Double payments

[thespecialon]

Hi,

Is it possible for a married couple to be getting 2 social payments ? Like for example 1 is on disability allowance(under 65) , the other on state pension...would they both be receiving full allowances?

 

[gipimann]

Yes, a couple can each have a claim in their own right.

If both claims are PRSI-contribution based (e.g. 2 x Contributory State Pension), then they will each receive the maximum rate if they have enough contributions.

If one of the claims is means-tested then the maximum rate might not be paid on that claim - it depends on the means. In your example, disability allowance is means-tested.

There is also a "maximum pay" limit - for example, if a couple are both signing on, one on Jobseeker's Benefit (PRSI-based), the other on Jobseeker's Allowance (means-tested), the couple cannot be paid more on both claims than they would get if only one of them was claiming.

 

[thespecialon]

ok thanks,

If they were both non-contributory, what would be the entitlements?

State non-contributory pension and disability?