Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 297

Regulations in relation to payment of qualified adult increase in certain cases

Section 297 provides for a reduced increase of benefit or assistance in respect of a qualified adult where the claimant's spouse, civil partner or cohabitant has income above a prescribed threshold.

• Where a claimant would normally receive an increase for a qualified adult but the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant has income above a set amount, regulations may still allow a reduced increase to be paid.
• The reduced increase is paid at a rate lower than the standard rate set out in Schedule 2 or Schedule 4, and the actual rate varies depending on how much the spouse's, civil partner's or cohabitant's income exceeds the threshold.
• This provision applies to all social welfare benefits and assistance payments except supplementary welfare allowance.
• For the purposes of this section, "benefit" means benefit under Part 2 of the Act (i.e. social insurance benefits).