Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2023
497. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that separated couples who have divided responsibility for childcare across a given week are currently caught in a situation where neither party is deemed to be entitled to the working family payment, despite the children being entirely dependent on both parties; if she has plans to address this unfair anomaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24987/23]
View answerThe Working Family Payment is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees with children who are on low earnings. It is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment.
To qualify for the Working Family Payment, the average total weekly family income must be below the relevant income threshold for the family's size. For example, the weekly income threshold for families with one child is €591 and for families with two children it is €692. The payment is calculated at 60% of the difference between the total family income and the income threshold that applies to the family.
Eligibility for the payment is not linked to receipt of a social welfare payment, but rather, a person must have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them or is part of a family wholly or mainly supported by them, and must be in employment for at least 38 hours per fortnight.
A qualified child is one under 18 years of age or a child between the ages of 18 and 22 who is attending full-time day education.
Where a relationship breaks down, If an applicant has a child living with a former spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, they can claim Working Family Payment in respect of that child/children provided that they applicant is wholly or mainly maintaining the former spouse, civil partner or cohabitant.
‘Wholly or mainly maintaining’ means that the other adult does not have an income in their own right in excess of €100 per week, is not cohabiting and is not in receipt of a social welfare income support payment in their own right.
As at the end of April, the average weekly payment made to families was estimated as €158, with in excess of 46,650 families (with over 101,000 children) being in receipt of the payment.
The Department continuously reviews its services and schemes to ensure they are meeting policy objectives, while any proposed changes need also to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
If the Deputy has a particular case of interest, I would advise him to bring it to my department's attention for more specific advice.
