Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

451. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the €500 cost-of-living lump sum payment to all families in receipt of the working family payment will be proportionate if they are on a reduced rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48557/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Budget 2023 includes a social welfare package of over €2.1 billion. This extensive packages includes measures in relation to the Working Family Payment. 

The Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings. The WFP 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 approximately 47,000 families with 103,000 children who are currently in receipt of the WFP. The estimated spend on the WFP in 2022 is €349 million.

The Budget package includes a range of measures that will assist people with the cost of living in one-off payments this Autumn. This includes a once-off payment of €500 to recipients of the Working Family Payment. A payment of €500 will be made to families in receipt of WFP on the payment date regardless of the level of their WFP payment. This payment will be made in November at an estimated cost of €23 million.

In addition, I have also provided for a €40 per week increase in the Working Family Payment thresholds for all family sizes. This is the highest ever increase in the Working Family Payment thresholds. This will ensure that families on low incomes will receive more weekly income from the scheme - up to €24 euro per week. It will also ensure that the increase of 80 cent per hour in the National Minimum Wage does not negatively impact on people's income from the WFP. It also means that more people will qualify for the payment. This measure will take effect from January at a cost of approximately €16.8 million in 2023.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.