Warning over phone allowance reduction

Pensioners and other social welfare recipients are being warned they will experience an increase of just over €13 in their monthly phone bills due to the introduction of a reduced phone allowance announced in last month’s budget.

Around 395,000 people will see their monthly phone allowance fall from €22.58 to €9.50 in bills issued next month.

The controversial 58% reduction in the phone allowance was introduced in the budget to deliver annual savings of €61m.