With just under a month remaining before Budget 2026 is announced on Tuesday, October 7, the focus is shifting to potential measures that could ease cost-of-living challenges for households, reports The Mirror.
Various organisations and charities are stepping forward with their proposals, urging the Government to take meaningful steps. Among them, the charity Alone has suggested a €22 increase to the weekly State Pension to assist older adults in coping with inflationary pressures.
The organisation is also pushing for additional rises in supports for older people, including a €20 boost to the Fuel Allowance, a €10 increase to the Living Alone Allowance, and €7.50 more for the Telephone Support Allowance, reports The Mirror.
Alone is further calling for the appointment of a Commissioner for Older People and the creation of a €10 million energy poverty fund specifically aimed at supporting vulnerable elderly citizens.
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Sean Moynihan, CEO of Alone, said the charity’s most extensive survey to date highlights that a significant number of older people in their care are facing deep financial struggles, reports The Mirror.
He said: “The message we’re getting from this survey and the over 43,000 older people we support is simple; older people can’t wait. They can’t wait for action on the cost of living; they can’t wait for action on housing; and they cannot face into winter not knowing how they’ll heat their homes. 1 in 3 people we asses mention financial difficulties, ranging from utility bills, food bills to housing expenses. We’ve now had it confirmed that government does not intend to repeat one-off cost-of-living measures in this budget. If those gaps aren’t filled by targeted measures, we’re looking at more older people being at risk of poverty,” reports The Mirror.
In last year’s budget, weekly payments for social welfare recipients – such as Jobseeker’s Benefit, Disability Allowance, and Illness Benefit – went up by €12. However, early reports suggest that this year’s proposed increase may fall short of that figure, even though both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael had pledged to raise the pension to €350 a week during their current term.
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