Written answers
Wednesday, 25 May 2022
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Payments
Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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133. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing core social welfare payments by €15, €20 and €30 per week in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26954/22]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The estimated cost of increasing each weekly social welfare payment by €15, €20 & €30 is shown in the table below.
| Payment | €15 | €20 | €30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €m | €m | €m | ||
| Social Insurance Schemes | ||||
| State Pension (Contributory) | 380.5 | 507.3 | 761.0 | |
| Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension | Under 66yrs | 22.3 | 29.8 | 44.7 |
| Over 66Yrs | 70.1 | 93.4 | 140.1 | |
| Deserted Wife's Benefit | Under 66yrs | 1.7 | 2.3 | 3.5 |
| Over 66Yrs | 1.9 | 2.6 | 3.9 | |
| Invalidity Pension | 48.6 | 64.8 | 97.2 | |
| Partial Capacity Benefit | 1.7 | 2.3 | 3.4 | |
| Guardian's Payment (Contributory) | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.9 | |
| Death Benefit Pension | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.1 | |
| Disablement Pension | 3.7 | 5.0 | 7.5 | |
| Illness Benefit | 39.1 | 52.1 | 78.2 | |
| Injury Benefit | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.1 | |
| Incapacity Supplement | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.3 | |
| Jobseeker's Benefit | 33.2 | 44.3 | 66.5 | |
| Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.4 | |
| Carer's Benefit | 2.8 | 3.7 | 5.6 | |
| Health and Safety Benefit | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
| Maternity & Adoptive Benefit | 15.8 | 21.1 | 31.7 | |
| Paternity & Parent's Benefit | 4.5 | 6.0 | 9.0 | |
| Social Assistance Schemes | ||||
| State Pension (Non Con) | 75.6 | 100.8 | 151.2 | |
| Blind Person's Pension | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.7 | |
| Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.8 | |
| Deserted Wife's Allowance | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
| One-Parent Family Payment | 30.9 | 41.2 | 61.8 | |
| Carer's Allowance | Under 66yrs | 40.2 | 53.6 | 80.4 |
| 66yrs or Over | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.9 | |
| Half Rate Carer's Allowance | Under 66yrs | 10.1 | 13.5 | 20.3 |
| 66yrs or Over | 5.7 | 7.6 | 11.4 | |
| Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 | |
| Jobseeker's Allowance Max Rate | 113.6 | 151.5 | 227.1 | |
| JA age 18 to 24 | 10.6 | 14.2 | 21.2 | |
| Disability Allowance | 130.9 | 174.5 | 261.8 | |
| Farm Assist | 4.6 | 6.2 | 9.3 | |
| Employment Support Schemes (BTWA & BTEA) | 11.6 | 15.5 | 23.2 | |
| Employment/Internship Schemes (CE, Tús, RSS etc.) | 29.9 | 39.8 | 59.7 | |
| Work Placement Experience Programme | 2.7 | 3.6 | 5.3 | |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | 11.5 | 15.3 | 22.9 | |
| TOTAL | 1,111.7 | 1,482.1 | 2,223.1 |
These costings are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2022 and are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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134. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the working family payment by €20, €30 and €40 per week for all recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26955/22]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees, with children, on low earnings. The scheme is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment.
There are currently approximately 46,000 families in receipt of Working Family Payment, in respect of 103,000 children. The estimated expenditure on the scheme in 2022 is €349 million. The payment a person receives is 60% of the difference between their average weekly family income and the income limit that applies to their family size.
In Budget 2022 I provided for a €10 increase in the weekly income limits for all families. This change was due to come into effect from June 2022, but I am pleased to confirm that implementation was brought forward to April 2022 as part of the package of measures the Government announced in February to assist families with cost-of-living increases.
The full year cost of increasing the Working Family Payment income limits for all families by €20 per week is estimated at €46.2 million. A €30 increase is estimated to cost €69.3 million and a €40 increase is estimated to cost €92.4 million in a full year. It should be noted that these estimates are based on current numbers of recipients.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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135. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing core social welfare payments and the working family payment by seven per cent in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26957/22]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The estimated cost of increasing each weekly social welfare payment by 7% is shown in the table below:
| Payment | - | Total |
|---|---|---|
| €m | ||
| Social Insurance Schemes | ||
| State Pension (Contributory) | 449.4 | |
| Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension | Under 66yrs | 22.2 |
| Over 66Yrs | 82.7 | |
| Deserted Wife's Benefit | Under 66yrs | 1.7 |
| Over 66Yrs | 2.3 | |
| Invalidity Pension | 48.3 | |
| Partial Capacity Benefit | 1.7 | |
| Guardian's Payment (Contributory) | 0.8 | |
| Death Benefit Pension | 0.7 | |
| Disablement Pension | 4.1 | |
| Illness Benefit | 38.0 | |
| Injury Benefit | 0.6 | |
| Incapacity Supplement | 0.7 | |
| Jobseeker's Benefit | 32.4 | |
| Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) | 1.2 | |
| Carer's Benefit | 3.0 | |
| Health and Safety Benefit | 0.0 | |
| Maternity & Adoptive Benefit | 18.5 | |
| Paternity & Parent's Benefit | 5.2 | |
| Social Assistance Schemes | ||
| State Pension (Non Con) | 85.2 | |
| Blind Person's Pension | 0.8 | |
| Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension | 0.9 | |
| One-Parent Family Payment | 30.1 | |
| Carer's Allowance | Under 66yrs | 42.1 |
| 66yrs or Over | 1.8 | |
| Half Rate Carer's Allowance | Under 66yrs | 10.6 |
| 66yrs or Over | 6.9 | |
| Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) | 0.4 | |
| Jobseeker's Allowance Max Rate | 110.6 | |
| JA age 18 to 24 | 5.8 | |
| Disability Allowance | 127.4 | |
| Farm Assist | 4.5 | |
| Employment Support Schemes (BTWA & BTEA) | 11.3 | |
| Employment/Internship Schemes (CE, Tús, RSS etc.) | 31.7 | |
| Work Placement Experience Programme | 3.8 | |
| Supplementary Welfare Allowance | 11.0 | |
| Working Family Payment | 24.4 | |
| TOTAL | 1222.6 |
These costings are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2022 and are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
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