News
Budget 2023
For many people the budget will have left a sense of disappointment. The Government were (and are) in a strong financial position with a projected surplus in public spending and considerable income from revenue through taxes.
A key ask in the ISCP Budget Submission was the need to address the lack of a secure income for those on State Pension and to have Government’s commitment to link State Pension to the average Industrial Wage honoured. This did not happen in this Budget but we welcome the commitment as referenced by Minister Joe O Brien to review the State Pension and link it to a percentage of the average industrial wage.
Below is a summary of some of the areas affected by Budget 2023:
Key payments for Pensioners
€12 increase in the maximum weekly rate of all state pensions & proportionate increase for qualified adults & people receiving a reduced rate. Effective from Jan 2023.
New Means Test disregard for Fuel allowance for people over 70 (€500-single; €1,000 couple).
Normal Means assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance increases from €120 to €200. Effective from Jan 2023.
Autumn Cost of Living Double Pension Payment paid to all starting week of 17th October.
€200 Lump sum payment payable to those already receiving the Living Alone Allowance.
Christmas Bonus Double payment in December.
Support for Carers
Cost of Living Double payment to carers in October
€500 Cost of Living payment for people receiving Carer Support Grant
Christmas bonus double payment
€12 increase in maximum rate of Carer’s Allowance/Benefit. Proportionate increase for people receiving a reduced rate. Effective from Jan 2023
Qualified Child Payments in weekly rates will increase by €2 in Jan 2023 (€50 for over 12 and €42 for under 12 yrs)
Means Assessment for Fuel Allowance to change from €120 to €200 from Jan 2023
Half rate Carers Allowance will be disregarded in the Means Assessment for Fuel Allowance
Support for People with Disabilities
Special €500 cost of living disability support grant for those in receipt of long-term Disability Payments (Nov 2022)
€200 lump sum payment for people receiving a disability allowance and living alone
€400 lump sum fuel allowance payment
Christmas Bonus Double payment
Domiciliary Care Allowance will increase by €20.50 to €330 per month (Jan 2023)
Disablement Benefit will be disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance
Earnings Disregard for Disability Allowance and Blind Pension will be increased from €140 to €165 (Jan 2023)
Means Assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance will increase from €120 to €200 (Jan 2023)
We welcome the one-off payments and supports relating to electricity, as they offer some much needed albeit short-term support to people. While the €12 increase in State Pension is an improvement on past years, it will not meet the need for a guaranteed income that keeps people living above the poverty line. This is a serious concern as some economists are projecting, we will be looking at inflation running at 10% or over in early 2023.
In a meeting with the Dept of Social Protection post Budget we asked when the eligibility criteria for various supports; medical cards etc to match this increase will be addressed. We were assured this is currently being worked on.
More information on Budget 2023 and access to an easy-to-understand format is available here:
Invitation to Ageism: Cure the Condition
Invitation to Ageism: Cure the Condition
The Irish Senior Citizens’ Parliament is delighted to share our Ageism: Cure the Condition workshops with you throughout the month of April.
Join CEO Sue Shaw and members of the Executive in the following areas:
13th April, 11.12.45 Maldron Hotel, Sandy Road, Galway
19th April 11.12.45 Talbot Hotel, Wexford
20th April 11.12.45 Clayton Hotel, Cork
26th April 14.30-16.15 Wynns Hotel, Dublin
By attending our information session you will:
- Gain an understanding of ageism
- Learn how ageism impacts society
- Become empowered with what we can do to change ageism
To register for the event, please contact Grace office@seniors.ie 085 260 4957 or Elaine development@seniors.ie 085 260 4955
Alliance of Age Sector NGOs Annual Statement
Please find the document here.
International Women’s Day
Today as we celebrate International Women’s Day the team would like to extend our warmest wishes, gratitude and admiration to all of the fantastic women who support us, work with us and empower us.
This year’s theme for the UN’s International Women’s Day is gender equality today for a sunstainable tomorrow. The theme celebrates and pays recognition to women leading the charge against climate change and acknowledges women’s leadership towards a sustainable future.
We at the Irish Senior Citizens’ Parliament would like to pay tribute to the fantastic women, particularly older women in Ireland who are not only working towards a sustainable future for all generations but have been advocating and fighting for women’s rigths for decades.
We would also like to take this opportunity to again share our commitment to advocating for gender equality particularly in our campaign for equal pension rights for women.
As an organisation we are a team of women, supporting all women today and every day.