Social Welfare | Business Post

Ian Guider: Ten things to think about for Budget 2023

Ahead of Budget day on Tuesday, here are some ideas that could help the government alleviate the cost of living crisis and keep the economy moving

Cost of living crisis

Social welfare increases may kick in ‘immediately’ after Budget, Varadkar says

Tánaiste says bigger social welfare package needed to address rising cost of living

Council tenants’ rent could be taken from social welfare payments under new plans

There are high level of arrears in Dublin, Waterford and Galway, with Dublin city council being owed €38 million alone

Government may link social welfare and state pensions to a cost of living indicator

Indexation, which is currently ‘under active consideration’, would involve the benchmarking of core welfare and state pension rates to a cost of living indicator, such as the Consumer Price Index

Jobseekers to get extra €5 a week in budget as fuel allowance rises

The government has widened the eligibility criteria for caterers so more can access the allowance as part of a €558 million social welfare budget

Employers getting state supports must sign up to post jobs on new online labour exchange

Isme says subsidised bosses signing up to the online portal under a new government plan will still need to find people with the right skills

Analysis: Government’s new pathways to work strategy suggests a move towards a European-style welfare system

It is tempting for people to be cynical about employment initiatives, but many of the targets in previous strategies were achieved

Government probes meat factories and RTÉ on self-employed workers

The Department of Social Protection has been probing allegations of bogus contractors in meat plants and in the national broadcaster

Under pressure: how Covid-19 shook up the social welfare system

Between investigating PUP fraud and unprecedented numbers of new applications, social protection officials have battled a hugely increased workload since the coronavirus crisis began unfolding last March

Inmates’ social welfare cut after data checks revealed they were in prison

The Department of Social Protection estimated that it saved €8 million from a number of data-matching exercises up to last September

It’s time to talk about a new post-Covid social welfare contract

New ideas should be explored that reflect a changed world, including universal basic income