Michael Cahill
Ceist:704. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to increase the living alone allowance in the upcoming Budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37714/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 19 May 2026
Ceisteanna (704)
Freagraí scríofa
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 that are considered secondary in nature.
The Living Alone Increase is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or a stand-alone payment in itself, but rather it is a supplement to certain primary social protection payments for those who are in receipt of those payments and who are living alone. The current rate of the Living Alone Increase is €22 a week. It has increased by over 144% since 2019 when it was just €9 per week.
The majority of the recipients of the Living Alone Increase are those over 66 and getting a pension from my Department. The Living Alone Increase is also available to those under 66, who live alone and are getting Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension.
The rate of primary and secondary payments to pensioners, and their adequacy, are considered in the context of the annual budgetary process. In doing so, the Government considers evidence from a wide range of sources, including agencies such as the CSO, and also research submitted by advocacy groups such as the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, which uses a measure they call the “Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL)”.
The data shows that the cost of living for a single person is slightly more than the individualized cost of two people living together. For this reason, the Living Alone Increase is available to those in receipt of qualifying payments.
Any future changes to the rate of payment for the Living Alone Increase would have to be considered in the overall budgetary context, including possible increases to primary rates and other supports available.