Standard of living ‘too low on welfare’

People who rely on social welfare or earn the minimum wage are living on incomes which often fall far below what is considered necessary for an acceptable life, a new report has found.

The study, carried out by Trinity College Dublin’s policy institute, the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, and the Department of Social Protection, looked at a range of family scenarios over a year and came up with a minimum standard-of-living cost for families.

Minimum rates include: