020. The IQA means assessment is based on the person’s UK pension, as well as capital and property in the person’s name. The person’s weekly means were assessed as €324.82 which exceeds the statutory limit of €310. The person’s spouse, as the State pension (contributory) recipient, was notified of this decision in writing on 13 July 2020 and was afforded the right of review and/or appeal. To date, neither a review request nor notification of appeal has been received by my Department in respect of the person concerned.

If the person’s circumstances change, it is open to the person’s spouse to re-apply for the Increase for qualified adult.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.