FIS cut raises fears of homelessness

THE Government has been urged to have a last-minute change of heart over budget cuts to the family income supplement (FIS), which could force hundreds of working families over the edge.

During tense Dáil debates on welfare cuts, letters were read out from people who feared they would be forced into poverty or left homeless.

Under the changes, a household will see their FIS payments cut if they also receive the carer’s allowance. This is because the allowance will be considered as “means” when calculating the rate of FIS — a payment for those on low income as an incentive to stay in work where they might be better off on welfare.

The cut was not mentioned specifically in budget documentation but hidden deep in the complex Social Welfare Bill which was rushed through the Dáil yesterday.

Independent Michael Healy-Rae read a letter from a father-of-three who believes the cut will force him into homelessness.

He will lose €140 a week from his FIS because his partner receives the carer’s allowance to look after their son, who has special needs.

The letter read: “I only earn €400 a week. We have three kids, one of which has Down syndrome. He is three, our eldest is seven and we have a new baby who is two months old.

“You are aware of the cost and the work that goes hand in hand with any special needs child; you know the story all too well.

“My partner is the little boys’ carer. I get €400 a week, whenever I manage to get a full week in. She gets €230 carer’s and I get €190 a week FIS. With this new change, I will only get €50 a week. We will be homeless; we just can’t be robbed like this. I can’t take any more and we won’t be able to survive.”

Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív read out an e-mail from a woman, saying her husband will lose €330 a week from his FIS because she is a carer.

“Anybody on that payment is not living the high life,” he said. “She is a carer and in many cases these people are caring for people 24 hours a day.”

He added that “minor provisions which will not save significant amounts of money” were not a good idea. “We took the view when in government that caring is not a social welfare payment but a payment for hard work,” he said.

The Galway West TD said the Government was “targeting small groups and taking much from them cumulatively”.

He called for more time to debate the Social Welfare Bill and said the Government should take “time to reflect on and amend” this and other proposals.

The Social Welfare Bill passed all stages in the Dáil yesterday by 88 votes to 47. Patrick Nulty, who lost the Labour whip earlier this week, voted against the bill.