Government plan to roll out brand new cost of living payment in budget

The cabinet are looking ahead to Budget 2027, which is expected to be announced this autumn, and they are planning on rolling out a brand new cost of living payment

The government are looking at introducing a brand new social welfare payment in next year’s budget.

Budget 2027 is expected to be announced this autumn and the Department of Social Protection are examining long-term solutions to ease the cost of living crisis for the most vulnerable in society.0

One such measure could be the roll out of a new cost of living payment for the disabled.

The government is aiming for a new Cost of Disability payment later this year, the Sunday Independent reported.

No further details have been released about what the payment would look like or how much it would be, nor what criteria applicants would have to meet to avail of the payment.

Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary said ahead of the budget, his priorities would focus on designing a new Cost of Dis­ability payment, further measures aimed at reducing child poverty and targeted measures to help with the cost of living.

Another confirmed measure is a hike to the rate of the Living Alone Allowance.

The Living Alone Increase is an extra payment for people who are living alone and getting a social welfare payment.

It is a €22 a week payment which adds up to an additional income of €1,144 per year.

Mr Calleary said a hike to the Living Alone Allowance is a priority in the run-up to Budget 2027.

“People living alone, particularly in their older years on fixed incomes, we need to support them more,” he told the Sunday Independent. “There are a lot of complications and a lot of conditionality around the payment at the moment. 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.”

The minister also said that a hike to weekly social welfare rates are being planned, but the amount is yet to be confirmed. Last year there was a weekly increase of €10 to all core social welfare payments, although the department initially pushed for €12.

Want to see more of the stories you love from RSVP ? To add RSVP as a preferred source of news on Google, simply click here