A new disability support payment announced in Budget 2027 has prompted criticism from disabled workers who say they face substantial extra costs but will be excluded because they earn above the income limit.
Brian Dalton, a blind accessibility engineer and wheelchair user from Dublin, says the rules leave him feeling “penalised for having a job”. His case has renewed debate about how Ireland recognises the financial impact of disability for people who are in employment.
Why the Budget 2027 disability payment is being challenged
The new cost-of-disability support grant will be worth €500 annually, paid as a lump sum. It is expected to reach an estimated 283,000 people in early 2027.
Eligibility is linked to certain long-term disability welfare payments, including Disability Allowance, the Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit. However, disabled workers earning more than €27,830 a year will not qualify under the announced arrangements.
That income threshold has raised concerns among people who work but still face significant disability-related expenses. Supporters of a broader scheme argue that employment does not remove the need for assistive technology, accessible transport, specialist equipment or higher household energy costs.
- The proposed payment is worth €500 per year.
- It is due to be paid in early 2027.
- An estimated 283,000 people are expected to receive it.
- Disabled workers earning above €27,830 will be excluded under the announced rules.
Brian Dalton says disability costs do not disappear when someone works
Dalton works as a senior accessibility engineer for a financial services company. He describes his salary as good, but says his household still faces additional costs directly connected to disability.
He is blind and uses a wheelchair. His expenses include assistive technology, wheelchair purchase and maintenance, transport and increased energy use. He also says that he feels the cold more than people who are mobile, adding to household bills.
Dalton estimates that his disability-related expenses average between €5,000 and €10,000 per year, although the amount varies. A replacement wheelchair or major technology upgrade can create a particularly large bill in some years.
His wife, who is partially blind and works part-time, also requires specialist equipment such as powerful magnifiers. The family has a mortgage and two children, with one due to begin secondary school next year.
“It is about the money, of course, but it’s also about parity with other disabled people,” Dalton said. He believes the additional costs experienced by working disabled adults should be recognised alongside those faced by people receiving long-term welfare payments.
Research points to substantial extra costs
The concern is supported by earlier research commissioned by the Department of Social Protection. An Indecon report published in 2021 found that disabled people faced additional costs estimated at between €8,700 and €12,300, depending on their circumstances.
Those costs can include:
- Mobility aids, wheelchairs and maintenance
- Screen readers, magnification devices and other assistive technology
- Accessible or adapted transport
- Personal assistance and specialist services
- Higher heating and electricity costs
- Home adaptations and disability-related household equipment
The figures underline why campaigners say eligibility based mainly on welfare status may not capture the real cost of living with a disability. Two people with similar support needs can have very different access to State assistance depending on whether one is employed.
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Campaign group seeks wider support for disabled workers
Dalton is a member of Working Disabled People, a campaign group that is due to meet Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary next month. The group wants the grant extended to all disabled adults, regardless of employment income.
It has also proposed a €500 tax credit for working disabled people who do not qualify for the payment. The alternative would allow the Government to recognise additional disability costs without requiring employed people to move onto a qualifying welfare payment.
The campaign says the issue is not simply about receiving an annual payment. It is also about avoiding a system in which taking a job can mean losing access to help intended to meet costs caused by disability.
Department describes grant as a first step
A spokeswoman for the Department of Social Protection said introducing the grant was an “important first step”. The department also said further consultation with disabled people and their advocates would take place as the payment is developed for future years.
The Minister has received requests from a range of groups, including disabled workers, seeking meetings and involvement in the design process. The department said those requests are being considered as it plans further engagement with disabled people, disabled workers and their representatives.
That consultation will be closely watched by campaigners. The central question is whether future versions of the scheme will remain tied to specific welfare payments or move towards an assessment of disability-related needs and actual costs.
What happens next?
The €500 grant is expected to be paid to eligible recipients in early 2027. The Government’s planned engagement with disabled people and representative organisations could shape future changes to the scheme.
For working disabled adults, the immediate issue remains the €27,830 income threshold. Unless the rules change, people earning above that level will not receive the new payment, even if their disability-related costs are considerably higher than its annual value.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the new disability payment?
The cost-of-disability support grant will provide €500 in a once-yearly lump-sum payment.
Who is expected to qualify?
It will be available to people receiving qualifying long-term disability payments, including Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit.
Why are some disabled workers excluded?
Disabled workers earning more than €27,830 a year will not qualify under the eligibility arrangements announced for Budget 2027.
When will the payment be made?
The payment is expected to reach eligible recipients in early 2027.
Why this matters for Ireland
Ireland’s new support grant acknowledges that disability brings extra financial pressure, but the response has exposed a gap between welfare eligibility and the lived experience of disabled workers.
For people such as Brian Dalton, employment provides income and independence but does not eliminate the cost of specialist equipment, mobility support or accessible living. The Government’s consultation will determine whether future policy closes that gap.
The key takeaway from this Breaking News story is clear: a payment designed to recognise disability costs may need to reach beyond welfare recipients if it is to support all disabled adults fairly, including those who work.