Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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95. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware of any cases in which young people have been asked to prove that they were ‘abandoned’ by a parent or guardian in order to access social welfare supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57438/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is focused on giving young people the best possible chance to participate in the labour market. Supporting and improving the capacity of young people to take up employment, education and training opportunities can enhance their employment prospects over time, as well as their ability to earn an adequate income to support themselves and their families into the future. A person is not required to prove they were ‘abandoned’ by their parents in order to access social welfare supports.

Young people aged 18 and over who are unemployed are entitled to apply for jobseeker’s payments. Supplementary Welfare Allowance is a means tested support available to people who are awaiting a decision on a claim for another social welfare payment or to people who do not qualify for another payment.

Age-related reduced rates apply to jobseekers aged 18 to 24 years in receipt of the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance or Supplementary Welfare Allowance to prevent long-term welfare dependency.

There are a number of exceptions to the age-related rates. A person may be entitled to the standard rates of payment if they have a qualified child; if they participate in an approved training or education course; if they were in the care of the HSE, Child and Family Agency (TUSLA) during the 12 months before they reached aged 18; or if they are living independently and in receipt of Rent Supplement, Housing Assistance Payment, Rental Accommodation Scheme, Local Authority Housing or housing provided by certain Approved Housing Bodies.

Where a person under 25 years of age claims Jobseeker’s Allowance or Supplementary Welfare Allowance and is living with a parent or step-parent in the family home, an assessment is made of the yearly value of any benefit and privilege enjoyed by that person by virtue of residing there. The value of the benefit and privilege assessed is based on the level of the parents' assessable income.

Disability Allowance is available for people with a disability from age 16, and parental income is not assessed in the means test for Disability Allowance.

The Deputy is welcome to bring individual cases to my attention so that they can be examined.