Casual workers to have benefits cut

At least 18,000 temporary or casual workers will see cuts to their benefit payments kick in from today in what was described as a “sneaky move”.

Changes to the jobseeker’s allowance, which were included in this year’s budget, will mean payments will be based on a five-day working week rather than six. This means a person who works a three day week will get top-up payments for two, rather than three more days.

Fianna Fáil spokesperson on social protection, Willie O’Dea has accused the Government of trying to “sneak in this cut under the radar in a hidden way”.

But a spokesperson for the Department of Social Protection rejected that the measure came into effect in an underhand way.

She said it was part of last December’s budget announcement and that the department has written to anyone affected to inform them of the changes, as well as to all TDs and Senators.

The department also disputed Mr O’Dea’s claim that 90,000 people per year will be left out of pocket as a result of the changes and could lose up to €80 per week.

“The figure of 90,000 is incorrect. This constitutes almost the entire Jobseeker’s Benefit population on the Live Register and many of these are not working and so, will not be affected by the change,” a spokesperson said. She said 18,000 people a week would be affected but could not say how many this would amount to over a full year.

Mr O’Dea described the cut as a “cynical move” designed to claw back some of the €47m lost to the exchequer by exempting the lowest paid from the Universal Social Charge in the budget.

“The cut will only serve to further widen the gap between the rich and the poor,” he said. “Any benefit that job seekers received from the change to the USC has now been wiped away by this cut.”