Clare Active Retirement Member Urges Government To Support Older People This Christmas

A Clare member of Active Retirement Ireland insists a decision on the double payment of welfare rates in the budget will make or break Christmas for the county's older population. With Budget Day just around the corner, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has expressed her intention to retain the so-called "Christmas bonus", which has been a staple of budgets for a number of years. Preliminary bilateral talks are underway between government departments and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe ahead of the Budget next week. To counteract record levels of inflation last year, lumps sums were paid to the likes of pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and those on Jobseeker's Allowance. Despite warnings about the level of funding available to her department, Minister for Social Protecion Heather Humphreys is said to be eager that a double payment of all welfare rates is included in the budget to help vulnerable groups grapple with rising bills. Former Active Retirement Ireland President, Shannon resident Kay Murphy says older people have grown to depend on the "Christmas bonus" to meet additional seasonal costs. Interest groups have lobbied for welfare rates to increase by at least €25 to mitigate the effects of inflation on those receiving welfare payments. Cratloe mother-of-two Trish Lehane believes the government needs to acknowledge the intense pressure that inflation is putting on families.