Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
634. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in Cork per Intreo area currently in receipt of the living alone increase; the measures being taken to increase awareness of the payment among eligible persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45865/26]
View answerThe Living Alone Allowance is an extra payment for people in receipt of certain social welfare payments who are living alone. The majority of the recipients of the Living Alone Increase are those over 66 and receiving a pension from my Department. The Living Alone Increase is also available to those under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.
The allowance is paid as a top up on various schemes which are centrally administered and are not associated with an Intreo office; hence figures are provided at the county level. There were 29,537 people in receipt of a Living Alone Allowance in County Cork as of the end of May 2026.
At application stage for each of these payments, the applicant is asked if they wish to make a claim for the Living Alone Increase. Those in receipt of a payment are asked to contact the Department if the composition of their household changes. Information of the Living Alone Increase is available from the Department’s website, on MyWelfare.ie and on the Citizen Information website. I am satisfied that all those who may be eligible for the receipt of the payment are aware of it, and the application process required to receive it.
