The government say they ‘will act’ if they think extra cost-of-living measures are needed – TheLiberal.ie – Our News, Your Views

The government say they ‘will act’ if they think extra cost-of-living measures are needed




Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said the government will continue to monitor the rising cost of living until next year and if further action is needed, it will take action.

Ms Humphreys spoke this morning on an announcement detailing the details of the double payment of family allowances announced in the budget, amounting to €280, to be paid from today.

The payment for 1.2 million children throughout the state will cost 170 million euros and will help about 640,000 families.

A series of cost-of-living measures announced as part of Budget 2023 will come into force this month, and the first of three €200 electricity credits will also start showing up on people’s bills.

Ms. Humphreys said double payment of family allowances will help working families, adding that many working parents would not generally benefit from other welfare payments.

When asked if wealthy people should consider giving this extra money back to the state, she said the payment would go to many families in need, but her department could provide details on how others could pay it back.

Ms Humphreys said a more focused approach would have required the government to choose a “cut-off point”, meaning there would be winners and losers.

Opposition parties also proposed a double payment of family allowances in their alternative budgets in September.

Sinn Féin social protection spokeswoman Claire Kerrane welcomed today’s move, but warned that many families will have already spent this money before receiving it.

“Minister Humphreys needs to put additional resources in place to ensure the timely payment of emergency payments such as the Additional Needs Payment to ensure that those in receipt of social welfare and at work can access financial assistance when they need it. This should include the return of Community Welfare Officers to the community,” she said, according to RTE.

By the end of the month, lump-sum welfare payments are due to carers, people living alone, people with disabilities, and those receiving fuel and family allowance payments, ahead of what will be a costly winter.

Budget and Financial Advisory Service spokeswoman Michelle O’Hara said people are seeing their financial “buffer” at the end of the week “slowly being eaten away,” reports RTE.

Speaking to RTÉ’s News at One, Ms O’Hara said “people’s disposable income level that they would have had at the end of each week or each month is slowly eating away and that buffer level is not present in right now and that’s where the challenges lie.

She said the “good time” to contact MAB is before a person really gets into trouble, but she thinks it could happen in the future.

“What we’re trying to do is encourage people before running into difficulty. If you’re just thinking that you might run into difficulty, it’s the opportune time to get in contact with MABS,” she said, reports RTE.

Ms. O’Hara added that she has increased the number of people working who are now turning to MABS for support.

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