Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
1097. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing disability allowance, disability benefit, blind pension, invalidity pension, carer's allowance and carer's benefit by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25 respectively taking into account increases already committed to in Budget 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1266/19]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing the weekly rates of payment of disability allowance, illness benefit (formerly disability benefit), blind pension, invalidity pension, carer's allowance and carer's benefit by €5, €10, €15, €20 and €25 respectively is set out in the following table.
|
- |
€5 |
€10 |
€15 |
€20 |
€25 |
|
Disability Allowance |
€39.57m |
€79.13m |
€118.78m |
€158.34m |
€197.91m |
|
Illness Benefit |
€13.72m |
€27.48m |
€41.24m |
€54.97m |
€68.70m |
|
Blind Pension |
€0.33m |
€0.67m |
€1.00m |
€1.33m |
€1.66m |
|
Invalidity Pension |
€16.28m |
€32.52m |
€48.80m |
€65.08m |
€81.36m |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
€16.32m |
€32.64m |
€48.96m |
€65.28m |
€81.60m |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
€0.72m |
€1.44m |
€2.15m |
€2.87m |
€3.59m |
The costs above include proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of payment. It should be noted that these costs are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2019 and are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
