Tests pour l'attribution des aides: Qu'est ce que c'est et pourquoi?

A "Means test" is an investigative process undertaken to determine whether an individual or a family can get any benefit or payments from the government. Means tests usually consist of an analysis of the personal income.

If you are aged between 66 and 70 and not getting a qualifying payment, you must satisfy a means test in order to qualify for the Household Benefits Package.

Step 1

How your weekly means limit is calculated

This is based on the current maximum rate of State Pension (Contributory) that applies in your situation, for example, if you are single, married or cohabiting, have dependent children or you are living alone.

The weekly means limit is calculated by adding together:

• The maximum rate of State Pension (Contributory);
• Plus €100.00;
• any further allowances as appropriate for a qualified adult, dependent child(ren), Living Alone Increase.

Together, these give the total weekly means limit.

Step 2

How your savings capital and investments are determined

Your weekly means is calculated by adding together your income and means from savings and investments. This is compared to your weekly means limit.

If your weekly means are less than or equal to your weekly means limit, you satisfy the means test.

When working out your means from investments and savings, we add together the following items and use a special formula to work out your means:

• cash value of investments and property (except your home);
• money in any savings account, or any kind of bank accounts;
• cash-in-hand.

Capital and weekly Means Assessed

Example 1: You are a single person aged 66 who lives alone, has weekly income of €180 from an occupational pension and €25,000 in savings.

Step 1 - Calculating your weekly means

Step 2 - Comparing your means to the limit

In this example, we do not assess the first €20,000 of savings as means. We assess the next €10,000 at €1 per €1,000. This means that the savings of €25,000 has means of €5 assessed against it.

So, the total means assessed is €180 (occupational pension) plus €5 (savings), giving a total of €185.

Means Limit and Means assessed

As your means are less than the weekly means limit, you satisfy the means test.