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For Written Answer on : 23/09/2025
Question Number(s): 414 Question Reference(s): 50015/25
Department: Social Protection
Asked by: Joe Cooney T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who were in receipt of living alone allowance and subjected to a review by his Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form.
REPLY
The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is available to people aged 66 or over receiving a State Pension or other qualifying payments, and to people under 66 who are getting a long-term illness or disability payment. It is included weekly with the primary social welfare payment.
There were 241,450 people in receipt of a LAI in 2023, 241,450 in 2024 and 253,737 as of the end of August 2025. The LAI is included as part of the primary scheme and therefore it is not in generally subject to a separate control review. It is normally included during a control review of the primary scheme if it is in payment. Data on the number of scheme control reviews undertaken each year is available, however it is not possible to provide data on the number of schemes reviewed where a Living Alone Increase was in payment.
As part of its Compliance and Anti Fraud Strategy my department commits to an annual target for control reviews across all social welfare schemes. The objective is to ensure that customers continue to receive their correct rate of payment over the lifetime of their claim. In 2024, 684,864 reviews were undertaken across all scheme areas, these reviews would include an assessment of continuing entitlement to Living Alone Increase where applicable.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.