Budget 2027: 'I can't afford to buy a pair of jeans... there are a lot of hidden costs to disability'

It is estimated people with disabilities face extra expenses of up to €15,000 per year

Louise Mulcahy from Blackrock in Cork City, who lives with cerebral palsy, tells the Irish Examiner about the financial difficulties faced by people living with disabilities. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Core social welfare increases and fairer individual means-testing were among the measures sought by disability advocacy groups ahead of Budget 2027.

There have been amplified calls from opposition parties and campaigners for a permanent cost-of-disability payment. 

The Government announced in Tuesday's budget that there would be a new €500 Cost of Disability Payment. 

It means people with disabilities will be €1,030 better off in 2027. However, it is estimated that people with disabilities face extra expenses of up to €15,000 per year.

Louise Mulcahy from Blackrock in Cork City, who lives with cerebral palsy, spoke prior to the budget about how financial struggles only reinforce the isolation already experienced by people with disabilities.

“Christmas is especially hard,” she told the Irish Examiner. “While the cost of everything else is going up, the payments remain the same. 

"There are always money worries. You are living day to day. I am living with my sister at the moment because it’s just too expensive to live alone. 

"There are a lot of hidden costs to disability that people might not realise. For example, I need an accessible shower because I’m not able to get in and out of the bath. Luckily, I was able to get help with this, but there are so many other expenses. It’s a vicious cycle because you get to a point where all you are worried about is money.” 

She spoke about how the cost-of-living crisis had impacted her quality of life.

“It’s the same for most people with disabilities,” she said. “The reality is that we don’t have enough money to get by. People have been through enough but they are still scraping through from week to week. 

"There are times when you feel like you will finally have enough until you realise that half of the payment you are getting is taken up with bills. Renting is expensive and in some ways I am one of the lucky ones because I have someone to share the costs with.” 

Louise stressed the majority of people living with disabilities are affected.

“The hardest part for me is that you can’t just buy anything on the spur of the moment. Right now, for instance, I’d like to buy a pair of jeans but I know I won’t be able to afford them," she said.

"If my friends phone me asking if I would like to go to the cinema I find myself making excuses because I can’t afford it. I’ll still meet them in the day for a cup of tea but it’s hard to have a social life. 

"You have to budget for everything now, even if it’s just a cup of tea. I think most people living with disabilities are in the same boat.” 

Louise’s concerns follow a ‘Cost of disability strategic focus network’ summit, which was held by the Government in May on foot of a public consultation.

Suggestions that arose at the event and were shared at the forum included the introduction of a tax credit for disabled people, as well as additional access to adequate public transport to make it easier for people with disabilities to travel to work.