Disability Coalition Urges Government at Leinster House to Introduce Emergency €400 Winter Payment

Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) and Access for All today took their campaign for an emergency €400 winter payment for people with disabilities to Leinster House, warning that rising energy costs are placing disabled people at serious risk during the cold winter months.

Analysis carried out by the disability coalition shows that disabled people are up to €1,400 worse off following the most recent Budget, largely due to the removal of temporary cost-of-living payments. The Government failed to address the Cost of Disability in that same Budget. As a result, many disabled people are struggling to afford basic necessities, with increasing numbers being forced to choose between heating and eating.

The coalition is calling on the Government to introduce a €400 once-off winter payment for every person in receipt of a disability payment, to help offset the unavoidable additional costs associated with cold weather.

“People with disabilities are making decisions no one should ever have to make — choices between heating and food, heating and medication, heating and essential equipment,” said Joan Carthy, National Advocacy Manager with the Irish Wheelchair Association.
“Unlike others, disabled people cannot simply leave the house or move around more to keep warm. Cold weather is not just uncomfortable; it creates serious health risks, increases care needs and drives up energy costs that many simply cannot afford. This is why emergency support is urgently needed.”

The call, supported by the Social Democrats, aims to put pressure on the Government to act immediately to ensure disabled people are not left facing another day of avoidable hardship and heightened health risks. Cian O’Callaghan TD, Deputy Leader of the Social Democrats, raised the issue of a once-off winter payment with An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, during Leaders’ Questions today, to no avail.

“We are utterly disappointed that An Taoiseach today said that he would not introduce an emergency winter payment. People are suffering today, and we will continue to campaign on this issue.” continued Joan.

The coalition stresses that more than 430,000 people in Ireland rely on disability-related social protection payments, which were designed to cover basic living costs. However, continued increases in energy prices and the cost of essential goods mean these payments are no longer sufficient to protect people from hardship.

Many disabled people rely on powered medical equipment, assistive technologies and stable indoor temperatures to manage their health conditions, making adequate home heating a necessity rather than a luxury.

Find out more about the campaign and email your public representative to have your voice heard through our dedicated online page below