Pádraig Rice
Question:416. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that jobseeker's allowance is means-tested for couples who are cohabiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18059/26]
View answerThursday, 5 March 2026
Questions (416)
Written answers
The purpose of the means test on certain welfare payments is to ensure that resources are directed to those with the greatest need for income supports by the State.
The rules contained in Schedule 3 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, as amended, provide that for means-tested social assistance schemes, all income and assets belonging to the applicant, and his or her spouse/partner where applicable, are assessable for means-testing purposes.
Couples living together in a household can be assumed to pool resources, at least to some extent. This assumption means the delivery of income support must take account of total household means, rather than just the means of the claimant, in determining how to target income support.
The same rationale is apparent in the rate structure for the majority of social welfare payments – the headline payment rate made to the second adult in the household is almost always lower, usually set at two thirds of the primary claimant’s maximum rate. The IQA rate structure and the means test both take account of household circumstances.
If a person’s spouse, civil partner or cohabitant works, their weekly earnings are assessed in line with the legislation governing means-tested payments.