Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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657. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made regarding an application for adult dependent allowance submitted to his Department on 23 April 2025 for a person (details supplied). [39440/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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 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. 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 increase for qualified adult (IQA) on SPC, 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 issued to the person concerned on 16 October 2024 with a reminder issuing on 13 November 2024. Following representations from your office, extra time was granted to return the completed form. As no response was received by 17 January 2025, a letter issued to advise that the allowance would be suspended until the completed questionnaire was returned. The allowance was suspended with effect from 24 January 2025.

The completed questionnaire with self-declared means was received on 25 April 2025. Following a review of the weekly means of the qualified adult, the allowance increased from €137.80 per week to €152.00 per week. A letter issued to the person concerned on 29 April 2025 to advise them of the decision.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.