12/04/2013

Expert Group Recommends Scrapping of Teen Disability Payments

An expert group, established by Social Protection Minister Joan Burton, has recommended that teenagers should no longer be paid disability allowance, a move that would save the State €10m per year.

Saying that the allowance of €188 per week was encouraging early school leaving, the group said it should not be paid to 16-year-olds, adding that increasing the payment age to 18 would save €10.4m per year.

Ms Burton had previously planned to bring this measure in a year ago – but dropped it from her budget due to a storm of protest from disability groups. She is now going to consider it during the preparations for the next budget due in October.

(H/CD)


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