Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

478. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection in view of increased qualified adult payment being means tested, how the Department can adequately ascertain people are eligible when they live abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16524/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Subject to certain conditions and those applying to the different schemes, an Increase for a Qualified Adult is payable in respect of a person who is wholly or mainly maintained by the person applying for the payment. For the purposes of social insurance schemes, a spouse/civil partner/cohabitant of the applicant is only regarded as being wholly or mainly maintained, where that person’s weekly income does not exceed the weekly statutory limit of €100. When this limit applies, a full rate of increase for a qualified adult is payable. If the spouse/civil partner/cohabitant’s weekly income exceeds this limit but is less than or equal to €310.00 per week, a lower (tapered) rate of increase is payable.

Other than in relation to certain schemes and in limited circumstances, a person is generally disqualified from receiving social assistance or social insurance payments while he or she is either resident abroad or temporarily absent from the State. Similarly an increase in respect of a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is normally not payable during any period during which he or she is either resident abroad or temporarily absent from the State.

The following schemes, mainly contributory pensions and long-term benefits, are payable while the recipient is absent from the State whether temporarily or permanently living abroad.

Disablement Benefit

Invalidity Pension

State Pension (Contributory)

Guardian's Payment (Contributory)

Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension.

The continuation of payment is subject to the recipient continuing to satisfy the relevant entitlement conditions for each particular scheme. Increases may also continue to be paid in respect of a qualified adult subject to the normal conditions of dependency and income limits continuing to be fulfilled.

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. In the case of an increase for qualified adult (IQA) on State Pension (Contributory), for example, the primary claimant is contacted by my Department to notify them that their continuing entitlement to the means tested IQA payment is being examined.

A questionnaire is required to be completed to include details of the means of their qualified adult. Means assessable include all assets and income including property, savings, investments, pensions, earnings, compensation held either solely or jointly by the IQA. Where property or assets are held jointly, the qualified adult's means are assessed as half of the total amount.

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.