I propose to take Questions Nos. 680, 681, 682 and 684 together.
The delivery of income supports in the social welfare system takes account of total household means, rather than just the means of the claimant, in determining how to target income support.
A qualified adult is the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the primary applicant for the payment who is being wholly or mainly maintained by that person. Claimants with a qualified adult partner are recognised within the social welfare system as having additional needs because their spouse/partner is financially dependent on them. The payment of an Increase for a Qualified Adult, in addition to the personal rate of payment, reflects these additional household needs. The qualified adult provision applies to both social insurance and social assistance schemes.
Based on December 2025 statistics, 18% of qualified adults are male and 82% are female; however this is in large part driven by pensions schemes. Excluding pension schemes, 33% of qualified adults are male and 67% are female.
The subject of the qualified adult payment does not make the claim or receive a direct payment. However, it should be noted that it is open to each adult in the couple relationship to make an individual claim for any entitlement. A direct, personal payment is possible if the individual satisfies the scheme conditions.
The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 contained an action to examine the feasibility of individualising welfare payments. In 2022, the Commission on Taxation and Welfare made a recommendation that further social welfare individualisation be progressed, specifically in relation to qualified adults whose partners are in receipt of means-tested social assistance benefits.
The role of payments for adult dependants in the social welfare system is an element of ongoing policy considerations. A number of schemes based on individualised payments have been introduced in recent years. These include the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, Enhanced Illness Benefit and more recently, the Jobseeker’s Pay Related Benefit scheme. Work is ongoing to explore the extension of the pay related benefits model, in line with a commitment in the Programme for Government.
The Social Impact Assessment report published by my Department annually on the distributive effects of social welfare measures in the Budget includes analysis of the gender and equality impacts.
My Department continues to consider the various implications and impacts that would be associated with a move toward a fully individualised welfare system in the context of the ongoing design of policy measures featured in the Programme for Government.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
