Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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483. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is aware that people dependent on disability benefit are living significantly below the poverty line; the measures she will take to protect them against increases in the cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15768/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a range of income supports for those who are unable to work due to illness or disability.

I introduced a number of measures as part of Budget 2023 to support disabled people to mitigate the impacts of the rising cost of living:

• Cost of living double payment paid in October 2022.
• €500 cost of living disability support grant paid in November 2022.
• €200 cost of living payment for people who receive the Living Alone Increase.
• €400 lump sum Fuel Allowance payment.
• Christmas Bonus double payment to all persons getting a long term disability payment.
• €200 for all persons getting a long-term disability payment in April 2023.

• An increase of €12 in maximum rate of weekly disability payments. with proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people getting a reduced rate.
• Disablement Benefit was disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance.
• A €1 million expansion of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund.
• The earnings disregard for Disability Allowance and Blind Pension increased from €140 to €165.
• The means assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance increased from €120 to €200.