Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 June 2026
156. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the working family payment in each of the past five years; the average payment awarded; and whether his Department has assessed barriers to uptake among eligible households. [44352/26]
View answerThe Working Family Payment is a tax-free in-work support for low paid employees, with child dependents. As of April, there are some 55,000 families, with 110,000 children, in receipt of the payment.
To qualify for the Working Family Payment, the average total weekly household/family income must be below the relevant income threshold as related to the family size (the number of children in a household). There are eight (family size) income threshold bands and the person applying must also be working, as an employee, for at least 38 hours per fortnight.
The number of recipients on the scheme, at the end of each of the past five years, is set out in the table below. Working Family Payment is paid for 52 weeks. It is important to note that an individual’s 52-week duration on the scheme is unique i.e., the 52 weeks starts when they join the scheme (at any point during the year) and is not linked to a calendar year. Hence, these figures represent a snapshot in time and do not reflect the full number of recipients who may have moved on and off the scheme throughout the year, which may be higher.
|
- |
No. of Recipients |
|
2021 |
45,365 |
|
2022 |
47,115 |
|
2023 |
46,105 |
|
2024 |
46,944 |
|
2025 |
51,590 |
To estimate the average payment for each of the five years would require establishing numbers on the scheme for each of the years, allowing for inflows, outflows and individualised start times, for the 52 week duration, across the eight threshold bands. Therefore it is not possible to estimate the average payment in the time available. However, for information, set out below is expenditure on the scheme for the past five years.
|
- |
Expenditure €’000 |
|
2021 |
€338,407 |
|
2022 |
€361,090 |
|
2023 |
€392,061 |
|
2024 |
€420,881 |
|
2025 |
€467,941* |
*2025 Figures are provisional
The Department actively promotes the Working Family Payment through its digital channels and through its Intreo Employment Service and Intreo partners (e.g. the Local Area Employment Service). It also promotes the scheme directly through engagement with stakeholders.
It is worth noting, over the period above, measures introduced in successive budgets have resulted in the income thresholds, for all family sizes, increasing by €224 per week. The introduction of these budget measures receives widespread coverage each year, resulting in significant promotion of the scheme.
In addition to a €60 increase to the income thresholds for all family sizes, Budget 2026 included, for the first time, a measure to automatically award the Fuel Allowance to families in receipt of the Working Family Payment. Since December 2025 there has been over a 6% increase in the numbers availing of the scheme.
Feedback from some stakeholders, in terms of possible difficulties accessing the scheme, generally relates to the in-employment nature of the scheme and the hours worked requirement.
The Department is currently undertaking a public consultation on possible reforms with the aim of further reducing barriers to persons entering and sustaining employment, while availing of payments, including the working family payment. The outcome of this consultation will feed into future policy and scheme design / reforms.
