Budget 2021 changes which may affect OACS Ireland members and their families
Carbon tax
The carbon tax on fuel will increase by €7.50 from €26 per tonne to €33.50 per tonne. The effect of this increase will be to add approximately €2 to the cost of a tank of fuel for a patrol car and €2.25 for a diesel car.
Social welfare payments
There will be NO increase in weekly social welfare payments.
Christmas Bonus
A Christmas Bonus of 100% will be paid in early December 2020 to people getting a long-term social welfare payment (minimum payment €20). The bonus will also be paid to people getting PUP and job-seeker’s payments for at least 4 months.
Payments to families (Income support)
The weekly rate for a qualified child will increase by €2 from €36 to €38 for children under 12 years of age. It will increase by €5 from €40 to €45 for children aged 12 years and over (from January 2021).
The One-Parent Family Payment earnings threshold of €425 will be removed (from April 2021).
Working Family Payment income thresholds will increase by €10 per week for families with up to 3 children.
Disability and illness payments
The number of waiting days for Illness Benefit will be reduced from 6 days to 3 days on new claims (from the end of February 2021).
The earnings disregard for Disability Allowance will increase by €20 per week from €120 to €140 per week (from June 2021).
Health
€100 million will be provided for disability measures including:
- Supports and services for 1,700 school leavers with a disability
- A new innovation fund to support integration of people with a disability
- The resumption of day services
- Increased personal assistant hours
- Additional funding for respite services
Child Care
No improvements to Childcare this was very disappointing to OACS Ireland members as many families have more than one child impacted by Epilim (Sodium Valproate)