Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2026
370. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given in Budget 2027 to the introduction of greater flexibility or individual means assessment in cases where the person is financially independent but cannot live alone due to the impact of a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33937/26]
View answerSocial welfare legislation provides that means tests take account of the income and assets of the person (and their spouse or partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. Means assessments generally include income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions and maintenance payments. They also include assessment of property owned other than the family home and capital such as cash, savings, shares, and other investments.
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 or co-habitant 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.
A review of means testing in the social protection system is currently under way in my Department. The purpose of the review of means testing is to look at the different means-tested schemes and to identify any issues in terms of the application of the respective means test. Any change to means assessment would need to encompass the other schemes affected and would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
