Social Welfare Code

Tuesday, 19 May 2026

Questions (669, 671, 672)

Barry Ward

Question:

669. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding any review of the living alone allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37018/26]

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671. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if any consideration has been given to amending the living alone allowance into a universal benefit for all those living alone over the age of 66; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37020/26]

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Barry Ward

Question:

672. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding any cost analysis carried out into expanding the living alone allowance into a universal benefit for all those living alone over the age of 66 [37021/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 669, 671 and 672 together.

Primary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, my Department also provides a range of other payments on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered secondary in nature with each of them having their own individual qualifying criteria.

The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or a stand-alone payment, but it is a supplement to a primary social protection payment of €22 per week made to people aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone.

For those aged 66 or over, payments eligible for the LAI include State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-contributory), Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Bereaved Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and Deserted Wife's Benefit. LAI is also paid to people aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.

There are no circumstances where the LAI can be paid to people who are not in receipt of a primary qualifying payment from my Department or who do not meet the living alone eligibility criteria. Any change to the qualifying criteria for this payment would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.

My Department does not hold statistics on the number of people aged 66 or above who are not in receipt of a payment from this Department, and who are living alone. Furthermore, to introduce a universal payment for all those aged 66 and above would change the targeted nature of the payment. As a result, my Department has not performed the cost analysis suggested by the Deputy.

Any changes to the rate and underlying conditions for receipt of the LAI will have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.