Families ‘up to €500 worse off a month due to budget changes’

Working people are having to live on 10% less than they were used to because of the impact of harsh budgets during the last five years.

An analysis by Grant Thornton, said income tax changes, the introduction of the universal social charge and cuts to child benefit have had a stark impact on the disposable income of middle-income households.

Even if workers have been spared unemployment or pay cuts, the accountants have worked out that budgetary measures have left the average family between €300 and €500 worse off each month.