Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
57. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which he will ensure that every effort is made to support individuals transition from welfare into further education/training and work, by examining the way in which to avoid a cliff-edge when people take up work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15022/26]
View answerRecognising the importance of a smooth transition for families, jobseekers, lone parents or people with disabiilties with children who receive a qualifying payment can access the Back to Work Family Dividend when entering the workforce. This can include self-employment.
The Working Family Payment is a tax-free payment available to people in employment who have children, subject to earnings and other requirements. It can be paid with the Back to Work Family Dividend.
For customers on Disability Allowance or Blind Pension, Budget 2026 contained several measures to incentivise persons with disabilities to take up work while ensuring a smooth transition. A customer on these payments can earn up to €165 a week and keep their full rate of payment. Earnings between €165 and €375 from employment are assessed at 50%, and any earnings over €375 are fully assessed as means. A customer can earn up to €527.60 a week and retain their entitlement to the minimum rate of payment and their secondary benefits.
Customers on these payments can retain Fuel Allowance for up to five years and their medical card for up to three years after moving into employment. Both payments are qualifying payments for the Back to Work Family Dividend.
The Department’s online customer platform, MyWelfare.ie, provides a Benefit of Work Estimator, which shows customers how taking up work or increasing their hours will affect their payment. The Estimator is available for certain jobseeker or one parent family payments.
My Department is in the drafting stage of the successor Pathways to Work, the national employment services strategy. It is expected to be published in Q2 2026. This builds on a comprehensive public consultation process last year, close cooperation with other government departments and the oversight of the Labour Market Advisory Council.
