Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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125. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the reason that a cost-of-living payment was not awarded to a person (details supplied). [21877/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The €200 lump sum payment was paid to 1.3 million recipients in receipt of long-term social welfare payments. This lump sum was paid in late April and cost approximately €261 million.

This support was paid on a similar basis to the Christmas Bonus, including to those on jobseeker's payments or Illness Benefit for over 12 months; with the addition of recipients of the Working Family Payment.

As the person concerned was not a primary recipient of a social welfare payment, they were not entitled to the €200 payment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for Deputy.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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126. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the action she will take to ensure that the €200 cost-of-living payment that was due in April will be extended to State pension-qualified adults; if it is not to be extended, whether the disproportional impact on women has been factored in by her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21883/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The €200 lump sum payment was paid to 1.3 million recipients in receipt of long-term social welfare payments. This lump sum was paid in late April and cost approximately €261 million.

This support was paid on a similar basis to the Christmas Bonus, including to those on jobseeker's payments or Illness Benefit for over 12 months; with the addition of recipients of the Working Family Payment.

The payment was made to primary recipients of a qualifying payment only.

The Increase for a Qualified Adult can be awarded to a person whose spouse/civil partner/co-habitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them and where that qualified adult’s personal means do not exceed a means test income limit, based on the means held solely or jointly by the qualified adult.

If a person does not qualify for the maximum payment rate for the State Pension (Contributory), he/she may qualify for the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% of the rate of the State Pension (Contributory).

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.