Cost-of-living pay is vital says disability group

A cost-of-living payment for disabled people, recommended eight years ago, must be introduced by the next budget the chairwoman of the National Disability Authority has said.

A weekly payment of €40 is needed to meet the extra costs of living with a disability, according to a new NDA report. However, the need for the payment was originally recommended by the Commission of the Status of People with Disabilities in 1996.

"All the reports are now there. There is enough evidence to get moving on this payment and the Government needs to get on with it now," Ms Angela Kerins, NDA chairwoman said.

People with disabilities face extra costs of heating, transport and general day-to-day living that are not covered by state assistance, the NDA said.

The cost of living increases with the severity of the disability, the report found and it recommends a weekly payment of €40 at high levels of disability down to €10 for moderate disabilities. The annual cost to the exchequer would be in the region of €168 million, the NDA estimated.

"Disability costs money. A disabled person can earn the same income as a non-disabled person but will have a lower standard of living. This payment would help to bridge the gap for disabled people whether they were in employment or not," Ms Kerins said.

While disabled people were entitled to existing state supports, the system was "patchy" and many people fall through the gaps, she said. There was an urgent need to review the system.

There were particular problems with disabled people moving from unemployment to employment. The Mobility Allowance, for example, was subject to a means test, so that when people became employed they were no longer entitled to the payment.

"The National Disability Authority see the cost of disability payment as a basic equality issue. We must see equality for people as soon as possible and I would call for the Government to provide for this payment in the 2005 budget."