Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The spouse of the person concerned is in receipt of a State Pension (contributory) payment from my Department which includes an Increase for a Qualified Adult for the person concerned.

An increase for a qualified adult is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.

Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where their weekly means are over €100 and not more than €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment.

As part of my Department’s commitment to ensuring that claimants are receiving their full and correct entitlements, ongoing reviews of all means-tested payments are carried out.

Following a recent review of this allowance, the person concerned was assessed with means of €327.90 per week. It was decided that there is no longer an entitlement to this allowance from 11 January 2024 as their weekly means exceeds the statutory limit of €310.00 per week.

The spouse of the person concerned was notified of this decision on 8 January 2024 and informed of their right to review and to appeal.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.