Family Income Supplement – a weekly tax-free top-up payment from the Department of Social Protection available to employees on low pay with children

Joan Burton urges low-paid workers with children to apply: “70% of first-time applicants for FIS qualify for a payment.”

Family Income Supplement (FIS) is a weekly tax-free top-up payment from the Department of Social Protection to employees on low pay with children. Over 44,000 working families with almost 100,000 children are currently benefitting from the scheme.

Speaking about FIS, Minister Burton said: “My Department spent an estimated €230 million on FIS in 2013 and I have allocated over €280 million to the FIS scheme in 2014. FIS is a crucial support for many working families. 70% of first-time applicants for FIS qualify for a payment ranging between €20 and €680 a week with an average payment of €113 per week. Even if a person only qualifies for a small FIS payment, they will still get a minimum of €20 a week – or over €1,000 a year – and this is paid directly into the person’s bank account.”

Once the level of payment is determined, it will generally continue to be paid at that rate for a year, provided that the person remains in full-time employment. This gives people who are getting FIS certainty that they will receive a guaranteed level of income support for a full 12 months. This certainty provides a real incentive to workers with families to avail of employment opportunities.

Application forms for FIS are available at www.welfare.ie or from local Intreo Centres across the country. Completed applications should be accompanied by the person’s latest P60 form, 1 recent payslip, and a copy of their Certificate of Tax Credits for the current tax year.

The Minister continued: “The FIS top-up payment is tax-free and it’s one of a number of supports from my Department for families on low pay. People getting FIS may also be entitled to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance from my Department. In addition, income from FIS is not taken into account in the assessment for a medical card.

“These are significant supports for families who have been offered employment and are concerned about the loss of additional welfare benefits should a work offer be taken up. All the evidence shows that families are better off in work and FIS helps them to continue in work and build towards financial independence.”