[WATCH] Minister laments number of people missing out on work benefits schemes

Family minister claims people missing out on welfare benefits because they are not aware of the government initiatives introduced in the past four years

Photo: James Bianchi/MediaToday
Photo: James Bianchi/MediaToday

Many people are missing out on a number of benefits simply because they are not aware of the government initiatives introduced in the past four years, family and social solidarity minister Michael Farrugia said

Government remains committed to raising the standard of living of families with at least one single parent employed and with children under 18 years of age above the thresholds established by Caritas within the next three years, he said. 

Two such schemes were the in-work benefits and tapering of benefits, with people not recognising their eligibility or the benefits available. 

"The in-work benefit scheme introduced the concept of "making work pay", to entice people to join the workforce instead of receiving social assistance," Farrugia said. 

The benefit applies in the case of parents with children under 23 years of age and who have a steady income. 

Photo: James Bianchi/MediaToday
Photo: James Bianchi/MediaToday

A number of changes were introduced in January this year, widening the eligibility spectrum and raising the benefits themselves. 

Couples earning up to a total of €24,000 annually, and couples with a single income, or single parents, earning up to €16,500pa can now benefit from the scheme. 

Benefits increased to €1,200 and €1,350 over a twelve-month period. 

As to the tapering of benefits scheme, Farrugia said this was expanded in 2015 to cover couples with children working up to maximum of 10 hours a week. 

Irrespective of the couple's salary, they would receive 65% of the social benefits for the first year, dropping to 55% and 45% over the second and third years. 

The minister said the two schemes were considered crucial in the government's efforts to eradicate poverty, since they help introduce people to the benefits of gainful employment. 

By the end of 2015, 2,225 persons were enjoying in-work benefits while 2,480 were enrolled in the tapering of benefits scheme. 

"I am proud to say that the work carried out by Caritas is not being ignored but is being used as a minimum threshold when we draw up these schemes," the minister said.