IWA’s five core recommendations for the Cost of Disability payment 

Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) has submitted our response to the Government’s Cost of Disability public consultation – and our recommendations are based directly on feedback from our members. 

Over the past few months, IWA’s Advocacy team has been travelling across the country to hear directly from members about how they’re affected by the additional costs they face.  

IWA has heard real-life stories about the hardship that people with disabilities are facing, from higher electricity and heating bills to the steep cost of making adaptations to your home. Each one of these stories illustrates just how important it is that the Government gets its Cost of Disability payment right. 

Based on member feedback, and extensive research, IWA has put together five key recommendations for the Cost of Disability payment. They are:  

1. No Means Tested Disability Payments: People with disabilities should receive at least €350 per week, but Disability Allowance doesn’t come close to this. A Cost of Disability payment should bring people with disabilities up to this minimum — and it shouldn’t be means tested.  

2. Employment and Tax Credits: People with disabilities should be able to work without losing their disability payment — this would put more money in disabled people’s pockets. We are also calling for a tax credit for people with disabilities in employment in recognition of the higher heating, energy, medical and transport costs our community faces. 

3. An inclusive payment: The payment must also be given to people over 65 to recognise the fact that extra costs don’t go away with age. 

4. Make the payment available through various channels: Make the Cost of Disability payment available in the form of top-ups to existing payments, a standalone payment for those outside the welfare system, and tax credits for people in employment. Periodic lump sums should also be paid to help people deal with major costs.  

5. A new name: Calling it a ‘Cost of Disability payment’ implies that people with disabilities themselves represent an additional cost to the state, while the reality is that people face extra costs through navigating inaccessible systems and services. The purpose of the payment is to offset the financial consequences of inaccessibility. The name should reflect that. 

You can read our full Cost of Disability submission here.