As a result of a recent legislative change, namely, the Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024, significant reforms have been made to the manner in which social welfare is calculated for the purpose of lone parents.
As a result of the legislation, child maintenance payments will now be excluded from means tests carried out in respect of social welfare payments. This is expected to benefit over 16,000 lone parents and help to reduce child poverty.
Many lone parents who are on reduced rates of social welfare due to the fact that they are in receipt of child maintenance will now see their payments increase and those who are not qualified up to this point by reason of being in receipt of child maintenance may now be able to access this payment.
The Department has advised that potential claimants do not need to take any action in order to benefit from this measure as the Department is undertaking a significant project to identify and review those claims where a maintenance payment has already been assessed and the Department will contact those affected in the coming weeks to advise them and to review and the resulting changes in their payment.
This is a very welcome development for lone parents in receipt of child maintenance on lower income where they will be dependent on social welfare payments.
For further information in relation to any family law matter please don’t hesitate to contact Brendan Dillon, Emma Dillon, or Aoife Cathcart on 01 2960666.
