Social Justice Ireland Calls for Social Welfare Policy Reform to Assist Society’s Most Vulnerable

Social Justice Ireland published their Poverty Focus 2022 report in October. It has identified the most vulnerable demographics of those living below the poverty line and urges government to make suggested social welfare reform that will assist them.

Using data collected by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Social Justice Ireland’s Poverty Focus report of 2022 analyses the poverty levels in Irish society, highlighting key areas requiring the state’s attention.

The CSO measures poverty by a household’s disposable income, after tax and benefits. If the household’s income falls below the established poverty line of 60% median income, this household is at risk of being in poverty.

This 60% median income refers to the income of the middle person in society’s income distribution, or rather, the middle income in society. This level adjusts according to the number of individuals and children in the household.

The Poverty Focus report of 2022 identifies 1 in 9 people in Ireland live below this established 60% median income poverty line. This means 595,000 people in Ireland are living in poverty.

The Poverty Focus report of 2022 draws much needed attention to the individuals hardest hit by the drastic cost of living increases that started in 2021, people struggling with disability and long-term illness whilst living below the poverty line.

The report shows that people struggling with disability and long-term illness are 3 times more likely than other vulnerable groups to experience poverty.

The Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) provides the most up-to-date statistics associated to poverty in Ireland. It identified 39.1% of people living with disability or illness experience poverty.

Susanne Rogers, a research and policy analyst for Social Justice Ireland, commented on this concerning statistic.

“That is ridiculous in a country that is as wealthy as Ireland.”

A report by Indecon (2021) provided an estimation of the overall average annual cost of disability for Ireland. It calculated the costs associated to disability at €180‐€225 per week, depending on the circumstantial costs associated with the disability or illness.

Rogers points out that the current benefits fall short of supplementing the costs associated with these individuals’ disability.

“For those with a disability to be equal participants in society the extra costs generated by their disability should not be borne by them alone.”

She follows this with a truly alarming finding.

“Across Europe, Ireland has the lowest rates of employment for those living with a disability.”

The Poverty Focus report of 2022 concludes with suggested social policy reform the state should undertake to lower the levels of poverty.

First, Social Justice Ireland calls for the provision of the additional €8 per week (€20 in total) in core social welfare rates in the Social Welfare Bill 2022.

Secondly, it urges the government to acknowledge that poverty is a crisis in Ireland.

They propose government examines and supports viable policy options aimed at those in poverty and living with disability and long-term illness, such as a cost of disability allowance to remedy the exclusion this group experiences.

If government follows the policy reform suggested by Social Justice Ireland, this could alleviate some of the stresses associated with disability and illness costs.