I propose to take Questions Nos. 180, 182 and 183 together.
My Department provides State Pension payments through the State Pension (Contributory), which is a contributory based payment based on a person's social insurance record, and the State Pension (Non-Contributory), which is means-tested social assistance payment.
A State Pension (Contributory) recipient may qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) where the relevant conditions are satisfied. An IQA is payable at the maximum rate where the means of the qualified adult do not exceed €100 per week. Article 7 of S.I. No.142 of 2007, the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations, as amended, provides for this income limit which applies across a range of schemes, and not alone the State Pension (Contributory).
The purpose of means tests is to ensure that available resources are targeted in the most effective manner to those people who are most in need of support. For example where a household has income from an occupational pension as well as the contributory state pension it is appropriate to consider if the State's resources should be directed towards increasing the income into that household, via an increase in means limits for the qualified adult payment, or to increasing incomes into other households.
At present an Increase for qualified adult (IQA) is payable with the State contributory pension at the maximum rate of payment where the means of the qualified adult are not more than €100 per week. Reduced rates are payable where their means are over €100 and not more than €310 per week. No increase for a qualified adult is payable where their means are in excess of €310 per week.
My Department is undertaking a review of means testing across the social protection system. The aim is to examine various means-tested schemes and identify any issues related to their respective means tests. The position of the IQA means test, including the €100 weekly limit, forms part of this broader consideration. Any changes to this threshold would need to be considered in the context of the overall social welfare package with regard to priorities, available resources, and the need to ensure consistency and equity across all schemes.
I expect that the review will be completed shortly and it is my intention that the review's findings will guide decisions regarding potential changes to means testing in future Budgets subject to the overall budgetary context.
