Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:351. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the jobseekers allowance threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46590/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 18 June 2026
Ceisteanna (351, 353)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:353. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first year and full year cost of expanding the farm assist threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46592/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 351 and 353 together.
Jobseeker's Allowance is a means-tested payment for unemployed people who do not qualify for one of the insurance-based jobseekers' schemes. The revised estimate for 2026 for Jobseeker's Allowance is approximately €1.83 billion.
Farm Assist is a statutory means-tested income support specifically for farmers on low incomes. The revised estimate for 2026 for Farm Assist is approximately €43.8 million.
There are no 'thresholds’ for either Jobseeker's Allowance or Farm Assist.
Under the means assessments for Jobseeker’s Allowance and Farm Assist, where a person is engaged in insurable employment, the first €20 of earnings per day is disregarded up to a maximum of €60 for three days worked, with the balance assessed at 60%.
Under the Farm Assist means test, income from a range of agri-environmental schemes attract a disregard of €5,000, with 50% of the balance assessed as means. There are also annual disregards for dependent children; €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and other children. Remaining farm income and income from off-farm employment is then assessed at 70%, with 30% disregarded.
Property and capital are considered in the means assessment for both Jobseeker's Allowance and Farm Assist. In line with many other means-tested social welfare schemes, the first €20,000 of capital is not assessed in the means test for both schemes. The next €10,000 is assessed at €1 per €1,000. The following €10,000 is assessed at €2 per €1,000 and capital in excess of €40,000 is assessed at €4 per €1,000.
Any changes to the Jobseeker’s Allowance and Farm Assist means tests would have to be considered in a budgetary context, within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements and in conjunction with other social welfare schemes. Calculating the cost of the effects of changes to the means test requires complex analysis. Consequently, it is not possible to provide the costing requested by the Deputy.