Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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According to the records of my Department, the person concerned reached pension age on 14 December 2021. He was awarded the maximum weekly rate of SPC which is currently €253.30.

An increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant 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.

Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where their weekly means are over €100 and not more than €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 weekly means were assessed as €393.42 which exceeded the statutory limit.

Following the receipt of further information, the claim was reviewed. An Increase for the Qualified Adult allowance was awarded, from 14 December 2021, at a weekly rate of €119.70. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 05 July 2022.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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240. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review will be carried out on widow’s pension (details supplied). [36828/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Entitlement to Widow(er)’s or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension (WSCPCP) is based on the social insurance record of either the applicant or their deceased spouse or civil partner.

In order to qualify for a maximum rate pension a person must have a yearly average of 48 weeks social insurance contributions paid before the death of their spouse or civil partner. The late spouse of the person concerned did not have sufficient social insurance contributions paid. The person concerned has a yearly average of 35 weeks social insurance contributions based on her own record, which entitles her to a weekly pension rate of €207.80. The maximum rate for a person under age 66 is currently €213.50.

In addition to her widows' contributory pension, the person concerned is in receipt of a fuel allowance. The fuel allowance is paid during the winter months.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, an Additional Needs Payment may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own weekly income. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis by the local Community Welfare Service staff in my Department.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.