Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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187. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to address a matter concerning receipt of a pension (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38231/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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An increase for qualified adult (IQA) 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 up to €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. Where property or assets are held jointly, the qualified adult's means are assessed as half of the total amount. The family home is not included in the means assessment.

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 IQA on state pension (contributory), 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.

A questionnaire form issued to the spouse of the person concerned on 30 July 2024. Upon receipt of the completed questionnaire with self-declared means, the IQA was reviewed. The weekly means of the qualified adult were in excess of means limit of €310 per week. A letter issued to the spouse of the person concerned on 27 August 2024 to advise that the allowance would be stopped. He was also afforded the opportunity to request a review before the allowance was stopped. A letter was received on 4 September 2024, however the content did not warrant a change to the means assessed. A decision letter issued on 16 September 2024 and the allowance was terminated with effect from 19 September 2024.

My Department are undertaking a further review of this case. Further information has been requested from the spouse of the person concerned. On receipt of this information, entitlement to IQA will be reviewed.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.