Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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389. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which applicants for working family payment have received an increase in Budget 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46744/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly in-work support which provides an income support for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment, the customer must be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment and have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them.

Budget 2024 included the provision of a once off €400 cost of living lump sum payment to all WFP recipients and is scheduled to be paid on the 23rd November 2023.

An increase in the income thresholds applicable to WFP customers was also announced in Budget 2024. This increase will take effect from 4 January 2024 and will see the income threshold for all family sizes increase by €54. This will see an increase in payment across all awarded claims of at least €32 per week while also increasing the income qualification thresholds for new or reapplying claimants.

The current WFP threshold rates together with details of the increase announced in Budget 2024 are set out in the following table.

Working Family Payment Income Thresholds

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.