Radical overhaul of disability welfare payments proposed
Kitty Holland
Welfare payments to disabled people will increase by up to €40 a week
under proposals to radically overhaul payments to more than 225,000
people in receipt of disability allowance and invalidity pensions.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys will publish a green
paper on Wednesday detailing proposed changes that would see the two
current allowances integrated into a single, three-tiered payment, to be
renamed a personal support payment.
The purpose of the proposed changes is to address far higher levels of
poverty and unemployment among disabled people, as well as to start
meeting the additional costs associated with disability, a source told
The Irish Times.
Under the proposals, which go out to consultation from Wednesday, the
current “one-size-fits-all” weekly payment, of €220 (disability
allowance) and up to €225.50 (invalidity pension), would be replaced
with three levels of personal support payment.
People will be categorised into one of three separate “levels”,
according to the severity of their disability, with those most seriously
impaired in level 1; those moderately disabled in level 2; and those
mildly disabled in level 3.
People in level 1 would see their payments increase to €260 a week,
those in level 2 to €240 a week, while those in level 3 would remain on
€220.
Those in level 3 will be invited to engage in employment supports, with
a view to increasing their participation in the labour force.
The Department believes up to half of the 225,000 in receipt of
disability payments would be in level 3 and would like to work but are
precluded from seeking employment as they could lose their payment.
Those on level 2 would also be invited to engage with employment support
programmes, though they would probably be encouraged to look at
part-time or voluntary work.
None of recipients’ supplementary entitlements, such as medical cards or
fuel allowance, would be affected.
It is envisaged that the changes, if introduced, would apply to new
entrants initially and there would be an appeals process.
A senior source said that the Department was conscious there would be
“great sensitivity” and “anxiety” about the proposed changes, and
stressed nothing was “set in stone”. They emphasised no one would see
their payments reduce under the proposals, which are intended to improve
the situation of disabled people, which is worse here than in many other
EU countries.
Figures published last year show almost 40 per cent of disabled people
live in poverty, and have a labour-force participation rate of 37 per
cent – about half that of the general population.
A cost of disability report, published by the Department in 2021, found
additional costs to disabled people – for such items as medicines,
therapies, specialised foods, equipment, transport and heating – were
between €9,000 and €11,000 per person per year.
Ms Humphreys will begin meeting advocacy groups on Wednesday to set out
details of the proposed changes. Consultation will continue until at
least the end of the year, with a number of information events planned
around the country and online.
A source said all questions would be addressed and ideas for suggested
improvements taken on board.
Irish Times
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