With the cost of living continuing to place pressure on households across Ireland, the Government has said it is examining ways to support some of the country’s most vulnerable people in Budget 2027.
One group increasingly being viewed as a priority are people living alone, with ministers indicating that a significant rise in the Living Alone Allowance could be introduced in the next Budget, reports The Mirror.
Although Budget 2027 is still several months away, discussions are already taking place at Cabinet level as the Government begins preparing possible new social welfare measures, cost-of-living supports and targeted payments.
Among the measures currently under consideration is an increase to the Living Alone Increase, which is an additional weekly payment given to people living by themselves while receiving certain social welfare benefits, reports The Mirror.
The payment currently stands at €22 per week, which amounts to an extra €1,144 annually for those who qualify.
Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary has suggested that increasing the allowance is one of his major priorities ahead of the Budget, reports The Mirror.
He told the Sunday Independent: “People living alone, particularly in their older years on fixed incomes, we need to support them more. There are a lot of complications and a lot of conditionality around the payment at the moment.
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“If you are married or in a relationship and your partner dies and you are on a fixed income, you are left with the same expenses. You might have an adult living with you and a child. It’s a very important payment”, reports The Mirror.
The Living Alone Increase is intended to help with the extra costs associated with living alone, including bills for heating, electricity, groceries and other household expenses.
At present, people aged 66 and older may qualify for the payment if they live alone and receive one of several social welfare supports, reports The Mirror.
These include:
State Pension (Contributory)
State Pension (Non-Contributory)
Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
Bereaved Partner’s Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
Deserted Wife’s Benefit
Meanwhile, people under the age of 66 who live alone may also qualify if they receive:
Disability Allowance
Invalidity Pension
Incapacity Supplement
Blind Pension, reports The Mirror.
Alongside possible changes to the Living Alone Allowance, the Social Protection Minister said his wider priorities before the Budget include introducing a new Cost of Disability payment, implementing more measures aimed at reducing child poverty and providing further targeted cost-of-living supports.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin has suggested tax cuts may also form part of the Budget plans. Micheál Martin told the Sunday Independent: “Obviously, we have to look at the taxation framework, and tax will be clearly an issue in the Budget. The precise mechanisms and how we do that remains to be discussed”, reports The Mirror.
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