Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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357. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the State pension entitlements that exist for a person claiming refugee status here along with a dependent adult; if a husband and wife claiming refugee status are entitled to a full pension payment each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60475/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to providing people fleeing the war in Ukraine, who have been granted Temporary Protection status, the supports and services they need. Under the Temporary Protection Directive, people displaced from Ukraine are entitled to the full range of welfare supports on the same basis as any Irish citizen.

As such, if a person who has been granted Temporary Protection status is over the age of 66, they will be entitled to apply for the State Pension (Non-Contributory). Recipients of that payment may be entitled to an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) if they have an adult dependent under the age of 66. The dependent may be entitled to a payment in their own right such as Jobseeker's Allowance. If both the husband and wife are aged over 66, they will both be entitled to the State Pension (Non-Contributory) in their own right.

Those who have been granted refugee status, regardless of nationality or prior place of residence, are also entitled to the same range of supports as an Irish citizen, including the State Pension (Non-Contributory). 

Those who apply for international protection, sometimes called "claiming asylum", are entitled to direct provision and receive accommodation, meals and a weekly payment of €38.80 per adult while their application is being processed.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.