The Minister for Social Protection has been told of the difficulties people who receive disability payments have as they call for an increase in the payments.
Documents from the Department of Social Protection, seen by BreakingNews.ie, show concerns raised by those receiving disability welfare as they told Heather Humphreys of their struggles.
One person who emailed Ms Humphreys said they are a cancer patient and have been forced to still work full-time despite the advice of their doctors.
"I was diagnosed with cancer and have seen first-hand how unfit the system is. The disability benefit is unfit for purpose, the payment would not even cover rent in my case.
"I am still working full-time, against the advice of all my doctors, because there is such a lack of a safety net. Is the Government really that worried about cancer patients exploiting social welfare?"
There were also calls to increase the Disabled Drivers Scheme. One person spoke of the financial difficulties they face despite working for 30 years.
"I receive €237.50 per week disability pension, after working full-time for 30 years. No increase has been contributed to the Disabled Driver scheme, with refundable vat and vrt still remaining at €10,000 for many years, despite the price of cars increasing by 30 per cent+ [sic]".
As the payments for jobseekers increased, there were also calls for the disability payment to be increased, as the differences in the payment were outlined to the minister.
One person made the point about how it became the lowest form of social welfare, and asked how people who cannot work are being targeted.
"Disability is paid to people unable to work standard full-time jobs and is paid at a rate of enough to barely survive, as stated jobseekers should be paid at this rate as it is a payment supposed to help a person while they find a job.
"During the Covid pandemic when people could not work due to a medical reason the government decided they needed a rate of 350 euro to survive, but me [sic] who cannot work due to a medical reason you see fit to give the bare minimum to."
Another person also said to the Department: "Why is it that disability allowance always increases at the same as jobseeker's allowance in each budget. The two really shouldn't be lumped in together.
"Someone with lifelong disabilities that affect them to the point of being unable to work to support themselves is surely not comparable to someone who is on JA between jobs."
The payments made during the Covid pandemic were common among correspondence to Ms Humphreys, as issues with the invalidity payment were outlined.
"Can I ask why invalidity pension is only 215 when during Covid it was 350 and then 300 and that was said that was cost of living payment [sic]. If cost of living was at minimum 300 how is this not the invalidity payment?
"The payment does not even cover one of my husband's consultant fees."
Prior to the budget last October, there were calls to increase the disability payment for it to match the rise in inflation. The call made by disability groups was repeated by people with disabilities in the lead up to the budget.
As one person said: "In real terms, people in receipt of Disability Allowance are definitely worse off compared to last year due to inflation. Inclusion Ireland has that it should at least reach the poverty threshold as measured by charitable organisations of €291.50 per week."
Earlier this year, the Government scrapped proposed changes to social welfare benefits for people with disabilities.
The proposals in a Green Paper included a new tiered allowance which would link level of payments to a determination on capacity to work and the nature of the disability.
