50. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection to significantly increase the living alone allowance; and to review the qualifying criteria. [46326/26]

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 most recent change to the rate was in Budget 2022 when it was increased by €3, from €19 per week to its current rate of €22 per week.

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," or MESL.

Any future changes to the Living Alone Increase, including the qualifying criteria and rate of payment, would have to be considered in the overall budgetary context, including possible increases to primary rates and other supports available.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.