Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 November 2024
270. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of introducing a €500 annual cost of disability support payment for all recipients of disability allowance, blind pension and invalidity pension. [45961/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to improving outcomes for people with a disability. As a result, I announced an extensive range of cost of living measures to support people with disabilities in Budget 2025. These included:
• October 2024 cost of living bonus for people in receipt of a long term weekly social welfare payment.
• €400 cost of living lump sum payment for people in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension, paid in November 2024.
• €300 cost of living lump sum payment to all households getting Fuel Allowance, paid in November 2024.
• €200 cost of living lump sum payment to people who are getting a Living Alone Increase, paid in November 2024.
• €100 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting a Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child), paid for each qualified child in November 2024.
• Christmas bonus to all persons in receipt of a long-term disability payment to be paid in December 2024.
• €12 increase in the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments from January 2025. There will be proportionate increases for people on a reduced rate.
• Weekly rates of Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) will increase by €8 to €62 for those aged 12 and over, and by €4 to €50 for under 12s in January 2025
• €20 increase a month in Domiciliary Care Allowance from January 2025.
Introducing a €500 annual cost of disability support payment for recipients of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension, based on recipient figures as at the end of September 2024 (223,580 recipients), would cost almost €111.8 million annually.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
