Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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274. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the living alone allowance will be increased given many senior citizens are finding it increasingly difficult to survive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6912/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. Payments available to those over 66 include the State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-Contributory) and the Widows, Widowers and Surviving Civil Partners' Contributory Pension.

The rate of primary and secondary payments to pensioners, and their adequacy, are considered in the context of the annual budgetary process. In doing so, the Government considers evidence from a wide range of sources, including agencies such as the CSO, and also research submitted by advocacy groups such as the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, who have a measure they call the “Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL)”.

The data shows that the cost of living for a single person is slightly more than the individualized cost of two people living together. The Living Alone Increase is currently paid at €22 per week.

There are a number of other secondary benefits that may be available to those in receipt of a State Pension payment and the Living Alone Increase. These include:

• Household Benefits Package which includes an Electricity or Natural Gas allowance of €35 per month. It also includes free Television license.
• Fuel Allowance, which is €924 paid over 28 weeks.
• Also, a person in receipt of a State Pension and who qualifies for both the Living Alone Allowance and the Fuel Allowance will automatically qualify for the Telephone Support Allowance, which is €2.50 per week.