Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

683. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will extend the living-alone allowance to one-parent families in receipt of the fuel allowance. [55035/22]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

701. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she plans to increase the living alone allowance to one-parent families in receipt of fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55140/22]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 683 and 701 together.

Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, my Department also provides a range of other secondary payments.

The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or a stand-alone payment in itself, but rather it is a supplement to a primary social protection payment of €22 per week made to people who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. For those aged 66 or over, these payments include State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-contributory), Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Widow's/Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and Deserted Wife's Benefit.It is also available to people who are under 66 years of age who are living alone and are in receipt of long-term illness and disability payments.

The Government is very aware of the increased cost of living and, in Budget 2023, has provided an unprecedented response that aims to ease the financial pressure on households throughout the State.

While those in receipt of One-Parent Family payment do not receive the Living Alone Increase, recipients will benefit from a number of one-off payments and increases announced in Budget 2023.

These include:

- An Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment was paid to those in receipt of the One-Parent Family payment in October.

- People who are in receipt of Child Benefit will get a cost-of-living double payment in November.

- A Christmas Bonus Double Payment will be paid to Social Protection recipients including those in receipt of the One-Parent Family payment.

- For those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment, a lump sum payment of €400 will be paid in November.

From January 2023,the maximum rate of core Social Welfare rates will be increased. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people getting a reduced rate. The weekly rate for a qualified child will increase to €42 for children under 12 years of age and to €50 for children aged 12 years and over.

In addition, those in receipt of the One-Parent Family Payment will benefit from the enhanced electricity credit of €600 which will be applied to electricity bills, €200 in November and the remainder (in two tranches) early in the New Year.

Finally, the Department of Social Protection operates an Additional Needs Payment as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have additional needs, which they cannot meet from their own resources. This payment is available through our Community Welfare Officers.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.