Older people

Older people will continue to get their state pension and other payments as well as the free travel, free TV licence, telephone allowance and electricity or gas allowance at current levels. In addition, allowances such as the living alone allowance, over 80 age allowance and fuel allowance will not change.

Blind pension and disability allowance

Blind pension and disability allowance cut by €8 from €196 to €188.

Blind pension: maximum personal weekly rate cut from €196 to €188. Person with qualified adult under 66, reduced from €326.10 to €312.80.

Disability allowance: maximum personal weekly rate cut from €196 to 188. Person with qualified adult reduced from €326.10 to €312.80.

Blind welfare allowance

Blind welfare allowance is reduced from €61 per week to €58.50 per week and for a blind married couple from €122 to €117.

Domiciliary care allowance

Domiciliary care allowance will continue to be paid at €309.50 per month.

Blind person’s tax credit

Blind person’s tax credit has been cut:

• Single €1,830 to €1,650 (-€180).
• Married couple (both blind) €3,660 to €3,300 (-€360).

Carers

Carer’s allowance
Under 66 cut from €212 to €204.
Aged 66 and over – €239 (no change).

Carer’s benefit cut from €213 to €205.

• The half rate carer’s allowance will continue to be paid to people who are full-time carers and who are getting another welfare payment. Extra payment for caring for more than one person is retained.
• Carers will continue to get the annual respite care grant of €1,700 for each care recipient.

Invalidity pension and illness benefit

Invalidity pension
Under 65 – cut from €201.50 to 193.50.
Aged 65 – €230.30 (no change).

Illness benefit cut from €196 to €188.

Fuel allowance

Bearing in mind the bad weather in winter 2010/11, the department provided for a special once-off additional two weeks’ payment, worth €40, of fuel allowances. This was paid to most recipients in the weeks following the budget, with the remainder of recipients getting this payment in early January 2011.

Assistance for people with disabilities to participate in the workforce

Policy and operational changes are planned that will assist people with disabilities, who choose to work, to do so. As part of a change agenda, the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No 2) Bill provides for a Partial Capacity Scheme which will allow people return to work and retain all or part of their social welfare payment.

Treatment benefits

The treatment benefit scheme will continue to be limited to free examinations provided for under optical benefits.