Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 November 2025
149. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider excluding the working family payment from being reckonable for all means tested payments and services. [61673/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial 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.
Any payment, including Working Family Payment, made by the Department of Social Protection is excluded from means assessment for the following schemes:
• Jobseeker's Allowance
• Jobseeker's Transitional Payment
• Disability Allowance
• Farm Assist
• State Pension (Non-contributory)
• Blind Pension
• Bereaved Partner’s (Non-contributory) Pension
• Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory)
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Carer's Allowance
The Deputy's question refers to means-tested payments and services - in the event that these relate to benefits and services outside the Department of Social Protection, it would be a matter for the relevant Minister.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
