New back to work payments taken up by 75 families

Michael McCarthy: ‘More jobs are being created’

A TOTAL of 650 families have been awarded the new Back to Work Family Dividend payment, including 75 families in Cork, according to Labour TD Michael McCarthy.

The Back to Work Family Dividend allows a person taking up a job to retain the child-related portion of their social welfare payment on a tapered basis over two years. This includes those who move to self-employment, such as back into the construction sector, and those on the One Parent Family payment.

‘Under the incentive, unemployed people who are going back to work after a long period on social welfare keep a €30-a-week payment for each of their children for the first year,’ said Deputy McCarthy.

This change is worth €1,550 a year per child, or €4,650 for a family with three children. In the second year of work, families will be able to get half the allowance, or over €750 per child.

‘We are aware of how difficult it is for people with children seeking work to move from welfare to employment. Introduced in the last Budget, this new scheme is a sign of how people will feel the recovery in their pockets, rather than just hearing about it,’ he added. ‘With the recovery clearly taking place, more and more jobs are being created.

The Back to Work Family Dividend, is a key support which will level the playing pitch amongst jobseekers, ensuring that those with children are not left behind in the search for a better livelihood.’