Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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107. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she would consider reviewing the means test for non-contributory and part-contributory pensioners who may rent their home and live with relations or friends, within the framework of the next budget, to incentivise older people who have options around moving in with relatives and may have sizeable homes to consider the rental market without a serious implication for their income. [8148/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In general, for social protection means assessed schemes, including State Pension (Non Contributory) property owned by the claimant, but not including their own home (which they personally use) is assessed as capital as part of a wider assessment of capital assets held by the customer.

Occasionally, there may be legal or other reasons why a property may not be capable of being sold, let or put to profitable use. In such instances, Deciding Officers from my Department will review any reasonable evidence from the customer to verify this. If this evidence is not supplied, or is insufficient, then the property is treated as being capable of being sold, let, or put to profitable use, and a capital value assessment is applied.

Any change to my Department’s means policies would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.