Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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128. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons in receipt of the adult dependent allowance are entitled to payment under the recent cost-of-living social welfare initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21891/23]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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134. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that the recently issued €200 cost-of-living payments were not made to qualified adult dependents whose spouse was in receipt of a State pension; and if she will review the matter in the interests of fairness. [22015/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 134 together.

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 a social insurance payment based on their PRSI contributions, they may qualify for a means-tested social assistance payment.