Budget 2024: Pensioners, carers, and people with disabilities tipped to get €15 increase

Speaking in Limerick, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said the 'main people' she wants to support are 'the pensioners, the carers, people on disabilities, and working families'. Picture: iStock

Coalition leaders are considering a €15 increase in supports for pensioners, carers, and people with disabilities in the budget.

Senior Coalition sources said the cost-of-living crisis has not abated and that the approach of last year’s budget is “likely to be replicated”.

One source said: “Families are still struggling and the approach last year, which included welfare increases and a number of lump sums, worked well and it will form the approach again this year.”

The Government favours giving households one-off lump-sum payments like last year when eight categories of people received double payments, including to the fuel allowance, living alone allowance, and child benefit.

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys and Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris at the Fine Gael think-in in Limerick. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Interest groups such as Social Justice Ireland have called for core social welfare rates to increase by €25.

At the Fine Gael think-in, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said the “main people” she wants to support are “the pensioners, the carers, people on disabilities, and working families". A senior source said: 

Inflation remains high and we’re listening and we understand that certain groups need additional assistance and a €15 increase is on the table.

 

Other budget measures being examined include:

• Cut to USC;
• Increase in the rent tax credit and tax changes for small landlords;
• Expansion of child benefit;
• Mortgage interest relief;
• Energy credit for households;
• Free school book scheme for secondary students;
• Cuts to bus and rail fares.

The details emerged as Finance Minister Michael McGrath and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe began bilateral meetings with ministers on the details of Budget 2024.

When asked about increases to social welfare, Ms Humphreys said she would be “ambitious”.

“I know that there are pressures out there. I know the restraints and I’ve spoken to all the different interest groups and they have their views. I will be ambitious about what I want to achieve because I’m very conscious that the cost of living has gone up. When you go into the shop, the price of groceries has gone up.”

Ms Humphreys said that all options will be looked at, “whether it is an increase in the basic welfare generally for social welfare payments or targeted payments, or lump sum payments, or universal payments.”

The fuel allowance scheme will also open this week and 404,000 households will benefit after its expansion last year.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has already indicated that the Government will not push up petrol and diesel prices further by reinstating the final cut made to excise duty on fuel, which was due to be restored at the end of October. 

Senior sources have also said housing is expected to be a “massive part” of the budget with a package for renters and small landlords.

Mr Varadkar also said if any tax concession is given to small landlords, “it must help tenants and renters in some way".