49. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which he is ensuring that every effort is made to support individuals to transition from welfare into further education/training and work, especially in relation to how to avoid a cliff edge when people take up work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31410/26]

My Department supports the transition from a welfare payment into quality employment for jobseekers in receipt of a payment. There are a range of supports to ensure the transition into work is smooth and that jobseekers are facilitated to enter employment with minimal disruption. The Department’s online customer platform, MyWelfare, provides a Benefit of Work Estimator, which shows customers how taking up work or increasing their hours will affect their payment and is available for certain jobseeker or family payments.

The Back to Work Family Dividend is available to lone parents, jobseekers and people with disabilities in receipt of a qualifying when entering employment, including self-employment. This payment is based off the Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) they would have received on their social welfare payment and facilitates a smooth transition from a payment into employment for families. As well as this, the Working Family Payment is a tax-free payment available to people in employment who have children, subject to earnings and other requirements and can be paid with the Back to Work Family Dividend.

Jobseekers can avail of the Back to Education Allowance, which supports them in pursuing full-time further or higher education courses. They can also avail of free education and training courses through Springboard+ and the various Skillnets across different sectors to promote upskilling and reskilling.

For customers on Disability Allowance or Blind Pension, Budget 2026 contained several measures to incentivise persons with disabilities to take up work while ensuring a smooth transition. A customer on these payments can earn up to €165 a week and keep their full rate of payment. Earnings between €165 and €375 from employment are assessed at 50%, and any earnings over €375 are fully assessed as means. A customer can earn up to €527.60 a week and retain their entitlement to the minimum rate of payment and their secondary benefits. Customers on these payments can retain Fuel Allowance for up to five years and their medical card for up to three years after moving into employment. Both payments are qualifying payments for the Back to Work Family Dividend.

My Department is currently exploring a range of potential models for a new Working Age Payment as committed to in the Programme for Government and it is intended to publish a proposal for consultation in the coming months. The Programme for Government stipulates that any new Working Age Payment will ensure individuals always see an increase in income when they take up work or take on additional hours.