Families across Ireland could be missing out on social welfare payment worth up to €1500

Thousands of families could be missing out on the Working Family Payment from Social Welfare, according to Labour’s social protection spokesperson Mark Wall TD.

Working families across Ireland are being urged to check their eligibility for the Working Family Payment following an Oireachtas Social Protection Committee hearing this week which revealed that over 50,000 eligible families may be entitled to the payment .

Deputy Wall said:

“I would encourage any working family struggling through this cost of living crisis to contact their local representatives, Department of Social Protection or their local Social Welfare Branch Office to identify if they are eligible for the working family payment.

“These payments are a lifeline for many households and working families who are already feeling the pinch enough as it is with crippling cost of living increases.

“Today Daft.ie has reported the largest increase in rents in the private rental market since 2002, coupled with spiralling fuel prices for commuters and rising energy bills, working families have been abandoned by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

“We know from research conducted by the ESRI that 1 in 5 children, over 225,000, live in families below the poverty line when housing costs are accounted for, and well over 300,000 households are in arrears on their electricity bills. The crisis at kitchen tables across the country continues to grow and while this payment is not a panacea, it could be a lifeline for many.

“The Department of Social Protection must continue to expand their information campaign to ensure that people across the country are aware of the supports that are available to them.”

Eligibilty

The Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children. It supports people who are on low pay. WFP used to be called Family Income Supplement (FIS).

You must be an employee to get WFP. You cannot get it if you are self-employed only.

You must have at least one child who normally lives with you or who you support financially. Your child must be under 18 (or between 18 and 22 if they are in full-time day education).

To get WFP, your average weekly family income must be under a certain amount for your family size. The WFP payment you get is 60% of the difference between your average weekly family income and the WFP income limit for your family size. For more information, see ‘Rate of Working Family Payment’ below.

WFP is not taken into account in the means test for a medical card.

Rules

You can get a weekly tax-free WFP payment if you are an employee and:

Work 38 or more hours per fortnight (in any combination of hours). You can combine your weekly hours with your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant’s hours to meet this condition. You cannot use time spent in self-employment (or on
Community Employment, Tús, JobBridge or the Rural Social Scheme) to meet this condition.
Your job is likely to last at least 3 months
You have at least one child who normally lives with you
You earn less than the WFP income limit set for your family size

Rate of Working Family Payment

The Department of Social Protection (DSP) will assess your household income in a means test. It compares your total income to the WFP income limit for your family size.

If you earn less than the WFP income limit, you may get WFP.

Your WFP will be 60% of the difference between the WFP income limit for your family size and your assessable income. The combined income of a couple (who are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting) is taken into account when calculating assessable income.

For more information and how to apply, visit MyWelfare.ie.

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