Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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541. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of senior citizens who are living alone and not in receipt of the living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4373/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Living Alone Increase is an extra payment for recipients of certain social welfare payments who live alone. It is an increase of €22 per week available to persons aged 66 or older who live alone and are in receipt of the State Pension, Widow(er)'s Pension, Incapacity Supplement , or Deserted Wife's Benefit. It is also available to those aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement, or Blind Pension.

As my Department does not have data on the number of persons living alone in the State, it is only possible to report on number of recipients of the Living Alone Increase. I am advised that in December 2021, a total of 223,544 persons were in receipt of the increase, with 181,362 (81%) of these recipients aged 66 or older. This 181,362 represents 28% of recipients of the State and Widow(er)'s Pensions aged 66 or older.