Written answers
Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Social Welfare Payments
Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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183. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of people in County Kerry who will be affected by the changes in budget 2026 to the living alone allowance; the estimated number of people who would have benefitted if further funding was provided for the allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64266/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is a weekly payment, which is not means-tested. The LAI is an increased additional payment made each week to:
- people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including State pensions, and who are living alone;
- people who are less than 66 years of age, living alone and in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.
As part of Budget 2026, there were no changes to the Living Alone Increase.
However, Budget 2026 will see an increase of €10 per week to maximum personal payment rates, benefitting people such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents, with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced payment rate and for qualified adults.
Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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184. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review will be carried out on the working family payment refusal for a person (details supplied). [64637/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Working Family Payment (WFP) is an income-tested weekly payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children. WFP provides financial support for employees who have low earnings/income relative to their family size. The WFP rate payable is 60% of the difference between the average weekly family income and the relevant prescribed income limit.
To qualify for Working Family Payment a person must be in employment and working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight as defined in legislation.
The person concerned applied for WFP and the claim was disallowed on 13 November 2025 as the applicant was not working for at least 38 hours per fortnight.
The claim was reviewed by a Deciding Officer and awarded on the17 November 2025 when the person concerned met the eligibility criteria for the scheme based on new information provided. An award letter has issued to the person concerned and any arrears due have been issued from the date of receipt of the WFP claim.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
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