People who request an increase in disability compensation have informed the Minister for Social Protection of the challenges they face, reports Breaking News.
BreakingNews obtained documents from the Department of Social Protection.i.e., display the worries expressed by those receiving disability aid while they discussed their difficulties with Heather Humphreys.
One emailer to Ms. Humphreys claimed to be a cancer patient who was compelled to continue working full-time against medical advice.
“I was diagnosed with cancer and have seen first-hand how unfit the system is. The disability benefit is unfit for purpose, the payment would not even cover rent in my case. I am still working full-time, against the advice of all my doctors, because there is such a lack of a safety net. Is the Government really that worried about cancer patients exploiting social welfare?” I receive €237.50 per week disability pension, after working full-time for 30 years. No increase has been contributed to the Disabled Driver scheme, with refundable vat and vrt still remaining at €10,000 for many years, despite the price of cars increasing by 30 per cent+ [sic]”, reports Breaking News.
There were suggestions for an increase in the disability payment in tandem with the increases in jobseeker benefits after the minister was briefed about the disparities in the payments.
Someone brought up the point that it has devolved into the lowest kind of social welfare and questioned why those who are unable to work are the ones being singled out.
“Disability is paid to people unable to work standard full-time jobs and is paid at a rate of enough to barely survive, as stated jobseekers should be paid at this rate as it is a payment supposed to help a person while they find a job. During the Covid pandemic when people could not work due to a medical reason the government decided they needed a rate of 350 euro to survive, but me [sic] who cannot work due to a medical reason you see fit to give the bare minimum to. Why does disability allowance always increase at the same rate as jobseeker’s allowance in each budget?” enquired another person to the Department. It just isn’t appropriate to combine the two,” reports Breaking News.
In contact with Ms. Humphreys, payments made during the Covid epidemic were typical, since problems with the invalidity benefit were detailed.
“Can I ask why invalidity pension is only 215 when during Covid it was 350 and then 300 and that was said that was cost of living payment [sic]. If cost of living was at minimum 300 how is this not the invalidity payment? The payment does not even cover one of my husband’s consultant fees,” reports Breaking News.
There were requests to raise the disability payment to keep up with inflation prior to the October budget. People with disabilities reiterated the demand raised by disability organisations prior to the budget.
According to one commenter: “People receiving Disability Allowance are undoubtedly in worse shape than they were a year ago because of inflation. According to Inclusion Ireland, the minimum weekly income needed to qualify for poverty is €291.50, as determined by nonprofit groups.”
The government eliminated suggested modifications to social assistance benefits for disabled individuals earlier this year, reports Breaking News.
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