Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 43

Increases for qualified adult and qualified children

Section 43 sets out how weekly illness benefit is increased for qualified adults and qualified children.

• Illness benefit increases for one qualified adult (such as a spouse or partner) by the amount specified in Schedule 2, but only one such increase may be claimed at a time.
• Additional increases apply for each qualified child normally residing with the beneficiary, with a lower rate for children under 12 and a higher rate for children aged 12 and over.
• Where the child lives with both the beneficiary and a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant who is not a qualified adult, only half the child increase is payable.
• No child increase is payable if the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant's weekly income exceeds the prescribed threshold.