Benefits for cohabiting couples
Deasy asked whether cohabiting couples caring for children could qualify as married; Flaherty said the legislation did not treat unmarried couples as married, though it provided for increases for qualified children and certain adult dependants. The remaining questions were deferred, with Deputies requesting written replies.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if couples who are co-habiting and caring for children of their or other associations will, if qualified, be regarded as married for the purpose of qualifying for benefit or assistance from her Department.
Comment on this
There is no provision in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981, to enable unmarried couples who are living together to be treated as married persons for the purposes of the Act. However, provision is made whereby a claimant for benefit or assistance may be paid an increase for a qualified child or qualified children who normally resides or reside with the claimant. Such a person, being a single person, widow, widower or a married person who is not maintained by his or her spouse, may also be paid the adult dependant's increase in respect of a female person over the age of 16 who has the care of such child or children. In such circumstances, the amount of the benefit or assistance payable would be the same as that payable to a married person who is entitled to an increase for a spouse and a qualified child or qualified children.
